How to Make Weed Killer: Safe and Effective Recipes

How to make weed killer is an effective yet safe method of an important skill that one has to acquire. Commercial ones can be extremely effective but they can also have consequences for our health and the environment.

If you’re looking for natural weed killers that can also be effective, so, now, let’s explore each weed killer recipe for one that might suit your needs.

How To Make Weed Killer in an Effective Way?

To make weed killer in an effective way, you should use vinegar, lemon, and salt. You can also make a solution of citrus oil and dish soap, or use baking soda and soap. You can also opt to mix alcohol with a vinegar solution, and lastly, only tackle with boiling water.

Making your own weed killer is easy, especially when the ingredients can be easily found in your household. It’s significant to know that some homemade recipes may not be as potent as commercial weed killers, which is why reapplications may be necessary; yet still, they have their key feature to help establish grounds.

– Using Vinegar, Lemon, and Salt

When you consider a solution with vinegar and lemon, you would think how both ingredients are quite damaging to plants; however, combined, they make a formidable team. To make this DIY weed killer, you’ll need a few household ingredients. These are a gallon of white vinegar, two cups of table salt, the juice of four lemons, and a quarter cup of dish soap.

Mix the gallon of vinegar with two cups of salt in a large container. You can use a bucket or even a large mixing bowl for this activity. Stir this mixture with a spoon or whisk. Continue until the salt is completely dissolved in the vinegar, and then add in your lemon juice.

You should also add a quarter cup of dishwashing soap to the mixture in this solution. Gently stir to combine. Once this is done, pour the mixture into a spray bottle. Just make sure that the spray bottle is clean, and then you can go ahead and pour it in.

Write the date of creation on a label and stick it to the spray bottle. This will help you keep track of when you made it and how long you have had it. To use this homemade weed killer, shake the spray bottle well to mix the ingredients. Spray the mixture directly on the weeds or unwanted plants. However, make sure that you would avoid spraying on plants that you intend to keep.

This particular mixture is most effective when used on a dry, sunny day. It can take several days to see the full effects of this particular weedkiller, so you may need to reapply a few times to get rid of the weeds completely. With simple ingredients, you will have such an effective solution.

– Adding Citrus Oil and Dish Soap

Some people find the smell of vinegar to be quite off-putting, but to help mask the scent, add a few drops of citrus oil. Citrus oil is a natural oil that can be found in the rinds of citrus fruits, and these include fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes, as their oils are richly aromatic.

Citrus oil is used for many things, including discouraging the presence of weeds. Since it is a natural ingredient, it is safe to use without harming the environment. Now, to make this mixture, you’ll need a quart of vinegar, a tablespoon of citrus oil, and a teaspoon of liquid dishwashing soap. Once you have everything ready, you can start making your natural herbicide.

First, you’ll need to place a quart of vinegar into a large container or bowl, and in this, you should go ahead and add your tablespoon of citrus oil to the vinegar. To this mixture, add a teaspoon of liquid dishwashing soap. The liquid soap will help the mixture stick to the leaves of the weeds.

Stir everything together until it is completely mixed, but if you wish to do this faster, you can be using a whisk as it will also help in giving you a better combination. Once all the ingredients are combined, get a spray bottle. You can use empty ones as long as they are cleaned.

Carefully pour the mixture into the spray bottle. To apply this mixture, simply spray it directly onto the leaves and even on the stems of the weeds. Make sure to coat the entire plant, and remember that when you do this, it will help ensure that it receives all the ingredients that will cause it to die, and the result will be positive.

This mixture is best used on warm and sunny days, and as you go ahead and spray the weeds under this weather condition, you must ensure that the mixture dries quickly and is absorbed by the plant. If it is windy, avoid using a fine mist as it may also coat the plants you want to keep. While it is effective, it may require several applications before the weeds are completely eliminated.

– Using Baking Soda With Soap

This particular ingredient is a known weed eliminator that ensures the safety of the environment. Also known as sodium bicarbonate, this ingredient can be an effective weed killer because it dehydrates plants’ leaves and stems, so in short, this causes them to wither and die.

You will need one tablespoon of sodium bicarbonate, a quart of water, and some dishwashing liquid to make this natural herbicide. First, you will need to have a quart of water in a container or bowl. Add one tablespoon of sodium bicarbonate to the water and stir well just as you see all these have become a proper mixture or a solvent that you can use.

