Controlling Weeds in Your Yard Without Chemicals: Tools You Need

There are a few reasons why you may not want to use chemicals for weed control in your yard. Perhaps you don't want to expose your pets or children to potentially dangerous toxins, or you plan on having a more environmental approach to pesky weeds, such as dandelions, crab grass, and thistles. The best way to take care of unwanted plants in your yard is to have an excellent defense already in mind and have the tools and supplies you need to get rid of them before they make a huge problem. Here are tips and supplies you will need for chemical-free weed removal.

Vinegar, salt, and dish soap

Vinegar is a popular home kitchen tool used in weed removal. Combine it with salt and a bit of dish soap to help it stick to plants, and you've got a very effective active weed killer on your hands. Combine an ample amount of white vinegar, a cup or so of salt, and enough dish soap to make suds in a large bucket and stir thoroughly until well mixed. Pour the solution into spray bottles or a pump weed killer spray container to attack active weeds. Since this solution will not kill new weeds, you will have to apply it to your yard and sidewalks regularly to get rid of residual growth.

Boiling water

For concentrated growths of weeds in sidewalk cracks or along your home's foundation, use boiling water. Within a few days after application (in full sun is best) weeds begin to shrivel and die. Since boiling water will also kill surrounding grass and flowers, make sure to use care when pouring the water on your unwanted plants. Enough water to drench the weeds to their roots is all you need, and, to save time, you can use water left over from cooking as long as it's boiling hot when applied.

Newspaper

You can tackle large sections of crab grass by covering them with old newspaper. When the sun can't penetrate the paper, the grass begins to die off due to lack of nutrients. Stack newspapers a few layers deep over large areas of pesky grass and then cover the area with old blankets, rugs, or pieces of carpeting to hold everything in place. Within a few days the grass should die off leaving behind yellowed or white grass. Till the area under to remove roots and then replant healthy grass in its place to keep your yard looking amazing.


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