Did you know you can use vinegar as a natural weed killer? Next time you spot weeds popping up through your mulch, head to the kitchen and grab the vinegar. Rather than shelling out big bucks for chemicals, simply spray a few squirts of vinegar directly on your weeds. The acetic acid in the vinegar will kill anything it comes in contact with by temporarily lowering the pH of the soil.
Not only is vinegar cheap and non-toxic, it doesn’t do any long term damage to the soil and it is fast acting. But be careful not to squirt vinegar of your vegetable plants or they will die.
For best results spay your weeds with vinegar on a sunny day and keep in mind that some weeds have really long roots and may need to be sprayed more than once.
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The comprehensive guide covers all types and uses of vinegar, including how to make flavored varieties and using it as the basis for kids’ science projects.
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We use vinegar for our weeds as well
It’s much cheaper and it’s not harmful to our 2 year old or our dog 
Vinegar is also good to have in a squirt bottle if you are a runner and encounter mean dogs! They don’t like it, but it won’t hurt them!
Mavis, are those ‘weed pictures’ yours? I am asking because I read in another blog the same thing about a month ago. I tried it and it didn’t do anything to the weeds.
Yes. They are my pictures.
Household vinegar is usually 5% acidity….I’ve read you need like 20% to work like Round-up. I’ve found some searching the internet….but it can be pricey if you need to use a lot (like for fence rows).
Any ideas on slugs? Tried coffee grounds and egg shells and salt. Needs to be organic. Any ideas?
@Tali it has to be a hot sunny day when you do it is my understanding.
Beer in a Saucer or soup bowl
or whatever you can find that has low sides.
They love the smell of it and they die happy!
Try Neptune’s Harvest Crab Shell. They claim it works great for slugs, nematodes, and other pests. Plus, it also fertilizes your plants too! And it’s organic!
I’ve tried vinegar and it didn’t work well for me
. Maybe I wasn’t doing it on a hot day.
What works best for us (although you have to be real careful), is to use boiling water. I empty my canner after canning directly onto weeds outside on our brick patio and walkway and it does the job every time. It’s cheaper still! Just watch your toes, kids and animals:-).
Tracie, we’ve had lots of trouble with slugs this year, too
.
Mavis, your blog is awesome. Have I told you that recently?
A hot pot with a pour spout is perfect for killing weeds with boiling water. Also one of those electric tea kettles if you have that. We have a hot pot still kicking around from college days.
If those were dandelion weeds you can eat the leaves. It’s has a slightly bitter taste. NEVER eat the stem.
oh yes! thanks for the reminder
did a little dabbing on the driveway just now!
I was going to try salt water around the play set, but this may work better! I am just wondering about the Ph idea though, the siol is alreay quite acidic from all of the oaks.
does it kill the grass if i were to use the Vinegar on my lawn?
Yes it will kill your grass. ;(
Does any one know if vinegar kills poison ivy?
hydrogen peroxide cleans tile grout just great —
cheap vodka cleans mold in a bathroom and it usually won’t come back either
Hi Mavis,
Thank you so much for your weed killing idea. I am a beginner beekeeper and don’t want to use any chemicals on my property. Your website is delightful – great info and wonderful color! I love it! I am wanting to start a similar website and not sure where to start. Can you give advise on where to begin? Thank you again for sharing your inspiring life and ideas,
Constance of Olalla
You can sign up for a free blog at wordpres.org.
Do you think that vinegar would work on english ivy too? I don’t want to use harsh chemicals, but I want it gone!
Good question. I don’t have ivy so I have never tried it before.
I am correct to assume that you use it full strength?
Yes!