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DIY All Natural Weed Killer

Oh my word, y’all.  This summer I’ve had the worst time with weeds sprouting up on our brick patio!  The past few years we’ve had them here and there but this year they were everywhere and they were driving me crazy.  I didn’t want to use harsh chemicals on a space so close to our house, especially since we walk around barefoot most of the time.  Luckily Pinterest came to my rescue and I found several resources outlining DIY all natural weed killers. (You can see many of the options I found on my Backyards Pinterest board here.)

DIy Weed Killer for crab grass
Crabgrass that was taking over our rock bed.

Most of the recipes I found were roughly the same. This was the version we used:

I have seen recipes that call for as little as vinegar and salt.  I went with this one with the added lemon juice to increase the acidity of the vinegar so that it would work faster.

My neighbor and I mixed up a batch and put it into a garden sprayer.  One batch fills one sprayer.  I found that I used 3/4 of the batch each time I sprayed my area.  Over the course of the past month I have been on a weed killing mission and am happy to report that it works!

The first weeds I saw a difference in immediately were the ones on our brick patio.  Because they had more shallow roots and got very hot in the direct summer sun I saw a difference in as little as one day! By the end of the week most of them were crunchy and on their way to dead.  I pulled most of the dead weeds that week from the patio.  Since then I have only had ONE teeny weed try and make it’s way back!

DIY Weed all natural weed killer for brick patio

Not only have I seen a huge improvement on the patio (which was my main point of concern) but I have also been able to eradicate the irritating crab grass from another rock bed as well as spot treat areas in our sidewalk and other small areas.

how to have a brick patio with no weeds

Using all natural diy weed killer to kill crab grass and weeds in rock bed

Overall I couldn’t be happier with the results and will definitely keep this on hand in the future to help me keep those weeds at bay!

If you like this post be sure to check out these as well:


Don’t forget to pin!

How to naturally kill weeds without harsh chemicals diy weed killer

How to kill weeds using all natural products without harsh chemicals

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120 responses to “DIY All Natural Weed Killer”

  1. Erin Avatar

    Love this!! Hate using chemicals to kill weeds so I will definitely be trying this!

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      It works great – good luck!

      1. Peggy Avatar
        Peggy

        Does this work in flower beds also?

        1. admin Avatar
          admin

          I wouldn’t spray it near anything you want to keep alive.

          1. Patty Jennings Avatar
            Patty Jennings

            How far away from other plants is safe?

    2. sharon l walton Avatar
      sharon l walton

      I too am going to try this! Since this response is over a year later how did it work??? How close could you get to your flower plants you didn’t want to kill???? I have places I would like to kill weeds but I also have plants wit in 12 inch??? I hope you answer me back!!!!!!! Thanks in advance

      1. admin Avatar
        admin

        It works great! Kept the weeds at bay all year last year and I just sprayed the patio this summer as well. I’ve not used it near plants I want to keep but I *think* it would be ok if they were a little bit away.

        1. Laurie Avatar
          Laurie

          did you use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar??

          1. admin Avatar
            admin

            Just plain white!

          2. Janet Avatar
            Janet

            Highest acidic vinegar you can find. They make a 6% for cleaning but lumber yards have higher %. I also use more salt as it sterilizes the ground so be careful where you apply it.

          3. Rich Avatar
            Rich

            I found vinegar at Lowes and Home Depot that is 30% acidic and cost around $20 a gallon.

  2. Brenda Broadway Avatar

    What an excellent idea. I’m going to make this recipe.

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      It really works – good luck!

      1. Sue Avatar

        Can you use it between other plants

        1. admin Avatar
          admin

          I’m really not sure. If you replant in that area there is a chance that the plant may not take off.

  3. Jen Avatar

    We have the worst weed growth this summer! I am always hesitant to load up the store-bought weed killer with the dog and the kids…and it is expensive. I am totally giving this a shot!

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      It worked wonderful for me! My 4 year old son even went on a spraying spree on my neighbors driveway and it dried them right up. Good luck to you!

