16 Jun DIY Weed Killer – Safer than pesticides

Do it yourself weed killer is perfect for those of us who do not want to use pesticides for various reasons.  As a young mother, I stopped using pesticides when my children were born.  Even though my husband, Dan,  loved a green green lawn, I could not tolerate the possibility of exposing the kids, and later dogs, to toxic chemicals. Nothing has changed since I became a grandma.  I like to avoid harsh chemicals when I can so I use this homemade weed killer to keep my interlocking patio bricks void of unsightly weeds.

I simply blend 2 cups of vinegar and 1 tablespoon dish soap into a spray bottle. It is important to spray on a nice sunny day to draw the moisture out of the leaves.

Vinegar is a natural product, usually derived from grain, apples or grapes. It is distilled through a fermentation process. Usually store bought vinegar is labeled at 5% acidity.  It is the acetic acid that makes is an effective weed killer.  It is not selective so it will kill all plants.  Acetic acid, from any source, will kill most vegetation because it draws all the moisture out of the leaf. Use caution not to spray what you want to keep.  Spraying the part of the plant that you can see does not guarantee the killing of the root.  Older weeds may be harder to get rid of and may need to be pulled out by hand.