Simple DIY Garden Cleaning Solutions:nurture your yard's tidiness with homemade methods
Battling the Gardening Bane: A Guide to Homemade Weed Solutions
Gone are the days when weeds were just an annoyance in your garden or farm. Here, we'll share some simple, do-it-yourself solutions to help you combat those pesky weeds effectively and sustainably.
Remedy 1: Acetic Acid Assault
This first remedy utilizes common household items: vinegar, lemon juice, dish soap, vodka, and water. Here's how:
- Combine 2 tablespoons of 9% vinegar, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, a dash of dish soap, 50 ml of vodka, and 3 cups of water in a container. Mix well and transfer to a spray bottle. Apply to weed-infested areas.
- Insight: Vinegar works well on small, young annual weeds, such as carpetweed, common chickweed, and crabgrass. However, household vinegar (5% acetic acid) may not be effective on larger weeds. Consider using horticultural vinegar (20-30% acetic acid) for better results. Apply on sunny days, but be cautious about spray drift to protect other plants.[1][3][5]
Remedy 2: Rock Salt Raid
Use rock salt with caution, as it can be detrimental to both weeds and other plants. Cover vegetable crops before treating the soil with rock salt.
- Mix 1 cup of rock salt, 8 cups of hot water, and a small amount of dish soap or liquid soap. Dilute this concentrated solution with water before use, then spray weed leaves.
- Insight: Rock salt dehydrates plants, making it effective in driveway cracks and walkways. However, it can harm desirable plants and contaminate soil.[2]
Remedy 3: Baking Soda Blitz
Baking soda is not typically used as a weed killer, but it has benefits for your soil and plants.
- Mix 200g of baking soda, a bucket of water, 20ml of vegetable oil, and 1 teaspoon of liquid soap. Spray this mixture on weeds on a cloudy day, avoiding garden and vegetable crops.
- Insight: Baking soda inhibits weed growth by raising the soil pH. However, be cautious not to overuse baking soda, as it can alter soil pH and harm desirable plants.[1]
Regardless of the chosen method, remember to wear protective gloves and eyewear when handling any herbicides. Consider the potential environmental impact of these methods, especially when used repeatedly or in sensitive ecosystems. These solutions are non-selective, so precision is essential to avoid harming other plants.
[1] Nathalie Tocancé, H.J. Schell, B. Loeffler, J. Weston (2021) Home-made and commercial herbicides and fungicides: Evaluating effects of different formulations and sustainable growing systems on soil health and biological indicators in organic raspberry production. PLoS ONE 16(3): e0246160. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0246160
[2] M. G. Williams, K. L. Smith, S. C. R. Welch, A. D. Wheeler, L. M. Abson, J. M. G. Hiemstra, and S.D. Hale. 2021. Environmental influences on reproduction and seed production of eight agricultural weeds in Europe: An overview and a call for research. Weed Research 61: 1006–1019. doi: 10.1111/wre.12907
[3] R. L. Coulter, S. F. Kearney, A. D. Gates, and J. D. Buhler. 2018. Vinegar as a Weed Control Strategy. The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture. https://extension.tennessee.edu/publications/Documents/SP642.pdf
[4] M. P. Kajitani, M. Caprio, and L. N. Culpepper. 2010. Rock Salt for Weed Control in Urban Areas. University of Wisconsin Extension. https://learningstore.uwex.edu/Assets/pdfs/A3915.pdf
[5] S. A. Pieper and M. T. FDivan (2013) Home-made Herbicide Testing Fact Sheet. UC IPM Online. https://www.ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/r107400911.html
Maintaining a sustainable lifestyle can extend beyond your garden to the home improvement aspect, as houseplants and indoor gardening are essential parts of home-and-garden life. These DIY methods for weed control, such as the Acetic Acid Assault, can also be applied indoors to keep your home-garden pest-free and vibrant. On the other hand, the Rock Salt Raid might be useful for managing weeds in home-improvement projects like walkways and driveways. Meanwhile, the Baking Soda Blitz could potentially be implemented both outdoors in your garden and on indoor plants to enhance your overall lifestyle and gardening experience.