      1. Erlen Avatar

        Do not buy expensive Morton salt, Get the $ store salt. It works the same! Salt is salt chemical composition is the same. You can also just springless the salt on the rocks and in between the cracks right before a rain fir maintenance

        1. Mar Avatar
          Mar

          Vinegar, Small amount of dawn in a sprayer on a hot day works greatfor werks. There is no need to add salt esp it it arou d your plants for it wi kill the plants as well. If you want to plant real plant after you apply, DO NOT ADD THE SALT or you’ll not be able to grow plants in that soil.

  4. Jalisa Avatar

    We always get stuck with these the start of the season. Definitely something I will have to try.

  5. Amy @ Orison Orchards Avatar

    I love this! I hate using harmful chemicals, and I need something for my driveway. Thank you!

  6. Liz Chapman Avatar

    I’ll definitely have to try this. The worst time for us for weeds is in the spring, it’s hard to keep up with them!

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      It does get hard to keep up with them. I think I’m going to keep some of this mixed up so I can spot treat as necessary!

  7. Heather Nicole Gilbert Avatar

    Now that it’s summer I need to try this in my yard!

  8. Veronika Avatar
    Veronika

    Thank you for sharing this! I’m always so worried about the chemicals used right where my kids play.

  9. Bethany Avatar
    Bethany

    I’ve used vinegar on weeds, but I’ve never tried it with lemon juice as well!!

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      I really think it helped since I didn’t buy the higher acidity vinegar. I’m sure it would have been fine on it’s own but I wanted to see how fast I could get rid of them!

    2. Christa Avatar
      Christa

      I’ve been told to add salt and dish soap to vinegar but not lemon juice. I want bees and I want my flowers and trees to be spared.
      I’ll mix up a gallon asap. I sure hope it works. The vinegar alone did not succeed, though it worked for a time. No doubt I’ll have to reapply but I figure not like my vinegar alone. Thanks for this 🙂

  10. Kelly Avatar

    This is an awesome and safe remedy! Thanks for sharing!

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      You’re welcome!

      1. Ashley Avatar
        Ashley

        Can you spray in your yard and it wont kill the grass? Only weeds?

        1. admin Avatar
          admin

          No, if you spray it on grass the grass will die. This is 100% just for use on weeds.

  11. furtdsolinopv Avatar

    Wow that was odd. I just wrote an really long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t show up. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Regardless, just wanted to say superb blog!

  12. Julia Avatar

    I am going to try this! Thank you for sharing!

  13. emergency reporting systems Avatar

    Definitely, what a great website and revealing posts, I will bookmark your website.Best Regards!

  14. Melody Avatar
    Melody

    This may sound weird, but do you have to pull the dead weeds or how do they go “away?”

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      They will wither, so you’re left with a crunchy little dead plant. If you are spraying a spot like mine where there are lots of cracks and crevices you could probably leave them because they kind of shrink down into the cracks. I pulled most of mine since I had a lot of crabgrass but the smaller stuff I didn’t worry as much about.

  15. Kristen Avatar
    Kristen

    Hi there! I’ve read a lot about this mix, and I’m going to try it. Can you tell me about how long it lasts? Are you spraying once a week or does it last longer? Thanks for a fantastic post!

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      After my initial spray the weeds didn’t come back all summer! Now that it’s spring I’m seeing a few start to creep up. I will spray and I think they’ll be gone for most of the warm weather. This is a semi-permanent solution.

      1. Kristen Bell Avatar
        Kristen Bell

        Thanks! I just did my first treatment on my patio. One thing I noticed was that it left some discoloration on some of my bricks. Did you notice that happening to yours? I’m wondering if it will wash away over time.

        1. admin Avatar
          admin

          I did mine next to a river rock bed and initially I did notice the rocks had a ‘wet’ look but after it dried it went away (or maybe just blended in). If it doesn’t dry up maybe try washing it with dish soap and water.

        2. Nancy Avatar

          I’ve use epson salt in place of regular salt

  16. Bill R Avatar
    Bill R

    Any solutions for nature weed killer for weeds in lawn

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      I’ve not experimented with that, sorry!

