This All Natural Weed Killer blog post has been in the works for the last year. That’s how long I’ve been testing the efficacy of using vinegar, salt and orange oil around our property. There are always more issues (tenacious weeds and ivy) that pop up throughout the summer but for the most part this is the BEST weed killer I’ve used short of breaking open a bottle of the poison called glyphosate (Roundup).
This summer is my fourth year of growing organically. Of course, as a small home gardener, there is no expensive certification (You know that organic farmers have to pay hefty fees to be certified, right? Conventional farmer have to pay nothing and are given all privilege.) to prove that my property follows the strict government guidelines. My friends and family just have to take my word for it and they know that I am vehemently opposed to supporting chemical companies so they trust me. I will admit that once upon a time it was so EASY just to open up that plastic bottle and pour a capful of poison into the sprayer, fill it with water and eviscerate all the grass and weeds I decided were growing in the wrong place. It worked. Every time.
The natural way is a little different these days. Here’s my process for deciding how to eradicate or control weeds on our property. I ask myself these questions all the time.
1) Can the greenery live there peacefully or will it become invasive?
2) Can it be trimmed?
3) Is it growing in a place that I will never want greenery such as a stoned path, sidewalk or driveway edge?
4) If the spray changes the soil will it harm the plants around it?
5) Is the greenery small enough to spray or should I just pull it?
6) Can I pull all of the greenery or will it leave small roots and stems?
7) How often will I need to spray this area? Would it be better treated in another way such as weed block and mulch or stone?
These are all questions that go through my mind when deciding how to address unwanted greenery on the property. There are some places that I don’t want to spray because like it or not, anything you add to the soil will change it in some way. Spraying vinegar will add acid to the soil and over time may affect it’s ph. Adding in salt will definitely change the soil and it won’t take much for that to happen. I never add salt to the spray unless I’m spraying an area I know I will never want greens.
Sometimes it makes more sense to just pull the stuff. It sounds counter productive but bigger weeds are easier to pull than small ones. Not that I let them get big on purpose but time does take a toll and I don’t really stress out about it if I know that particular weed isn’t invasive.
Invasive greens that spread underground are the worst. Poison ivy, crabgrass and bindweed are some examples that are difficult, if not impossible, to control from above ground. I do the best I can but there are spots that I’m losing ground. These are also problems with conventional agriculture so I don’t feel bad that I have some here. I have experimented with the vinegar on poison ivy and no, it does not kill it outright. It will damage it but you will still have to address it in another way. I have read somewhere that if you cut the vine off and pour the vinegar down the cut end that will kill it. I have yet to try that but it’s on my list. If you try it, let me know how it goes!
This recipe is simple but it is expensive as are all ventures that are not subsidized by your tax money through government programs. We must realize that NOTHING is free and NOTHING is cheap. Government manipulates much of the prices in this country from fuel to food. This is no different. {end short rant.}
When working with agricultural vinegar please note that it will burn if you get it on your skin. I wear protective gloves and I will trust that you will use your common sense.
THE BEST ALL NATURAL WEED KILLER
{That really works!}
Strong:
1/2 gallon distilled white vinegar (5% acidity) You can purchase this at your local grocer.
1/2 gallon agricultural vinegar (20% acidity)
1 Tbls. orange oil
VERY STRONG:
1 gallon agricultural vinegar (20% acidity)
1 Tbls. orange oil
1 Tbls. salt
Agricultural vinegar, for me, is only available through amazon. I’ve read that it’s available at some farm stores in more rural areas but I haven’t been that lucky. I buy my distilled vinegar at my local grocery store and I use sea salt or real salt in the kitchen so that’s what goes in the weedkiller.
I use both of these recipes equally. I reserve the VERY STRONG stuff for the worst spots and larger plants that I can’t pull. The Strong stuff works on everything else like small weeds growing in our stone paths and around the fire pit.
* Please note that I do realize white vinegar is likely made from corn. GMO corn. I can’t change the whole world. There are few ways around supporting, in some way, the huge conglomerates that make the rules. I have seen the damage that using glyphosate has done to my own property and I know that vinegar will not do the same. Even using GMO corn white vinegar is better than spraying glyphosate, a registered antibiotic and known mineral binder.