Unwanted and nasty weeds can be a nuisance in any garden if they get out of hands. Most of the people use chemicals and other toxic substances to control weeds in their garden. However, there are many other home remedies that can be used for getting rid of unwanted weeds. These home remedies are non-toxic and they are also inexpensive weed killers.
Homemade weed killers are far better than the harmful toxins as they do not contaminate the soil. Excessive usage of chemical based weedicides can harm your plants and turf as well. So, it is advisable to use alternatives for weed control. One of the basic weed control method is to pull them by hand as soon as they appear. But this method is generally not very effective if the weed growth is excessive.
Some of the effective home remedies for weed control that you can try in your home garden are:
Vinegar: Vinegar can be directly sprayed on the weeds. It is advisable not to dilute vinegar as the concentrated liquid will be more effective. The best time to use vinegar is when there is no chance of rainfall as it gives vinegar time to penetrate the roots and kill the weeds. Take care while applying vinegar on the weeds and avoid spraying it on the roots of your plants and seedlings.
Boiling Water: You can pour boiling water directly on the weeds to kill them. This method can potentially harm the turf as well so apply carefully on the weeds. This method is safe for pets, humans and also the environment.
Salt: Salt is another very effective way which can help in getting rid of unwanted weeds. However, excessive use of salt can damage the surrounding soil, as salt can easily seep into the ground. You can apply salt directly over the weeds and diluted salt with water can also be sprayed on the weeds. Make sure to use this method only in places where you do not want any growth.
Lemon Juice: Lemon juice is pretty much like kitchen vinegar, you can apply it directly on the weeds to control them.
Newspapers: If you have a large area that has been affected by weeds then you can effectively control them by covering the area with a thick layer of newspaper. The newspapers will not allow sunlight to reach the weeds and it would eventually kill them.
Apart from all these easy homemade remedies you can also try Citrus Oil, Soap Water and Liquid dish detergent to get rid of weeds from your home garden.