  17. Sherry Avatar
    Sherry

    Will this also kill that grass that creeps into your garden?

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      I believe it would kill grass if it was sprayed on it.

  18. Erin Avatar
    Erin

    I wiped out a whole lot of poison ivy with this mixture (though I didn’t add lemon juice) two years ago. No sign of it last year 🙂

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      NICE!

    2. Jan Crable Avatar
      Jan Crable

      I also used it on poison ivy (no lemon juice) and it killed it !!

      1. admin Avatar
        admin

        Oh wow! That’s awesome!

  19. Dawn Avatar
    Dawn

    What about spraying it around other garden plants? I have some tree beds that have plants in them as well add in some poison ivy, and you have a nice mix. Would this solution be OK to use in this situation?

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      I wouldn’t spray it on anything you want to live. I only sprayed it in areas that I wanted to eradicate everything. LOL

  20. Sue Avatar
    Sue

    The salt in the mix is what is really doing the trick. Salt will syarve the roots from water thus drying it out.

  21. Carol Avatar
    Carol

    Do I use lemon in the green bottle. Or squeeze 1 cup of real lemons ?

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      I use lemon juice from a bottle. No one has time for hand squeezing! LOL

  22. Nancy Avatar
    Nancy

    Can you use bottled lemon juice or do you have to use fresh squeezed lemon juice?
    And only white vinegar?

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      Bottled lemon juice is just fine! I’ve only tried with white vinegar so I can’t attest if other types work as well.

  23. Kathy Avatar
    Kathy

    Do use regular or apple cider vinegar?

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      Regular!

  24. Myrna Avatar
    Myrna

    Should the weeds be dry when using this? We’ve had lots and of rain and are expecting more but weeds are already popping up everywhere! Thx!

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      I usually wait until it’s dry. We’re soaking wet here in the midwest right now too so I’ve been waiting until the sun is going to be out for a while before I spray again.

  25. rachcl Avatar
    rachcl

    will it kill plants near by?

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      I personally don’t spray this in areas next to plants I want to keep so I don’t know.

  26. Tracy Avatar
    Tracy

    How soon can you plant new plants after you’ve sprayed this? Have an area I want to kill of and then replant. Thanks!

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      I’m really not sure. If you replant in that area there is a chance that the plant may not take off.

  27. DJ Avatar
    DJ

    Is there any problem with runoff after a rain?

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      None that I’ve experienced. I usually only spray when I know it will be sunny for a few days because I feel like the sun helps kill the plants.

  28. Heather Joy Avatar
    Heather Joy

    I have poison oak that keeps creeping up my fence. I cannot wait to try this to see if it works, I refuse to use the commercially known weed killers. Bad for people and the environment. Thank you!!

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      I would try it on there!!! YIKES!

  29. Sngrier2 Avatar
    Sngrier2

    Do you think it works with killing kudzu? I have it growing crazy here and it’s hard to keep it down. I’m going to mix it up and give it a try. Chemical sprays cost too much & don’t last long at all

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      I actually don’t know that that is! I will say that I had a tree stump that kept growing new shoots and I sprayed it on those and it did help in finally killing them.

  30. Ruth Avatar
    Ruth

    Hi, if I spray this in a rock bed with flowers and plants in it, but only spray onto a weed next to it do you think it would also kill the surrounding plants and flowers?

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      I wouldn’t personally do that out of fear of killing the flower. If you do I’d be very careful.

  31. J.M. Borrow Avatar
    J.M. Borrow

    Yes the vinegar and lemon juice are acidic and affect the plant directly by breaking down the tissue structure. The salt in the soil interrupts the plant ability to absorb nutrients and moisture. But these seaming harmless products are not good for your soil or the brick work. Over time the acid will eat away the brick and the salt will kill everything in the soil. The salt also move into any run off and / or ground water to pollute our rivers and lakes.
    Generally these homemade toxic cocktails as bad or worse for the environment then weed killers.

    1. Terri T Avatar
      Terri T

      👍I have been hoping that someone would point this out. These are indeed “harsh cheminals”.

