Homemade weed killer

[sumi]

I found this recipe and I think I'm going to give it a try:

1 gallon vinegar
1 1/2 cups Epsom salts
2 tablespoons Dawn dishwashing soap

We don't get Dawn soap here, but I guess Fairy would do the same?

 

[Hinotori]

Epsom salt is a fertilizer. I add it to all my potted plants as magnesium encourages leaf growth. I've never understood this recipe at any of the times I've seen it because of that reason. Why fertilize a weed and encourage leaf growth if it's one that can come back from the root?

Vinegar will burn the leaves of plants and wilt them. I sometimes spray it directly on ones I know will die if you kill the leaves. A little bit of dish soap removes the light bit of plant oil and lets it penetrate easier. It's best to use on a hot dry day. Agricultural vinegar by itself works well if you can find it. It's 20% instead of the household 5%. That however is strong enough to burn skin badly and make the soil too acidic if not applied properly.

Boiling water works better in my opinion. That's how I clear between the pavers on the back step. Anything else I pull by hand or use the step in weed puller.

 

[FarmerJamie]

Boiling vinegar is a favorite of mine

 

[Lazy Gardener]

@hintori, The epsom salt recipe works (on a lot of plants) because of the concentration. A little bit of a good thing is a good thing. But, too much of a good thing can be lethal. I've tried the hot vinegar and salt on poison ivy. The ivy just laughed in my general direction, and continued it's march to dominate my world.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Rent???

 

[frustratedearthmother]

if one is not vested enough to take full ownership of the animal, as well as make all of the decisions that go along with accepting that responsibility, they have no business having the animal in the first place.

There are definitely people who should not own animals...especially the folks who don't make the effort to give them the care they need. By renting, they don't have to make the decisions or take the responsibility. That's the point of renting - duh.

The rent-a-goat ventures that I've seen always have a handler or two present. They go on site in the morning, use step in electrical fences and are gone by evening. Goats sleep in their own barn every night and they've been quite successful. The renters are happy and the goat owners are happy. 'Free enterprise at it's best.​

 

[CrealCritter]

There are definitely people who should not own animals...especially the folks who don't make the effort to give them the care they need. By renting, they don't have to make the decisions or take the responsibility. That's the point of renting - duh.

The rent-a-goat ventures that I've seen always have a handler or two present. They go on site in the morning, use step in electrical fences and are gone by evening. Goats sleep in their own barn every night and they've been quite successful. The renters are happy and the goat owners are happy. 'Free enterprise at it's best.​

Heck, some people should not reproduce let alone have animals.

 

[rodeogirl]

I found this recipe and I think I'm going to give it a try:

1 gallon vinegar
1 1/2 cups Epsom salts
2 tablespoons Dawn dishwashing soap

We don't get Dawn soap here, but I guess Fairy would do the same?

Ill have to try this one and see if it works on my weed patch.... i mean lawn. I'm about ready to just dig it up burn it and start all over but my landlord wont let me.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

I do battle with poison ivy by hand. Will not use weed killers here. Too bad PI can't be burned out. We also have lots of brambles: raspberries, blackberries and others. I want to mount an invasion on those this year, b/c they are host to insects that have destroyed my cultivated raspberries. I'm thankful that I have several gallons of raspberries in the freezer from last season. We also have bind weed, and deadly nightshade.

I can't mow the invasives b/c where the lawn ends, the land is uncultivated: It would take lots of fill, and a back hoe, and lots of $$$$ to claim that as lawn.

 

[CrealCritter]

For us its the year of the golden rod. Its everywhere... Farmers fields look funny with nothing but golden rod right now. Most all the field have not been sowed yet.

https://iamcountryside.com/growing/goldenrod-uses-herbal-home-remedies/