If you’re looking for a homemade herbicide to control weeds in driveways, cracks in pavement, or other non-garden areas, a common option is a vinegar-based weed spray.
Simple Homemade Weed Spray
Ingredients
- 1 gallon (about 4 liters) white vinegar (5% acetic acid)
- 1 tablespoon dish soap
Instructions
- Mix the ingredients in a spray bottle or garden sprayer.
- Spray directly onto the leaves of unwanted weeds on a dry, sunny day.
- Avoid spraying desirable plants, as the mixture can damage them too.
How It Works
- The vinegar burns and dries out exposed plant tissue.
- The soap helps the solution stick to the leaves.
Limitations
- It works best on young weeds.
- It usually kills the top growth rather than the roots of established perennial weeds, so repeat applications may be needed.
- It is non-selective, meaning it can harm any plant it touches.
For Garden Beds
Mulch, hand-pulling, and landscape fabric are often more effective long-term weed-control methods than homemade sprays.
If you tell me where the weeds are growing (lawn, vegetable garden, driveway, gravel path, etc.), I can suggest the most effective approach for that situation.
