Vinegar: A Garden Miracle! (2024)

FAQs

What kills weeds permanently with vinegar? ›

While household vinegar, which is 5% vinegar (acetic acid), can be sprayed on its own as a weed killer, you can improve vinegar's efficacy by making an easy solution. Here's how: Fill a large bucket with 1 gallon of white vinegar, 2 tablespoon of dish soap, and 1 cup of salt. Stir until everything is well combined.

Vinegar is not selective. Glyphosate, the ingredient in Roundup and other products, is translocated from the leaves to the roots of a weed. Vinegar is not translocated. Remember, strong acetic acid is dangerously corrosive; it will burn your skin readily.

Vinegar as an herbicide: White vinegar which is about 5% acetic acid and does a nice job of burning the tops of plants, but not their roots – so a larger weed will live right through a spray even though it will look bad right after the spray.

A bottle of household vinegar is about a 5-percent concentration. Canada thistle, one of the most tenacious weeds in the world, proved the most susceptible; the 5-percent concentration had a 100-percent kill rate of the perennial's top growth. The 20-percent concentration can do this in about 2 hours.

Natural Herbicides

Vinegar (acetic acid) will also kill dandelions. Here's what to do: Fill a spray bottle with pure white vinegar. On a sunny day, spray it on the dandelion leaves and roots until the plant is saturated.

Keep four-legged pests out of your garden by soaking several rags in white vinegar and place on stakes around your vegetables. Re-soak the rags every 7-10 days. Repel birds, rabbits and squirrels with help from the shiny metallic balloons that we all receive on birthdays, anniversaries, etc.

The combination of white and apple cider vinegar is regarded as a natural herbicide. Vinegar has consistently demonstrated its ability to destroy weeds. Contrary to commercial weed killers, this vinegar is safe for the environment, won't hurt humans, plants, or even animals, and is environmentally beneficial.

Even though vinegar is an acid, it breaks down quickly in the soil and, therefore, is not likely to accumulate enough to affect soil pH for more than a few days.

Prevent Fungal Disease

Give this natural remedy a try. MAKE IT: Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 2-3 drops of liquid soap in 1 liter of water. Spray the solution on the infected plants. Baking soda helps the plants become less acidic and prevents fungal growth.

Can I Just Sprinkle Epsom Salt on Plants? Never apply Epsom salt straight from the package. Always dilute the granules in water first, and either drench your plants' roots or spray it on the foliage. Don't spray on hot or sunny days, however, to avoid scorching the foliage.

How do I permanently get rid of weeds in my gravel driveway? ›

Method #1: Simply Spreading Salt

It's true, killing weeds in your driveway is as simple as spreading regular table salt. Of course, you can also use Epsom salt. Or water softener salt such as demonstrated below.

Even though vinegar is an acid, it breaks down quickly in the soil and, therefore, is not likely to accumulate enough to affect soil pH for more than a few days. Vinegar causes a rapid burn to plant tissue of susceptible species, so unintended injury is quite likely without knowing more information.

Besides the potential for an upset tummy, vinegar is generally safe. Just try to keep it away from dogs with easily irritated stomachs or those who you know will attempt to eat anything they can get at!