Hello, gardeners! Spring is just around the corner and you're probably itching to get out there and weed. Well, before you run to town and buy a bottle of commercial weed killer, you should know that you can make your own weed killer, and the best part is that you can do this with items you probably have in your home already.
A homemade weed killer can save you a lot of money, not to mention be 100% eco-friendly. There are various advantages of making a homemade weed killer, you can avoid the harmful chemicals that are used in commercial weed killers. You can also use it for plants that don’t go well with strong herbicides.
Everyone wants to know how to get rid of pesky weeds around their homes and yards once and for all and for the cheap! Well, look no further, I have prepared this list just for you. In this article, you will find a couple of homemade weed killer recipes that you can make with ingredients you have laying around.
Table of Contents
15 Ways To Make Homemade Weed Killer
1. Vinegar Weed Killer
You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars for a store-bought weed killer. You can make your own with vinegar. This cheap and very simple homemade weed killer takes just minutes to prepare and is safe around kids and pets.
Supplies
- Vinegar
- 1 cup of salt
- 1 tablespoon of liquid soap dish
Instructions
- Take 3 liters of vinegar and pour inside a big bowl or bucket.
- Add salt to the mix.
- Add liquid soap dish and stir all ingredients.
- Allow it to sit for a while.
- Spray the solution on weeds to kill them.
2. Lemon Juice Weed Killer
Getting rid of weeds can be a total pain. They usually pop up in the worst spot (right by your house’s front door), and you seem to be fighting them all season long. Don’t fret, though, because there is a ridiculously easy way to kill weeds with lemon juice!
Below you will find extremely simple instructions on how to make a homemade weed killer with lemon juice.
Supplies
- Lemon juice
- Spray bottle
Instructions
- Add a good amount of lemon juice into a spray bottle.
- Spritz the lemon juice on weeds for a couple of days and they should die off completely.
3. Homemade Salt & Vinegar Weed Killer
Salt and vinegar works better than many other homemade weed killers. At least it certainly did for me when I started to use this simple recipe. We all know vinegar is a great all-natural alternative to all those toxic store-bought weed killers! The salt and vinegar weed killer is like a miracle! I used it for a week on my front lawn because I saw these little plants growing, it killed them all!
Supplies
- 3 tablespoons of Salt
- 1 Litre of vinegar
- Spray bottle
- 3 tablespoons of liquid wash soap
Instructions
- Add salt and vinegar to a bowl and mix thoroughly until the salt dissolves completely.
- Add the liquid washing soap to the mix and stir.
- Turn the solution into a spray bottle and spritz on your plants.
4. Salt - Homemade Weed Killer
Making your own homemade weed killer with salt is a great idea especially if you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to store-bought weed killer. Salt is cheap, effective and you probably have it lying in a cupboard somewhere. You don’t need to get complicated when it comes to using salt for killing weeds. To make this recipe you just need a few things that you probably already have at home, like:
Supplies
- Salt
- Water
- Spray bottle
Instructions
- Add two parts salt to part water inside a bucket and give it a good stir.
- Allow the mix to sit for a while then turn it inside a spray bottle and spritz on the weeds. They’ll definitely die off.
5. Permanent Homemade Weed Killer
You should only use this if you have no intention of planting in that area where you have weeds. The high concentration of this homemade weed killer will permanently kill the soil beneath the weed making it almost impossible for any growth in the nearest future.
Supplies
- 2 cups of salt
- 3 liters of vinegar
- 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap
Instructions
- Pour the vinegar into a container.
- Add salt and stir until completely dissolved.
- Add liquid dish soap.
- Use a garden sprayer to spritz the solution where you have weeds.
6. Baking Soda
You won't believe how simple it is to make a homemade weed killer with baking soda. It's hard to believe that it can be so cheap and easy. And you'll love the fact that this homemade weed killer uses only one household product.
For this method, all you have to do is sprinkle baking soda in areas where you have weed growing, this would eventually kill the weed.
