Non-Toxic Ways to Get Rid of Weeds

One of the least pleasant things about owning a garden is the propagation of weeds. Seriously, they keep on popping up every day on my lawn and in my vegetable garden. Sprinkling chemicals on the vegetables or grass can be very dangerous for health because I certainly did not want any chemical on the vegetables that I would consume later on. On top of being potentially dangerous for children and pets, adding a chemical to your land also contributes to water contamination. Luckily, while browsing through the internet, I came across a lot of methods which can rid of weeds in a non- toxic way. Below are some of my favorites and effective methods.

Fire

It has been scientifically proven that you can use a flame to kill weeds as plants who are alive are unlikely to be burnt by the fire. Plants need to be dead and dried up before they can catch on fire. You can use a flame weeder which after one pass, will kill your weeds within a day or two.

Smother the weeds

Just like any other plant, even weeds need sunlight to grow, by smothering them, you prevent them from getting the sunlight that they need. All you need to do is to cover the weeds with a bunch of newspaper or mulch. This method works best on low growing weeds.

Pull them

This is a very obvious method but believes me, it is very effective. Get yourself a small trowel and dig your weeds away by hand. It is a great way to get rid of occasional weeds and you get to spend some time in the company of your plants as well. For a better effect, it is advised to water your lawn before pulling apart the weeds.

Salt

Salt is another effective way of getting rid of unwanted weeds. However, you need to be careful with this method, as salt can kill plants too. It is advisable to avoid using salt on your lawn or garden but you can use it on the edges of your lawn or cracks along your sideways or driveways. Use it with moderation as it can erode concrete. The best way to apply salt to weeds is to mix salt and hot water in a spray bottle. You can then spray it directly onto the leaves of the weeds.

Overpower them

One of the best ways to avoid the growth of weeds is to keep your lawn healthy and luscious. A healthy lawn is going to fight for water and nutrients, thus preventing weed growth. Healthy plants are going to fight to overpower weeds and keep them away from your garden and lawn.

Boiling water

If you have noticed that weeds have started popping out from the cracks of your sidewalk or driveway, the best method is to pour boiling water on them. The weeds will die with the heat from the boiling water. You can leave leftover water from boiling pasta or potatoes or even fresh water from your kettle.

Vinegar

Vinegar is an effective herbicide as it contains acetic acid. You can use the vinegar that you get in your grocery store as it contains 50 % acetic acid. The best way to use it is to add a few drops of dish soap into the vinegar in a spray bottle. The dish soap is going to help the vinegar to be absorbed by the weed. Wait for the weeds to wither and get them removed.

Corn gluten meal

Corn gluten meal prevents weed seeds from germinating and it is a byproduct of the corn milling process. This method can be used only when you are making your garden bed or lawn as it has no effect on grown weeds.

Use Alcohol

Alcohol is a very good herbicide as it dries out any of your unwanted plants. You can either use some cheap vodka or rubbing alcohol. This method also needs to use in a spray bottle. You will need to add 2 oz of alcohol and 2 cups of water. You might as well want to add some drops of dish soap to help the mixture to mix with the plant. Make sure to spray on the leaves and stems of the weeds. If your lawn or garden is in a sunny area, this method is perfect for you.

Borax

Even though there are debates going on whether borax is toxic or non-toxic but it all depends on your definition of “toxic”. Borax can be used outdoors to get rid of weeds and ants. Whether you want to use borax or not is your decision, but let me remind you that it is a very effective weed killer. Even this mixture need borax mixed with water and a few drops of dishwashing solution.Be careful as to not get the mixture on the soil or on yourself.