So I decided to try a recipe for an "organic" weed killer to spray out the invaders. The recipe was posted on a bulletin board at the yard where we have purchased our gravel and dirt. Hopefully it works, we'll see!
25 April 2010
Weeds
I love my garden. I love the fact that I have raised beds to grow my veggies in. I love the fact that between those raised beds I have gravel paths so that when I water my veggies, I don't end up having to walk on muddy paths. Even though those paths were all lined with landscaping fabric before the gravel was spread on them, it seems that it is still possible for weeds to make their home on my paths.
So I decided to try a recipe for an "organic" weed killer to spray out the invaders. The recipe was posted on a bulletin board at the yard where we have purchased our gravel and dirt. Hopefully it works, we'll see!
So I decided to try a recipe for an "organic" weed killer to spray out the invaders. The recipe was posted on a bulletin board at the yard where we have purchased our gravel and dirt. Hopefully it works, we'll see!
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I'm sure this stuff probably works pretty good, but it's NOT organic. Have you ever read the ingredients on a bottle of dish soap?
ReplyDeleteTrue. Not exactly organic. The point being it is safer than Ortho or Roundup. Would you eat off a plate that's been washed in the aforementioned? Or soak your feet in Ortho or Roundup? Probably not.
DeleteNot truly organic, but they use Dawn dush soap to clean the birds, etc after an oil spill.
DeleteCan you use this and then plant flowers in the same spot?
ReplyDeleteThey do sell dish soap that does not contain all of the nasty chemicals.
ReplyDeleteI think the dish soap is used simply to hold the vinegar on the leaves. I have a similar recipe for cleaning tubs/showers. Supposed to be half and half....vinegar and Dawn....but I used a lot less Dawn and it still did the trick. Vinegar, so many uses.
ReplyDeleteDish soap breaks down the plant oil so the vinegar
ReplyDeleteGets absorbed more easily.
How about using castile soap?
ReplyDeleteDoes this kill just weeds or does it kill everything in its entirety.
ReplyDeleteI would like to think that if you're researching natural ways to kill weeds that you would use natural ingredients, i.e. soap. In any event use a castile soap. The soap is used to adhere to the plant and break down it's protective coat. The combination of these three items salt/vinegar/soap work the best. One more point, this solution will kill any vegetative growth so apply with focus and care.
ReplyDelete***Support your community, buy local foods from your farmers and artisan, you'll shop a lot less often in the the stores that import form nefarious governments and companies. (I hope one day we can buy imports comfortably, as of now I feel we can't) Know who you're buying food and clothing from and know their practices. Warmest Regards
Does not work here in SC; tried 2 applications in the same area without success
ReplyDeleteDoesn't work in AZ either...
DeleteI live in SC and have used for last 2 yrs and it worked for me!! Just got home from getting more vinegar for more!
DeleteI've read that epsom salts is used as a fertilizer for new plants. I'm going to give this a try, but I'll use either kosher salt, or sea salt.
ReplyDeleteEpsom salt is not a salt. It is magnesium. Do not put real salt such as Kosher or sea salt on your plants it ill kill them!
DeleteIsn't killing them what we want it to do?
DeleteEpsom salts is a great fertilizer. I used it around the drip line of my fruit trees in Florida. the fruit was sweeter and my lawn was really green..
DeleteMy understanding is Epsom salts potentiates a plant's ability to take up the available nutrients available in the soil rather than acting as a 'fertilizer' other than increasing the available magnesium
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI don't know for sure about the mechanism of epsom salts in killing weeds. But I do know for sure that it is a salt. It is not NaCl or table salt, but MgSO4 or magnesium sulfate. Magnesium and sulfate are both good for plants and the soil. But I suspect that when more concentrated, especially on the leaves and not taken up by the roots, that it would "burn" the plant just as excessive application of most fertilizers will. I would not use chloride salts like table salt, kosher salt, pickling salt, etc, as that will harm the soil in the longer term. Depending on your soil pH, you may need more acidic or alkaline buffering in your soil. Generally, plants and soil will benefit more from salts based on potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), or calcium (Ca) than from sodium (Na).
DeleteI'm going to add gasoline to the mix to make sure. I basically want to kill the earth in my 400 foot driveway, Weeding it isn't practical.
ReplyDeleteYou would be better off adding sulphuric acid to the mix ifor you are going to add gasoline to the mix. Tell us how that works out for you.
DeleteWhen he blows up he won't be around to tell you how it worked.
DeleteWorks really good. Happy what I see
ReplyDeletehow soon can you plant where this stuff is been sprayed? is it like round up where you can't plant there for a year.
ReplyDeletei'm guessing that you should store this in a cool dark place? or does it matter?
ReplyDeletetried it on some poison oak yesterday doesn't
ReplyDeletelook like it worked. It rained lat night not sure if that stopped it from working.
How much does it make?
ReplyDelete1 gallon 2 1/4 cups :-)
Delete1 Gallon = 16 cups.
DeleteDoes it kill the grass?
ReplyDeleteI need to kill a lot of crabgrass, and then reseed with good grass, is this solution recommended?
ReplyDeleteDeetles Bird the author NOT ME but WOW what a great idea - going out right now and trying her formula.
ReplyDeleteSoap helps hold vinegar and salt suction to the weeds surface
ReplyDeleteI thank you and the environment thanks you. Where are you standing, the Great Wall of China? Thanks again for the post.
ReplyDeleteALL IT COST AFTER I BOUGHT THE VINEGAR AND EPSON SALT AND DAWN DISH SOAP I BROKE DOWN TO ONLY 3.23 A GAL IT TOOK ABOUT 4 HOURS TO KILL THE WEEDS DEAD . WORKS GREAT I WILL NEVER USE THE HARMFUL STUFF ANY MORE THIS IS MUCH CHEAPER AND DOES THE JOB GREAT .
ReplyDeleteI used this last year and it worked great in Kentucky!! I only use it where I will NEVER plant, such as a graveled area. I think using Castile soap is a good suggestion! I will try it this year!
ReplyDeleteI used this last year and it worked great in Kentucky!! I only use it where I will NEVER plant, such as a graveled area. I think using Castile soap is a good suggestion! I will try it this year!
ReplyDeleteYes, it will kill the grass, which is great if you wand to get rid of craw grass tool
ReplyDeletei used it here in NJ and worked great!!! However I'm still confused how the solution works. I use epson salts as a fertilizer. How does it work to kill weeds? thank you
ReplyDeleteDid yall have to pull the dead weeds after or did they die and blow off lol the recipe worked for me fantastically but I was wondering about pulling them once dead.
ReplyDeleteI have used just plain cleaning vinegar that has an acetic acid content of 10%, twice as high as pickling vinegar. I have sprayed it on my interlocking stone driveway and sidewalks. It works well and quickly. Neighbours have questioned the smell of pickles in the air.
ReplyDeleteI have used this many times & it works great! The salt and dish soap work together to kick the vinegar into action. How bad can Dawn be when it was used to save the little birdies? I just mix it up in a bucket, transfer it to a spray bottle, spray it on, wait a couple of days and then sweep your weeds away.
ReplyDeleteHow long before you can plant where you spray ?
ReplyDeleteHow long before you can plant garden plants where you spray ?
ReplyDeleteIs this safe to use in my dog kennel?
ReplyDeletewill it kill my flowers that are all ready planted
ReplyDelete