9 Easy-to-Make Homemade Weed Killer Recipes in 2023

Why Is Weed Control Important?

As homeowners, we’re always trying to keep up with the Joneses; part of that is maintaining our lawn through weed control. Weeds can quickly become a problem, and if you’ve let them go for any amount of time, you know how quickly things get out of control. In addition to hurting your property’s appearance, weeds can damage your lawn’s health.

I always like to tell the families I help about the importance of using the right ingredients to kill off weeds without damaging the grass and potentially harming insects and other wildlife that feed off your lawn.

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In this guide, I’ll inform you about the steps involved in creating a homemade weed killer and shed light on the importance of using ingredients that are not harmful to the environment.

Before I get to that, you can also consider a few of my favorite lawn care companies that can help you get your lawn under control.

Chemical Vs. Natural Weed Killers

Let me start by saying that I’m no saint. Like everyone else, I’ve used hazardous chemical weed killers like Roundup and Ortho Weed-b-Gon. These sprays contain ingredients like neonicotinoids and pyrethroid, which are primarily human-made pesticides and commercial herbicides scrutinized for their negative impact on humans and animals.

Folks, we want to avoid using weed killers like these at all costs. They’re not cheaper or more effective than many of the options I will cover. They’ve simply been marketed as the easier solution for homeowners.

Synthetic herbicides are formulated using powerful ingredients but immediately hurt the environment by contaminating soil, water, and the air around you. They’re a risk to surrounding plants, animals, and humans.

Natural weed killers are typically made with vinegar, boiling water, dish soap, and salt. These are all organic materials and are perfectly safe for the environment. They’re just as effective at managing weeds; you don’t have to feel bad about using them.

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In my experience, they take a few more applications to have the same effect. They’re not as “set it and forget it” as Roundup and things like that, but at least you know that you’re creating a safe place for wildlife to thrive in your yard.

What Are the Main Ingredients of Homemade Weed Killers?

Here’s a look at some of the most popular ingredients I use in homemade weed killers.

IngredientProsConsApplication TipsVinegar (acetic acid)SaltBoiling WaterDish Soap (Dawn)Corn MealCitrus Oil

You’ll find these ingredients in many of the homemade weed killer recipes below. Let’s dive right into it.

Salt-based Weed Killer Recipes

Salt-based homemade weed killers are very effective at killing just about any backyard weed. According to National Garden Bureau member Larry Hodgson, salt kills weeds by drawing out the moisture and dehydrating the plant.

Here are three salt-based recipes I use in my backyard to take care of stubborn weeds.

Recipe 1: Salt and Vinegar Weed Killer

1. Mix 1 cup of table salt with 1 gallon of white vinegar in a garden sprayer or spray bottle.
2. Shake well until the salt is completely dissolved.
3. Spray the mixture directly onto the weeds, being careful not to spray nearby desirable plants. If you don’t have a garden sprayer, dump the mixture directly onto the weeds.
4. Reapply as needed for stubborn weeds.
5. Give the first application up to four hours to start working.

Recipe 2: Salt and Water Weed Killer

1. Dissolve 1 cup of table salt in 1 gallon of warm water.
2. Stir the mixture until the salt is completely dissolved.
3. Pour or spray the saltwater mixture onto the weeds.
4. Avoid applying the DIY solution to the soil or desirable plants.
5. Give up to four hours for the first application to start working.

Recipe 3: Salt and Dish Soap Weed Killer

1. Mix 1 cup of table salt with 1 gallon of warm water.
2. Add 1 tablespoon of dishwashing soap to the mixture.
3. Stir well until the salt is dissolved and the dish soap is evenly distributed.
4. Spray the solution directly onto the weeds, avoiding contact with desirable plants.
5. Consider neighboring root systems when applying this mixture to weeds.
6. Give up to four hours for the first application to start working before applying more.

Vinegar-based Weed Killer Recipes

I like to use vinegar as a homemade weed killer for broadleaf weeds because its acidic nature helps wilt the leaves and makes the weeds easier to pull out of the ground.

Best of all, many studies have shown that vinegar is just as effective (or more effective) than Roundup.

Here are some time-tested vinegar-based recipes to try in your yard.

Recipe 1: Vinegar and Salt Weed Killer

1. Combine 1 cup of salt with 1 gallon of white household vinegar.
2. Mix well until the salt is dissolved.
3. Apply the mixture directly to the weeds using a garden sprayer or spray bottle. (I highly recommend purchasing a garden sprayer for this.)
4. Be careful not to spray nearby desirable plants.

