See THAT?
Guess what that is? MY SIDE YARD. Yep, I’m lazy….I hate pulling weeds. Sure do…..
That’s why they’re all still there.
Guess what I’m doing right now now? Yep, pullin weeds. I have to, before I get a ticket from the HOA. (Gosh knows how much I love an HOA…)
So, do I do what the average homeowner does & buy weed killer?
NOPE, NOT HERE. I’m cheap, remember, and cheapskate weed killer is not in my budget. So I’ll tell you a few tricks that I use, every spring and fall, and after the rains come, to help me rid my yard of the pesky weeds that try to pop through.
3 THINGS: Dawn + Vinegar + Salt.
Easy to remember!
Vinegar is a wonderful homemade weed killer folks – white, or cider variety. The acid in the vinegar kills the leaves – and it does best on the younger weeds, because the younger leaves don’t have enough energy in the roots to re-grow their leaves. For bigger weeds with roots, Vinegar will have to be applied more than once to help it get rid of it’s stored energy & die.
Dawn works great mixed with Vinegar, as it works as a glue on the leaves, helping salt find something to stick to!
Salt is a great homemade weed killer – sprinkle on the base of the weed, and over the next few rains it’ll work its way down to the roots. You can “salt” your yard a few times a year, and that will prevent weeds from working their way in. Salt kills plants & makes the ground unsuited for new plants. Just be careful that you take that into account when going salt happy.
Alcohol sprayed on plants will suck the life out of the weed – just be careful because it will kill them all.
Corn Meal works to prevent the weeds from popping up. In my case it’s too late for that. But once I pick all my weeds, I will sprinkle my corn meal down and it will keep the weed seed from growing into a massive plant.
So tomorrow, I will take my spray bottle, Pour in Vinegar. Add some Dawn (for stickability factor), and carry my salt with me.
I will salt and spray. S&S. Lets hope the HOA President doesn’t come out before then……..ha!!
Jessica C says
My neighbor lady always used a tea kettle to boil salt water, then poured on the weeds. My favorite tool for attacking weeds is a hula hoe.
Kara says
See what happens when I leave my phone at home for the day – I just went and spent $25 on weed killer as my side yard looks like a jungle! Used the whole dang gallon and was heading to get more but I will now be going via frys for vinegar instead!!
Sirena says
Thank you sooo much for posting this!!! I will be on it tuesday, we were needing weed killer and could not afford to go get any, this will be great!!!!
Danielle in Peoria says
Thanks for the scoop! Vinegar is AWESOME! I use it on windows (vinegar and dishsoap), my shower, my ceramic floor tiles, calcium hard water stains, ect…I would love more suggestions…maybe a frugal friday post on Vinegar again…??????
Sheryl says
most def :) Just 4 u my lady
Trisha says
I do not have any weeds yet…so I am going to do the cornmeal thing to prevent back breaking work! Thanks for the awesome information :)
Jennie says
We always use Vinegar as we can get it CHEAP at Sam’s Club. Yard smells like Pickles but it works great. I will have to try it with the Dawn (I would have never thought of that).
Jillian says
As long as you dont plan on plating any real plants…
Sheryl says
Of course, I dont recommend this in the garden obviously it’s only to be used on areas that you dont plan on planing real plants. However, using weed eater you need to make sure that you dont plants either..so same thing.
tiffany says
i went for a more abrasive approuch and used vinager n bleach- killed all the ones i sprayed
Jess says
Tiffany…How do you mix your vinager n bleach? My back yard is looking like a jungle….thanks ;)
Jess says
spraying vinager around your house will also keep the cats out of your yard…
Leatha says
Hey. Y’all this is great! What are the recipes for the two different. Combination s?
Thank in advance!
Corrie G. says
does this have to be dawn or any other kind of liquid dish soap I can find on sale?