- Home
- Baking...
Baking Soda Makes a Great DIY Weed Killer—Here's How to Use It
Baking soda is a good solution for killing weeds in certain cases. This common household product will kill all small types of weeds. You can also use it to control powdery mildew, a fungal disease that affects beloved landscape plants such as rose bushes and lilac shrubs.
Baking soda weed killer is easy to use, whether you are applying it straight out of the box or preparing a solution with it to spray on the targeted weeds.
Learn why baking soda works as a weed killer, how to use it, and what its limitations are.
Where to Use Baking Soda
Baking soda is a non-selective herbicide, so unfortunately it could kill small plants and grass. Use it on isolated weeds, like in between pavers, along the edge of the driveway, or in sidewalk cracks.
Why Baking Soda Works on Weeds
The reason baking soda is effective in killing weeds is that one of its major ingredients is salt. In sufficient quantities, salt's effect on plants is to dehydrate them.
If you want to kill a weed permanently, this is one way to do it: dry it out so much that it can't take up water anymore, and the weed will die for good.
Although it takes a higher dosage of baking soda to kill a larger plant (such as a shrub), it's still advisable to apply baking soda cautiously to shrub foliage when using it to control powdery mildew. When mixing your solution, use one tablespoon of baking soda per 1 gallon of water.
Want more gardening tips? Sign up for our free gardening newsletter for our best-growing tips, troubleshooting hacks, and more!
How to Use Baking Soda to Kill Weeds
There are two different ways to apply baking soda to kill weeds. The easiest way is to pour it right out of the box, directly onto the weeds (approximately 1 teaspoon for each weed). Wet the foliage first so that the baking soda sticks to the leaves.
Alternatively (and better), prepare a solution of baking soda and water, pour some of the solution into a spray bottle, and spray the weeds. When using a sprayer bottle, it's easier to target the weeds. This method prevents the baking soda from blowing away (which is a major drawback of the direct-application method).
Whichever method you use, choose a sunny day to apply the baking soda (rain would wash it off before it had a chance to work). To mix and apply a baking soda and water solution:
- Add 10 tablespoons of baking soda to a gallon of water.
- Shake it to dissolve the baking soda.
- Pour some of the solution into a sprayer bottle.
5 Additional Tips for Killing Weeds Naturally
In addition to using baking soda, there are many other ways to kill weeds naturally.
- Using vinegar:Vinegar is another natural herbicide. For best results, use vinegar that is higher in acetic acid.
- Using boiling water:This is the cheapest way to kill weeds naturally. However, as with vinegar, remember that it is non-selective.
- Smothering: You can also smother weeds with black plastic, tarps, etc. This option is ideal for a landscape area where a vigorous weed has taken over, forming a monoculture. For example, use tarps to smother a stand of Japanese knotweed.
- Hand-pulling weeds: This is such an obvious method that it's easy to overlook. Many gardeners enjoy getting down into the dirt and coming into contact with plants, even if they're weeds.
- Using salt: As an alternative to baking soda, you can use salt to kill weeds (since it is the salt in baking soda that makes it an effective herbicide). It may be a more sensible solution, as salt is cheaper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does baking soda kill weeds permanently?
Yes, because plants must take up water to live, and baking soda prevents them from doing this.
Does baking soda kill weeds between pavers?
Yes. In fact, this is one of the best uses for baking soda weed killer. It isn't effective on lawns, for example, because it would kill the grass.
Will baking soda kill plants and grass?
Yes. Baking soda weed killer is a non-selective herbicide. It kills plants and grass, too, not just weeds.
Read the original article on The Spruce.
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/home-and-garden/baking-soda-makes-a-great-diy-weed-killer-here-s-how-to-use-it/ar-AA1nqN3I?ocid=00000000
Related
Baking Soda Makes a Great DIY Weed Killer—Here's How to Use It
Baking soda is a good solution for killing weeds in certain cases. This common household product will kill all small types of weeds. You can also use it to control powdery mildew, a fungal disease that affects beloved landscape plants such as rose bushes and lilac shrubs. Baking soda weed killer is easy to use, whether you are applying it straight ...
LifestyleWhat not to throw out when decluttering — cleaning pros spill on the 7 things you should keep hold of
Wondering what not to throw out when decluttering? We've asked cleaning experts for the things you should keep hold of and how to organize them
Lifestyle11 huge historical mysteries that will probably never be solved
Will we ever find Cleopatra's tomb or the Ark of the Covenant? Some mysteries may never be resolved.
Lifestyle13 Polite Habits Flight Attendants Actually Dislike—and What to Do Instead
Sometimes our good intentions can miss the mark when we're trying to be helpful on a flight. Here's what to avoid.
Lifestyle40 Outdated Home Trends We Hope Never to See Again
Say goodbye to fast furniture and zebra print rugs.
LifestyleJeddah Tower: Everything You Need to Know About the Soon-to-Be World’s Tallest Skyscraper
When finished, the tower will stand at 3,281 feet tall—nearly 11 times the height of the Statue of Liberty
Lifestyle60 Acts of Kindness for Kids to Do to Make the World a Better Place
Kids may be little, but they can make a big difference in the world by performing these simple acts of kindness.
Lifestyle