7 Ways to kill yard weeds, naturally
Nothing ruins your garden or yard like weeds...yuck! Those uninvited guests that rob your plants of space and nutrients. So murder those weeds most foul, but without harmful chemicals that can do you in, too.
Who says you need standard weeding tools to kill weeds? Here are seven ways to kill weeds with weapons you already have around your house.
1) Newspaper. A carpet of newspaper, which blocks sunlight and oxygen from reaching the soil, will smother weeds already sprouted and prevent new ones from growing. Throw down newspaper in 10-sheet layers, wet to hold it down and cover with an inch or two of mulch. If weeds begin to grow in the mulch, add more layers, making a (delicious?) mulch-newspaper lasagna, which eventually will decompose and nourish the soil.
2) Old Shower Curtains and Carpet Samples. Spreading these useless items in garden paths or between rows will keep weeds from ever showing their unwanted heads. Cover with mulch...still make it pretty.
3) Corn Gluten Meal. This corn by-product stops seeds from growing into weeds. Since the meal will prevent germination, spread it around established plants, and after seedlings and transplants have taken hold in the soil. After harvest, spread the meal to prevent late-season weeds.
4) Vinegar. The acetic acid in 5% vinegar is a desiccant that sucks the life out of plant leaves. It's most destructive to young plants with immature roots, though it just rolls off weeds with waxy leaves, like pennywort or thistle. See #6 to help remedy this.
5) Vodka. After making that dry martini with three olives, but 1 ounce of vodka mixed with 2 cups of water and a couple drops of dish soap. We are not sure if vodka makes the weeds fall down dead or drunk, what we do know is that this concoction will dry out weeds that live in the sun. This does not work on shade-loving weeds. Protect desirables, because vodka will dry them out too.
6) Soap. The oil in soap can break down waxy or hairy weed surfaces, making them vulnerable to desiccants. So add a few drops of liquid dish detergent to vinegar or vodka sprays to keep the solution on leaves. The soap also make the leaves shiny, which will help you keep track of what you've already sprayed.
7) Boiling Water. After you have made yourself a cup of tea, take the kettle outside and pour the boiling water on weeds, which will burn up. This is a particularly good way to whack driveway and walkway weeds, because the boiling water can run off impervious surfaces and cool before it reaches border plants.
Of course, here at Classic Grounds Care, we don't expect you to want or have the time to do all of these DIY yard care recommendations. We are happy to schedule a free consultation and discuss your weed control and prevention strategies. Call today! 360-698-1292