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Note: In my experience, this is one of the strongest mixtures for stubborn and large growths that have taken over a larger area of your yard. Don’t use this mixture for spot weeding because it can infiltrate healthy plants if it soaks too deep into the soil.

Recipe 2: Vinegar, Salt, and Dish Soap Weed Killer

1. Mix 1 cup of table salt with 1 gallon of white vinegar.
2. Add 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap into the mixture.
3. The point of the dish soap is to act as a “surfactant,” which helps spread the ingredients around.
4. Stir well until the salt is dissolved and the dish soap is evenly distributed.
5. Spray the solution directly onto the weeds, avoiding contact with desirable plants.

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Note: In my experience, this is one of the strongest mixtures for stubborn and large growths that have taken over a larger area of your yard. Don’t use this mixture for spot weeding because it can infiltrate healthy plants if it soaks too deep into the soil.

Recipe 3: Vinegar and Lemon Juice Weed Killer

1. Combine 1 gallon of white vinegar with 2 cups of lemon juice.
2. Stir well to ensure the ingredients are mixed thoroughly.
3. Apply the mixture directly to the weeds using a garden sprayer or spray bottle.
4. Be sure not to spray nearby desirable plants.

Other Homemade Weed Killer Recipes

Let’s take a look at a few other options you can use if you’d prefer not to use a vinegar solution or salt. These options will work just as well but require a few different steps.

Recipe 1: Boiling Water Weed Killer

1. Boil a large pot of water.
2. Carefully pour the boiling water directly onto the weeds, avoiding contact with desirable plants.
3. Reapply boiling water as needed for stubborn weeds.
4. The most important thing to remember is that you need to get the water onto the weeds while it’s scorching hot. This type of DIY weed killer will work fast but may require multiple applications.

Recipe 2: Corn Gluten Meal Weed Killer

1. Buy corn gluten meal and follow the instructions on the bag.
2. Apply it as a pre-emergent weed prevention method in the early spring or fall. Always be mindful of when to administer pre-emergent, so as to get the desired result.

Recipe 3: Essential Oil Weed Killer

1. Combine 10-20 drops of citrus oil with 1 gallon of water.
2. Mix a teaspoon of dish soap to the mixture.
3. Apply directly to the weeds using a sprayer or spray bottle.
4. Try to avoid spraying nearby plants.

Tips for Applying Homemade Weed Killers

Over the years, I’ve handled plenty of situations ranging from a completely overgrown dandelion field to a few spotty weeds breaking through driveway and patio cracks. Each situation requires a unique approach.

These tips will help you make the most of your weed-killing efforts.

• Apply on a warm, sunny day: The best time for applying a homemade weed killer is when the sun is shining and the weather is warm. If you have a 24-hour window without rain or clouds, the sun will help dry up the weeds and prevent the mixture from getting washed away.
• Expect to reapply: No matter what, you should expect to have to apply your homemade weed killers a few times to get them to work to their full potential. Certain weeds are also more resilient, so I recommend using a harsher mixture of vinegar and salt on larger, leafier weeds.
• Still play it safe: Even though these weed killers are relatively harmless, you still want to take certain precautions. Wear gloves, eye protection, and long sleeves to prevent interactions with various oils and irritants.

How Can You Prevent Weeds From Growing in the First Place?

Unfortunately, most people seek help when the weeds have gotten completely out of control. If you can take certain measures to prevent this from happening, you’ll have a much easier time managing the weeds.

Here are a few tips to help keep your yard on track:

• Proper lawn maintenance: It goes without saying, but you want to try and keep up on your lawn. Regularly mow the grass to the correct height and fertilize the lawn. Doing this promotes dense growth, which discourages weeds from growing.
• Mulch, mulch, mulch: If your problems exist in flower beds, it could be because you don’t have enough mulch to act as a barrier. Mulch keeps the sun from reaching the deeper soil, preventing weeds from growing.
• Consider ground cover plants: When you have dense foliage in your yard, it provides less space for weeds to develop and ultimately get out of control. Wildflowers and ground covering fescue grass, shrubs, and bushes can limit the space and resources necessary for weed development.

Another way to prevent weeds is with proper preventative care; these two lawn care services for weeds can help you.

Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Recipe