This 3-Step Natural Weed Killer is Easy to DIY — and Really Works
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Weeds can be a pain — and a happy home base for bugs. While commercial herbicides can get rid of those troublesome visitors, that approach isn't for everyone. Even if you're not a savvy environmentalist with a green thumb, you probably know that contaminating your yard with nasty chemicals isn't ideal, especially if you have kids, pets, or an edible garden nearby. Luckily, we got you covered with a homemade natural weed killer recipe.
This easy-to-make weed killer won't hurt the earth, but it will stop the weeds from growing in your garden. It also only requires three steps. This natural epsom salt weed killer with vinegar and dawn will slash the weeds in your lawn or even in the cracks of the pavement, with just the spray of a bottle. All the ingredients can be easily found for only a few bucks, and you might already have all of them in your home. It only takes a few minutes to make the mixture, so you can get out in your yard and start spraying away as soon as possible.
Since this is a natural weed killer, meaning there aren't any hardcore chemicals, you'll need more than one round of spraying to get the job done. Ahead, we've laid out the easy steps for your very own DIY natural weed killer recipe.
— Additional reporting by Lauren Harano and Clara Amelia
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Natural Weed Killer: What You’ll Need
- 1 gallon vinegar
- 1/4 cup dish soap, like Dawn ($5)
- 2 cups Epsom salts
- Large bucket
- Wooden spoon or paint stirrer
- Spray bottle
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Step 1: Mix the Igredients
Mix together the Dawn dish soap, Epsom salts, and vinegar in a large bucket with the wooden spoon. Vinegar alone will kill weeds, but it's more effective when combined with the soap and salt. The Epsom salts and the acetic acid in the vinegar dehydrates the plant by pulling out its moisture, while the dish soap breaks down the plant's outer coat (cuticle).
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Step 2: Pour Liquid Into Spray Bottle
Pour the mixture in a spray bottle. If you're not comfortable pouring the mixture from the bucket into the spray bottle, transfer the liquid using a measuring cup with a spout or a funnel to help with your accuracy.
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Step 3: Liberally Spray Weeds
Go outside and spray the mixture onto the weeds. Make sure to coat all surfaces of the weed with the spray. Again, because this is a natural weed killer you may need more spritzes than you would with a chemical-based formula.
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Natural Weed Killer Recipe Results
Voilà — fewer weeds in no time.
Be careful that you only spray what you want to kill. The mixture is nonselective, which means it will kill nearby grass or other expensive plants that you purchased at your local nursery. Just like chemical weed killers, you'll have to reapply the mixture for those stubborn, older weeds. The younger weeds will die easier.
Kelly Ladd is a former PS contributor.
Lauren Harano is a contributor for PS and was formerly an editor for the Living, Beauty, and Shop departments.
Clara Amelia was an operations support associate at PS.