Looking for an all natural solution to stop weeds for good on your patios, driveways and walkways this year – then it’s time to look to the power of vinegar! Nothing is more simple, easy and effective than making your own herbicide with vinegar. And best of all, it is 100 percent organic!
When we built the new farm, we knew there were going to be a lot of paths, patios and driveways that would need to be kept weed free. And when you are trying to use an all-organic approach, that can be difficult to do naturally. But that is exactly where vinegar, or more precisely, horticultural vinegar saves the day!
For years now we have used horticultural vinegar to keep non-grass and flowerbed areas free of weeds. It has not only proven to be highly effective at weed control, but also keeps us worry free about having to use any harsh commercial herbicides.
With keeping your paths and driveways clear of weeds – here is a look at how we make our homemade vinegar solution, and how we apply and use it to keep weeds at bay.
How To Stop Weeds With Vinegar
How To Use Horticultural Vinegar
For our homemade vinegar weed killer, we use a more potent solution referred to as horticultural or industrial strength vinegar. Although standard vinegar (the kind found in the grocery stores) can be used, it is simply not strong enough to really knock weeds out.
Regular off-the-shelf vinegar has an acidity rate of around 5%. At that strength, it does kill off small weeds, and will even stunt some large ones too. But unfortunately, it simply isn’t strong enough to effectively kill the roots of the weeds.
If you are simply killing tiny weeds on a patio or driveway surface, the lower acidity versions will work. However you will need to use it at full strength to have any effect at all.
In the end though, at 5%, it usually results in weeds that die back, but still come back from the roots. Of course, that means a lot more spraying, and a lot more work. But that is exactly where the stronger vinegar can do the job.
Horticultural or industrial vinegar can be purchased at a much higher acidity rate. And it can either be diluted to take care of smaller weed problems, or used at full strength to kill more problematic and stubborn weeds.
Mixing Vinegar With Water – How To Stop Weeds With Vinegar
You can purchase horticultural vinegar on line or at many home and garden centers as well. Depending on the product chosen, the acidity levels will range from 20% to 45% in strength.
We use a solution from Calyptus that is at 30% strength. At 30% full strength, it certainly has plenty of power to kill weeds. Enough so that we can even dilute in half to make it around 15% for most of our spraying. Affiliate Link: Calyptus 30% Pure Super Concentrated Vinegar
Diluting Horticultural Vinegar
When weeds are at their peak in spring and early summer, we mix our vinegar weed killer in a ratio of 1 part horticultural vinegar to 1/2 part water. This keeps the strength in the 20 to 23% range, which is strong enough to control the majority of weeds.
Remember that vinegar is an acid, so you should always use gloves and eye protection when mixing or filling up containers.
If there are especially stubborn weeds, we do use it at full strength to take care of the problem. To apply, we use a backpack sprayer for ease of use over long stretches. But you can also use a hand held pump sprayer, or even a spray bottle for small jobs. See: How To Get Rid Of Thistles For Good – The Simple Trick That Will Eliminate Thistles Forever!
Once summer comes and weeds slow down, we switch to a mix of 1 part horticultural vinegar with 1 part water. We have found for general regular weed spraying in our driveways and paths, a 15% acidity rate does the job quite well. It also makes the spray even more economical.
So how fast does it work? In general, with the strong solution, you usually see leaves curl and brown within 8 to 12 hours. With the 15% and less versions, it can be 24 hours or more to see results. But it is important to note, when you spray can have a big impact on effectiveness.
Spraying When Weeds Are At Their Weakest – How To Stop Weeds With Vinegar
When using a solution of vinegar weed killer, the sun and heat are your best friends. Just like flowers and vegetable plants, weeds are most stressed when the sun is shining hot.
For best control, spray weeds in mid to late afternoon on sunny days. The hotter, the better! This is when plants are most vulnerable, and the vinegar absorbs and kills at a much better rate.
It is important to note that both regular and horticultural vinegar weed killer solutions are non-specific. That means they will kill whatever they come in contact with. Although it is wonderful for taking care of weeds in sidewalks, walkways, and gravel areas, it is not a good solution for using on the lawn or in compact planting areas.
We have used it a few times in the garden walkways for stubborn weeds. When we do, we are always careful to make sure the spray never comes near our vegetable plants or growing rows.
Spraying Safely
Finally, although vinegar is natural and organic, you do need to be careful when spraying as well as mixing. Vinegar is a natural acid, so it is important to take precautions to prevent burns to the skin and eyes.
Always use goggles and gloves to prevent burns to the eyes or skin. And keep children and pets away while spraying. Allow the solution a bit of time to dry in the sun to be safe from contact. One thing is for sure, we will certainly take spraying a natural substance any day over using man-made chemicals to control weeds at our farm! Happy Gardening – Jim and Mary.
Old World Garden
Jim and Mary Competti have been writing gardening, DIY and recipe articles and books for over 15 years from their 46 acre Ohio farm. The two are frequent speakers on all things gardening and love to travel in their spare time.
As always, feel free to email us at thefarm@owgarden.com with comments, questions, or to simply say hello! You can sign up for our free email list in the subscribe now box in the middle of this article. Follow us on Facebook here : OWG Facebook. This article may contain affiliate links.