There are several ways to kill weeds permanently, both naturally and with manufactured weed killers. However, its important to note that "permanently" is a grandiose word, and new weeds will likely emerge in open, fertile earth without continual weed prevention. Here are some methods that can help kill weeds permanently:
-
Targeting the root: Killing the plants root is what permanently kills weeds. Natural and manufactured weed killers can be used, but they will ultimately come back if the plants root survives.
-
Vinegar: Vinegar is a contact herbicide that may kill weeds and undesirable plants by drying out the leaves above ground. However, it only works on weeds with shallow roots and weed seedlings. To use vinegar as a weed killer, mix 2 cups of household vinegar with 1/2 tbsp of dish soap to create a vinegar herbicide. Spray the mixture on the weeds until saturated on a hot, dry day, and they will wilt and shrivel up within hours.
-
Salt: Salt is another natural option that can be used to kill weeds. To kill all vegetation in walkways, driveways, and other areas where you dont want any living thing to grow again, mix 2 cups of ordinary table salt with 1 gallon of white vinegar. Apply the mixture to the weeds until saturated, but be careful not to spray anything you want to live. Salt dissolves more quickly in vinegar than in water, but it takes a bit of doing. It may not completely dissolve, but thats okay.
-
Dish soap: Dish soap can be combined with vinegar and salt to create a potent mixture that eliminates weeds. Vinegars acetic acid helps kill the weeds, the dish soap causes the desiccation of the weeds, and the salt dehydrates the plants, soaking up moisture in the soil. However, be sure youre not also killing the desired plants growing around the weeds.
-
Rubbing alcohol: Rubbing alcohol is another natural option that can be used to kill weeds. Mix rubbing alcohol and water, and spray the mixture on the weeds until saturated. Be careful not to spray anything you want to live.
Its important to note that homemade weed killers may not seep down into the roots of the weeds like some chemical products do, so some tougher weeds might survive the initial onslaught. Be prepared to make multiple passes over your garden over the course of a few days to really kill the weeds.
