Weeds are commonly seen as unwanted plants that spread into lawns and gardens, disrupting their appearance and growth. While many plants labelled as weeds can offer benefits to wildlife, you might prefer to keep them out of specific areas—or even your entire garden.
Some weeds can be quite appealing and even beneficial, serving as groundcover, thriving in pots for controlled growth, or even being edible. However, highly invasive or poisonous weeds are best removed, while others might be welcomed in certain areas of your garden. Experts from Better Homes & Gardens explained that a vinegar-based weed killer is an effective way to manage unwanted plants that have started to appear.
They said: “A vinegar mixture works best on small, annual weeds. It’s less effective with older weeds, perennials, or grasses. Drenching the roots of these more stubborn weeds with your DIY solution will likely be required (fall is a good time to do this), and even then, it probably wouldn’t have much effect.
“It’s also worth noting that this solution only kills the tops of the target weeds, leaving the roots that can regrow new shoots, so will require more than one application.”
However, sharing a word of caution, the experts also urged the gardeners to use the solution carefully.
They said: “While salt in a vinegar weed killer solution helps dry out weeds, it can build up in the soil and damage it so nothing else will grow in that area. Apply sparingly and avoid using it in areas where you’d like other plants to grow.
Pour 1 gallon of white vinegar into a large bucket, then add 2 tablespoons of dish soap and 1 cup of salt, mixing thoroughly.
Mix thoroughly until all the ingredients are fully blended.
Add to a household spray bottle or garden sprayer.
Choose a sunny day with a temperature of at least 21C for application, as the solution works best when plants are actively photosynthesising.
Avoid windy or rainy days, since wind can spread the vinegar to unintended areas and rain can dilute its effectiveness.
When applying vinegar weed killer, get close to the weed and spray directly onto the leaves.
Allow at least two weeks before reapplying if necessary.