Add a few drops of a common liquid dishwashing soap to the mixture and stir it to combine. The liquid dishwashing soap will help the sodium bicarbonate still to the leaves and stems of the weeds, making it more effective, which is why it plays an effective role. Once everything is well-mixed, pour the solution into a spray bottle. When using old or repurposed spray bottles, ensure that it is clean.

To use this natural weed killer, spray directly on the leaves and stems of the weeds, but now you should be careful not to spray the mixture on plants that you want to keep. When sodium bicarbonate is applied to the leaves of plants, it disrupts the natural balance of water and minerals within the plant’s cells, causing them to dry out and die.

It is also safe and non-toxic for humans and pets, which makes it a popular choice for people who want to avoid using harsh chemicals in their gardens.

However, it’s important to note that this ingredient can also harm other plants if it comes into contact with them, so it should be used carefully and sparingly. Additionally, it is most effective on young and tender weeds and may be less effective on more mature or established weeds.

Wait a few days and check on the weeds. If they haven’t died, you can apply the herbicide again. Depending on the size of the weeds and how many there are, it may take a few applications to get rid of them completely.

– Using Alcohol and Vinegar

Rubbing alcohol, which is also known as isopropyl alcohol, is effective at killing weeds; notice how this is because of its ability to quickly evaporate and get directly into the plant’s tissues. This causes damage to the plant’s cell walls and membranes.

The key feature is that the alcohol content disrupts the plant’s metabolic processes, preventing it from absorbing water and nutrients properly.

You will need a few simple ingredients to make this natural weed remover mixture. These are white vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and liquid dish soap. This herbicide is effective because the vinegar and alcohol work together to dry out and kill the weeds, while the soap helps the mixture stick to the plants.

First, you’ll need to mix the ingredients. In a large bowl, combine a quart of vinegar and a cup of rubbing alcohol, and now stir the mixture well. Next, add a few drops of liquid dishwashing soap to the mixture, and make sure you stir well enough to combine it. Once everything is ready, carefully pour the mixture into a spray bottle. A funnel can be useful to avoid spills, and on a dry and sunny day, spray the herbicide mixture directly onto the weeds you want to kill.

Be sure to cover the entire plant, including the leaves and stem. Depending on the strength of the weeds and the weather, you may need to reapply the herbicide a few times to kill the weeds completely. Check the plants after a few days to see if they are wilting and dying.

When applied to weeds, rubbing alcohol quickly dries out the plant, causing it to wilt and die. It can be particularly effective against young, tender weeds, as they have less developed cell walls and are more vulnerable to damage.

However, it’s important to note that rubbing alcohol can also harm desirable plants, as it can damage their tissues similarly. Therefore, it’s crucial to use rubbing alcohol carefully and selectively, applying it only to the weeds you want to eliminate and avoiding any nearby plants that you want to keep.

– Tackle Using Boiling Water

This is the simplest one on our list since it requires only one ingredient: water. To do this, you’ll need a large pot of water, but there’s no specific type, so you can use a kettle or any other container suitable for water that’s boiling.

Once the water starts to boil, bring the kettle to where the weeds are. Carefully pour the scalding water directly on the weeds. As much as possible, pour the water as close to the base of the weeds as possible.

The hot water damages the plant cells and causes the weeds to wither and die. This method is ideal for small weeds or other unwanted plants. Larger ones may require multiple applications.

It’s also important to be careful when handling water that’s still boiling. Getting some on your skin can cause serious burns. To prevent this, wear gloves and long sleeves to prevent your skin from getting burned from scalding water.

Additionally, avoid pouring water that’s still boiling on plants that you want to keep. This method is the recommended homemade weed killer for paving natural foot traffic or for paved sidewalks and driveways. In short, when hot water is poured over grass or soil, it can kill beneficial organisms. Where possible, avoid pouring water near electrical outlets or structures as it can pose a fire hazard.

Conclusion

Now that we’ve explored all the weed killer options for weed control, we’ll need to do a quick recap of what we’ve learned so far:

• If you’re looking for a homemade weed killer, you may have to reapply more often compared to using commercial weed killers.
• While the recipes are safe, you’ll still need to consider that they can harm the plants you want to keep.
• Regardless of their safety, wearing protective gear, such as gloves, face masks, goggles, and clothing, is still recommended.

With all the homemade recipes to kill weeds in your hands, we’re curious to know which one you think will work for you. After using any method, the weeds will no longer grow and develop as strong.