The bad reputation of chemical herbicides is on the rise. After cases as controversial and outrageous as that of Dewayne Johnson, who contracted cancer from the intensive use of Monsanto’s RoundUp herbicide, little can be trusted in these harmful products.
The bad thing is that many do not know the alternatives to these chemical herbicides which, like RoundUp, contain glyphosate, a chemical that damages the DNA of cells and can cause cancer.
But there really are options for you to get rid of weeds and prevent the spread of the toxic ingredients of commercial herbicides in the environment – which, among other things, contaminate water. Many of the homemade herbicides that we will show you below are made from an ingredient mixed with . There are also simple alternative methods for removing weeds, which are a bit ruthless but completely effective.
Here are some easy homemade herbicides (and alternative weed control methods):
homemade herbicides
Boiling water
The weed does not tolerate high temperatures. Therefore, a great option is to use boiling water.
You just have to pour the boiling water on the weeds in your garden or orchard. If they are very large you will have to repeat the procedure once or twice, but you will see that this eliminates them completely in a short time.
Vinegar
The miraculous vinegar, both apple and white, is also useful for gardening. Thanks to its high acidity it can kill the largest weeds.
Mix 50% vinegar and 50% water (depending on the amount of weed you want to exterminate) and spray the mixture being careful not to splash your plants or grass. If they are very large herbs, you can try a more concentrated vinegar solution.
Salt
Salt is ideal for eliminating weeds in the long term – especially in those small cracks where they tend to grow.
In a spray bottle, mix warm water with half a cup of salt. Shake well and spray the entire area. You can also put the salt directly on the herb leaves, and then just sprinkle with water.
But be careful: salt causes serious damage to the soil. That’s why you should only apply it directly to the leaves of the weed.
Sodium bicarbonate
Yes, baking soda also works for this – among many other things. And it is very effective, because it is also an excellent homemade insecticide and prevents the appearance of .
Like salt, you just have to apply a liberal amount of baking soda on the herbs and then water them with plenty of water to spread it. You may have to do this a couple more times, depending on the size of the weed and how entrenched it is.
Foolproof mixture of salt and vinegar
If both work separately, imagine together!
You only need:
Table salt
Vinegar (white or apple, optional)
In a 1 liter spray bottle you must pour 800 ml of vinegar and mix it with ¼ of salt. Then shake it vigorously to prevent grains of salt from clogging the sprinkler and so that the salt and vinegar create a homogeneous liquid.
You should apply it abundantly on the weeds and let it act for 2 days. If necessary, reapply. Remember to be careful not to wet the soil with this mixture, unless you want to eliminate a large area where only weeds grow – for example, between cracks in concrete or in gravel.
Alternative methods
Tear them out by the roots
The friendliest way to get rid of weeds is to dig up their roots with the help of a shovel. It is convenient to leave them drying in the sun – as later you can turn them into part of the homemade one. But you may need something more direct, depending on how many weeds are invading your precious crops, the surroundings of your house or your garden.
In general, not all weeds react the same to these homemade herbicides and alternative methods. That’s why we recommend doing some tests until you find the one that works best for you, and then yes: start eradicating them all. Good luck!