NATURAL WEED KILLERS

Salt and vinegar are among the most effective chemical-free weed killers, specialists have revealed

British gardeners are being urged to consider homemade and chemical-free alternatives to keep weeds under control this spring and summer.

Hours in the garden pruning and preening can soon be ruined by pesky weeds like dandelions and white clover, so experts from billyoh.com have revealed the best weed killers that can be fashioned from common store cupboard essentials.

Vinegar, salt, and baking soda all contain properties which starve, dehydrate and ultimately destroy troublesome plants, so that gardeners can enjoy healthy lawns and weed-free driveways for longer.

A spokesperson for billyoh.com commented: “Not only will these products and concoctions save the expense of commercial products, it also means you can avoid using chemical sprays. Products with high acidic values are usually effective, but you should avoid spraying them directly on soil, as substances like vinegar can break down the soil structure and kill beneficial micro-organisms.”

HOMEMADE WEED KILLERS:
1. Vinegar
Vinegar is non-selective and will kill everything it touches, but it won’t work on deep rooted perennials and may just ‘burn’ the visible parts of the weed. It’s highly effective on small weeds, but it can also alter your soil to prevent things from growing there in the future, so it’s best to use this on block paving and gravel driveways only. Simply add it to a sprayer and squirt onto the leaves and stems of weeds.

2. Salt
Salt has been used as a herbicide and pesticide for hundreds of years and is very effective. Dilute three parts salt with one-part water, mix and leave to stand for 10 minutes to make sure the salt has dissolved. Spray the desired weeds with the salty solution, but don’t use on lawns – salt can be absorbed into your soil and prevent future growth.

3. Boiling water
Scalding water can destroy growing weeds, but also any other greenery nearby, so make sure to keep it as close to the weeds as possible.

4. Baking soda
Use baking soda on pesky weeds, particularly those growing in cracks to avoid killing healthy grass and other vegetation.

5. Mulch
Layer mulch with newspapers or cardboard to eliminate existing weeds, whilst also stopping the next generation of weeds from growing, too.

6. Cornmeal
Cornmeal gluten acts as an organic herbicide and is free of toxic chemicals, so should be scattered over soil to prevent crabgrass and dandelions from growing.

7. Rubbing alcohol
Mix two tablespoons of rubbing alcohol with a litre of water, and then pour the mixture into a spray bottle. The alcohol will remove the moisture that weeds need to survive.

www.billyoh.com

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