Weedicides
Currently with trying to get our rental place looking spiff for us to leave and getting the new house for mum and dad under control (1 acre) we have been looking and thinking about ‘natural ways’ to get some weeds under control. It also doesn’t help that we have had record high rains and then beautiful warm days following, so the weeds are flourishing and getting everything they need to be nice and strong.
So far, the best ingredient I have found is vinegar. Vinegar, vinegar, vinegar. Because of it’s natural acidity it will tend to draw out the moisture of anything it lands on and basically starve the plant of life. Therefore it is not something that should be used everywhere, or all the time. It should be used to gain control and in extreme circumstances - this will also limit the impact you are having to the soil conditions.
In all the recipes I have found range from the following ingredients:
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Vinegar, from 1 tablespoon per 3.5 litres to full strength;
Salt, from adding none to adding 450gms per 3.5 litres;
Soap, from none to 20% of the mixture;
Water, from adding none to having the mix be 99% water; and using cool, lukewarm, warm or hot water;
Other additions including lemon juice, gin, bourbon, citrus oil.
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The first mixture I am going to try is:
Vinegar Weed Killer Recipe
• 120 mls Lemon Juice
• 1 litre White or Cider Vinegar
Simply mix the two ingredients together in a spray bottle and you have your organic weed killer formula. Spot spray it directly on the weeds, being careful not to spray desirable plants. For the most effective result the best time to spray in during the heat of the day.
Over the next couple of months we will be trialling a few of these mixtures - and I think that it depends really on the location, weather, soil conditions, weeds and growth to what may work for you. At least you have some ingredients that may not be too detrimental to the health and well being of the environment and future of the land.
Keeper of the Home - Weed Killer
Home Made Weed Killer - sometimes a good idea
Small Farm Permaculture - organic weed killer formula
Comments
Kim: Another thing you can do is purposefully plant hardy plants that are considered weeds - like clover - as a lawn!
Do you guys have dandelions? Because you can eat the tender young dandelion leaves just like any green!
