Weeds Don't Stand A Chance Against These 7 DIY Natural Weed Killers

They say beauty is pain, and when it comes to gardening, this popular phrase resonates with many hobbyists and horticulturists. Beautiful blooms and picturesque landscapes don't come without hard work. And for the most part, those who garden all have one obstacle to overcome: weeds.

Fret not, though. There are ways to combat weeds at home if you'd rather keep your garden looking clean and clear (though the wild look can be lovely too). While the first instinct for those who don't want to buy harsh conventional treatments may be to turn to apple cider vinegar, that's far from your only option.

Here, gardening experts share their top homemade recipes for DIY weed killers that are easy to make and safe for the environment:

This recipe is effective for a few reasons, gardening expert Erinn Witz tells mbg. "The vinegar contains acetic acid, which is caustic to plant cells. The Epsom salt dehydrates the plant by blocking it from absorbing moisture. And the dish soap acts as a surfactant that allows the vinegar and salt to better penetrate the plant tissue." 

"Boiling water works through simple heat damage," explains Witz. "The hot water essentially 'cooks' the plant cells, resulting in death. This is another indeterminate plant killer, so be careful around plants you want to keep."

"The alcohol dries out the plant tissues, leading to fatal dehydration," says Witz. "The effects of rubbing alcohol are best on a warm, sunny day, when the sunlight can add its own drying effect."

Witz tells mbg, "The vodka acts as a drying agent, depriving the plant of the moisture it needs to live. When the plant cells get too dehydrated, they die. This is especially effective for broadleaf weeds, and it won't harm grass as much as some other weed killers will."

"The baking soda works by sucking moisture from the plant tissues, drying the plant up to the point where it can no longer photosynthesize its food," says Witz. "This treatment works best on driveways and sidewalks or other hard surfaces where weeds like to pop through the smallest of cracks."

Rodger St. Hilaire, founder and editor of Gardening Boost, suggests this recipe because "the cornmeal gluten meal will prevent weed seeds from germinating." He notes that it's important to "make sure to purchase cornmeal gluten meal that is specifically labeled for use on lawns and gardens. Some products are not meant for this purpose and can actually harm your plants." 

"This is called a cut-and-paste method and is best applied to large semi-woody weeds like thistles," Brody Hall, a certified horticulturist, certified conservationist and land manager, and co-founder at The Indoor Nursery, tells mbg. Borax has a high pH value, and it is alkaline enough to kill weeds (as well as other plants, so be careful where you put it).

Once you've weeded out the nuisance, you'll want to take precautions to prevent more weeds from forming. Retired landscaper and lawn care expert Larry Yeates shares his tips with mbg below:

By knowing what causes weeds and how to combat and prevent them, you'll be on your way to the garden of your dreams, even if you're new to gardening. Maybe your newfound expertise will inspire you to start a permaculture garden or dig deeper into plant care. Whichever steppingstones you take, the path looks lush.