Eco Friendly Weed Killers
As we begin to move into the warmer weathers of spring, gardeners everywhere are looking to revitalise their outdoor spaces. If you’ve let your garden lie dormant over winter, it’s likely that you’ll have some weeds that need clearing. If you don’t want to spend the money on expensive weed killers or would just prefer to use something more sustainable on your garden, you can use DIY eco-friendly weed killers to ensure your garden is weed-free ready for spring.
Why DIY?
Eco-Friendly DIY weed killers are great alternatives to standard chemical-based solutions- they have a better environmental impact, save money and have a lower health risk. For eco-friendly weed killers to be fully effective, however, it depends on the type of weed you’re targeting, the quantity of them and the specific conditions of the outbreak you’re dealing with. You may want to do some research into the best way of targeting specific weeds or check out our tailored weed control guides.
You should always aim to prevent the growth of weeds, rather than try and tackle them when they’re rampant. You also may have to re-apply and be more persistent with the eco-friendly solutions to get the full effect- It may seem more tedious/more work initially but it's worth it when you assess the long-term benefits like being significantly better for your health & easy on your wallet too!
Vinegar or Lemon Juice
- The acidic nature of vinegar and lemon juice will dry out the surrounding area of the plant, shutting off moisture absorption and slowly killing it.
- Vinegar or lemon juice are great DIY alternatives as they’re often household items and readily available to use.
- This method will work on most weeds & is quite an effective & fast-acting solution. However, due to its strength, you will want to use this in a targeted manner to minimise damage to surrounding areas.
Boiling Water or Steam
- Using boiling water or steam will thermally shock the weed, damaging the cells and killing the plant from the roots.
- Hot water has no environmental risks & leaves behind no residue in the soil, meaning it is a safe and sustainable option for weed control. It is best used with the correct safety equipment to minimise injury.
- Hot water or steam is best used on early growth weeds to wipe it out before it has grown. For more advanced weeds, you may need to re-apply.
Salt
- Salt can severely dehydrate a plant, so will kill weeds but can harm the soil and surrounding plants if used in excess.
- Salt can be applied either as a brine solution or as raw salt itself to the base of the plant. It will then dissolve into the soil and be absorbed by the plant's root system.
- Salt can remain in the soil long after the plant you intended to remove has died- this will prevent re-growth but also may prevent the growth of other desirable plants.
