Weeds are an unwanted nuisance that compete with your desired plants for nutrients, water and sunlight. They can spread quickly across the garden and be difficult to remove if not managed properly.
But there is one easy trick that can help you get rid of weeds – and it doesn’t require any artificial products. Mixing two natural items that are easily available at home can act as a natural weed killer, but it must be used carefully to avoid harming surrounding plants and soil health.
Using salt and vinegar together acts instantly and removes weeds from the patios and the gardens. Vinegar (acetic acid) dehydrates weeds by breaking down their cell walls.
Salt (sodium chloride) disrupts water balance in plant roots, preventing them from absorbing moisture.
An optional ingredient that can be added is dish soap, which helps the solution stick to the leaves for better absorption.
To make the DIY weed killer at home, take around one cup of salt and one gallon (3.8litres) of white vinegar and mix them in a spray bottle or a garden sprayer.
Once done, spray it directly onto the leaves of the weeds on a sunny day. Avoid spraying desirable plants, as this solution is non-selective and will kill any plant it touches.
However, certain precautions must be taken while using the mixture. Salt can make soil infertile for a long time, so it would be better to avoid using it in garden beds or lawns.
The solution works well for driveways, sidewalks, and between pavers where you don’t want any plants growing. However, perennial weeds like dandelions and bindweed may regrow unless their deep roots are removed.