7. Boiling Water
Another quick method to get rid of those pesky weeds in your lawn is with boiling water. Boiling water will kill most weeds from the roots up. The boiling water should be poured directly over the weeds in order for it to work.
Simply add a good amount of water to a kettle and boil till it steams. Pour the hot water over weeds to kill them almost immediately. Feel free to add vinegar, salt, dish soap, and lemon juice for added toxicity against the weeds.
8. Hydrogen Peroxide
Many gardeners use chemical weed killers to get rid of their dirt and grass problems. These weed killers are dangerous for other living things, such as bees, birds, pets, and even us humans. The good news is that you can make your own natural weed killer in your home using hydrogen peroxide.
For this method, you do not need to toss your whole bottle on the ground. Just 15% of hydrogen peroxide with hot water or lemon juice is enough to tackle the weed issue from the roots.
9. Newspaper
Think again before you throw away those old newspapers at home. You can also use cardboard for this method. All plants need photosynthesis for growth, even weeds. The use of cardboard or newspaper will disrupt the process of photosynthesis and eventually kill the weeds.
Here’s what to do;
Instructions
- Lay down a newspaper over the weed.
- Leave the newspaper there for a while, it will break down and provide the soil with nutrients.
- Apply another layer of the newspaper after the first one breaks down.
10. Bleach Homemade Weed Killer
You can make a homemade weed killer with bleach easily and it will definitely save you from spending too much on store-bought products. A homemade weed killer using bleach or oxygen bleach can help you to get rid of the unsightly weeds in your garden, backyard, and even around your house. However, be careful not to use bleach on your edible crops, only use this to kill weeds that are far away from your edible crops.
Supplies
- Bleach
- Spray bottle
Instructions
- Simply add household bleach into a spray bottle and use it in areas where you have weeds.
11. Borax
Borax has been used for thousands of years as a detergent, cleaning agent, preservative, and fire retardant. It can react with moisture to form boric acid and it is this acid that will be the active ingredient in our homemade weed killer.
All you have to do is sprinkle the borax powder around areas where you have weed and would definitely kill them. However, based on your location it might not be possible to get borax as it has become illegal to sell in the UK and Europe.
12. Manual Pulling
If you have the time, you can perform the old-fashioned way of getting rid of weeds in your garden. With this method, you don’t have to be scared of other substances harming edible plants in your garden.
The process will be faster if you have more hands-on deck. Call your kids, friends, and other family members to help. This method of getting rid of weeds is quite efficient because you are going to be pulling from the root.
I would suggest you use safety gloves while using this method.
13. Vodka
Alcohol will eliminate the worst kind of weeds from your garden in a flash and give you the cleanest results possible. Vodka is a great option for this method. All you have to do is pour some vodka into a spray bottle and use it on weeds to get rid of them. Feel free to try other methods if you can’t let go of your precious bottle of vodka.
14. Rubbing Alcohol
Are you tired of weed killers that don't work? Well, it's about time you gave this rubbing alcohol as a weed killer thing a try! It’s one of the latest methods for killing weeds. Using rubbing alcohol is an absolutely easy way to get rid of weeds on your patio, lawn, and garden. Simply mix 3 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol with 1 liter of water and pour the solution into a spray bottle. This method works well in eliminating dandelions.
15. Clove Oil
Have you ever wondered how to use clove oil as a weed killer? Many gardeners are discovering that clove oil is an effective, natural, and non-toxic weed killer for use in the garden. This method is best when used on weed seedlings. Simply add a good amount of clove oil into a spray bottle, add a little vinegar, and mix. Spray on weeds to get rid of them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, homemade weed killers work. There are a variety of homemade weed killers that will all do the job quite effectively. Some are cheap and some are not, but regardless of the money you invest in them, they will deliver the desired outcome: a lawn free of weeds.
We hope that you've found all the methods in our list helpful and convenient, as well as a good way to save a few bucks. Buying ready-made weed killers can take a toll on your bank account. Just find the necessary ingredients at home and don’t spend a single penny!
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