killing weeds without chemicals (home, landscaping, buying)

[artangel]

I live in the valley in a subdivision with an HOA. I haven't lived here a real long time and have struggled with how to maintain a weed-free yard. (all rock landscaping) I have had to resort to chemical weed killers and really dislike doing so because of their effect on both the environment (and possible cumulative effect on groundwater) and because, despite what the labels say, I worry about my dogs being harmed. Has anyone had any luck with a more organic approach? I have tried the concoctions mixing substances like bleach or vinegar with Dawn dish detergent with little success. Thanks.

[stevek64]

I've never tried this particular recipe but this guy is a local and has many great effective ideas:

Homemade Weed Control Recipe

I'm guessing with the disclaimer "DO NOT spray on anything you want to live!!!" it's probably effective stuff.

Most vinegar sold in the stores is 5% or so. The 10% is around but you have to search it out.

For myself, I just pull the weeds myself/rub them out with a shovel since the only time I notice a few of them is in the spring for a short period of time. When the heat gets here, they are largely gone.

It's also important to make sure they are pulled/gone before they seed as they will be your next seasons weeds. Keep up on it and I think you'll find as the years go on, you'll have fewer and fewer weeds. I have very few that pop up on our property largely I'm guessing because I pull them out far before they seed.

[cactusland]

I've tried all the natural stuff. Doesn't seem to work out here. The soil isn't the right PH and the plants out here are designed super desert-tough, but maybe I wasn't using strong enough vinegar. Good luck.

[observer53]

I think you do need to use the vinegar you can't buy at the grocery store. I've had people report good results with the vinegar formula- I'll bet that's what they are using.

[gemstone1]

You might try rock salt on/around the stubborn weeds, water it in. Most plants don't do well with high concentrations of salt in the soil, I've used it for weeding an asparagus bed....asparagus doesn't seem to be fazed by the rock salt, but the weeds sure die.

Regards
Gemstone1

[Ponderosa]

Mechanical will work well in years like this where they are not many. Use a weed hoe if you can. It goes under smaller landscape rock and gets the weed. The weeds will die off this week as it gets up near 115 degrees. Ugh!

[slowesthand]

I use the vinegar, Dawn, and Epson salt recipe. It works well on everything but the Bermuda grass.

[Hschlick84]

Elbow grease, shovel and some patience. You could always cover weeds with rocks, block out sunlight and they die off.

[locolobo13]

Do what you want but salt is a chemical. So are a lot of the other home made remedies. And over salting the soil isn't really good for the soil long term.


A lot of the modern herbicides are designed to breakdown in the soil. Of course that means they have to be renewed by buying more the next year.


Nothing lasts forever. There used to be a mall on the SW corner of 59th Ave & Northern. It died economically in the early to mid 90s. Within 2 yrs the parking lot was full of weeds coming up thru cracks. Widening the cracks so more weeds could grow. Thought that was pretty cool myself. Think there's a Wally World there now.

[MLUSaint]

Step 1) Get the yard under control with a weed hoe.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23W4le4dSOE


Step 2) Keep it under control with a weed dragon.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72DSn86SePE