There are many, many different products out there that you can use to kill weeds. Weed killers range from commercial-grade herbicides to homemade, all-natural weed killers. But the jury is out – what’s the best weed killer?
Ultimately, the answer to that question depends on you. Are you interested in helping the environment and producing healthy plants? Or are you interested in killing weeds as fast as possible without regard to the health of the ecosystem?
This article is going to focus on helping you find the best weed killer that’s safe for the environment.
Picking the Best Weed Killer for You
It helps to learn a bit about each type of weed killer. This way you’ll be able to decide for yourself which one is best for you and your yard.
Vinegar
Vinegar is one of the most popular weed killers. It’s easy to find, easy to use, and quite effective at killing weeds.
Make sure that you get vinegar with 20% acetic acid. The regular stuff, which is only 5% acetic acid, usually isn’t strong enough to kill weeds.
Simply spray the weeds with vinegar and make sure that you get some in the soil so that it soaks into their root system.
Another popular option is to mix baking soda with your vinegar. Remember those high-school science projects when you mixed vinegar with baking soda? Imagine that chemical reaction destroying your weeds. Satisfying, no?
Steam & Hot Water
You might be surprised to learn that steam and hot water work as great weed killers. Plus, you don’t have to actually go out and buy anything!
First, boil some water in a kettle. Then, take the boiling water outside with a large bowl or pot – one large enough to cover the weeds you want to kill.
Pour the hot water onto the weed, cover it with the bowl to catch the steam, and watch as you cook up some steamed weeds. This method is especially useful for weeds growing in concrete cracks.
Salt
Salt is another great weed killer. It also works amazingly with vinegar. If you’re thinking about making some homemade weed killer, consider mixing some 20% vinegar with salt and a bit of water.
Remember, though, that too much salt is bad for the soil. If you’re trying to get weeds out of a garden where you’re planning to grow flowers or vegetables, salt might not be the best option. If too much salt soaks into the soil then future plants will have a hard time.
Borax
Despite the powerful-sounding name, borax is actually a natural chemical. It also works great for killing weeds.
However, remember that just because something is natural doesn’t mean it’s healthy. Cyanide is natural, too. When using borax you want to make sure that you don’t overload your soil with too much.
Conclusion
There are lots of weed killers out there, and the best weed killer depends upon what you’re trying to accomplish.
Natural alternatives like salt, vinegar, and even hot water can kill weeds without destroying the environment. The only thing left to do is make sure that the plants you’re killing are actually weeds!