    2. Christine Avatar
      Christine

      This literally made me laugh out loud when I thought of all of the jars of pickle juice and lemon aid that I’ve poured down my kitchen drain. And dawn soap going down the drain?? Pure devastation!

      Thank you to the OP for posting something natural that won’t harm humans or animals. We’re going to try this this week and will even post pictures. Weeds be gone!!!

  32. Pamela Avatar
    Pamela

    Does it kill flowers, plants and grass? Trying to find something to use in flowerbeds, but don’t want to kill my flowers.

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      As you can see I only used it around an area that I’m not planning to replant in, so I’m not sure how it would affect other plants or the soil.

    2. Chacha Brady Avatar
      Chacha Brady

      Unless intend to damage flowers, I wouldn’t spray them. I found this formula indeed killed weeds, but effects only lasted a couple of weeks. 🤷🏽‍♀️

  33. Penelope Keast Avatar
    Penelope Keast

    Would this be ok for use killing weeds on the lawn? If not do you have any recipes that would?

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      I don’t have any more recipes. This one worked for me, but as you can see I only used it around an area that I’m not planning to replant in.

  34. Candace Avatar
    Candace

    Does this solution affect the soil? I would like to get rid of the weeds but want to be able to plant in the bed.

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      I’m really not sure. If you replant in that area there is a chance that the plant may not take off.

  35. Terri Avatar
    Terri

    I would only use with salt if you are spraying an area that you don’t ever want anything to grow in like a patio or driveway. I use just vinegar and A few drops of dish soap when I spray weeds in my flower bed. Just be careful not to spray what you want to keep. I will have to try the lemon juice this year. On a side note, adding salt to my mix did really work with the weeds, but it also completely jammed up my sprayer. I will have to buy a new one this year.

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      I didn’t have any issues with my sprayer and I used the solution all year. I added the salt because I’m spraying around a patio and don’t want weeds to EVER come back! LOL

  36. Amanda Avatar
    Amanda

    How much of each ingredient do you use? It doesn’t show up when I open the article

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      1 Gallon Vinegar
      1 cup Lemon Juice
      1 Cup Salt
      1 Tablespoon Dish Soap

  37. seo belgie Avatar

    Looks realy great! Thanks for the post.

  38. is.gd Avatar

    Very nice post. I simply stumbled upon your weblog and wished to mention that I have truly enjoyed browsing your blog posts.

    In any case I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope
    you write once more soon!

  39. AJ Avatar
    AJ

    This works GREAT….my canine friend is on my bricks and I don’t want her absorbing toxins or licking them from her feet. I use the “cleaning” vinegar which is 10% acidic….I’ll add the lemon juice next time….big thanks for this tip!! 😊

  40. Laurie W Avatar
    Laurie W

    Crazy question. I just sprayed my weeds in my backyard of rocks. When the weeds die, do I need to pull them all still or will they wilt enough to use a blower? 😊

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      You will probably still want to pull them if they are larger plants. For small stuff you could leave it but I don’t think a blower would take them out.

  41. Jessica Avatar
    Jessica

    What kind of salt did you use?

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      I used regular table salt

  42. Chef Pete Avatar
    Chef Pete

    I’ve used this. It kills the green part of the weed but not the roots.

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      If the weed is larger than I sometimes do have to spray more than once but normally it shrivels right up.

  43. sharon l walton Avatar
    sharon l walton

    Planning on using this but do have a lot of plants in close proximity. how far do you think it goes? If you spray a small stream right down on the irritating crab grass or any weed will it just kill in that place??? I hope it will work like that. I have let these weeds get ahead of me. To hot here right now to do anything. I pulled some early this am but that ddn’t last long!!!!!!

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      If your weeds are out of control then you will likely have to do multiple rounds of the treatment. I haven’t noticed any effects to surrounding plants but I would keep your spray tight though so you don’t accidentally get something you don’t intend. I would suggest for heavy weeds spraying, then pulling up any withered weeds and then spraying again.

  44. Suzanne Avatar

    This is so helpful! I feel so uncomfortable using those chemicals!

  45. Vanessa Avatar

    Thanks for sharing! How long does the treatment last?

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      Mine lasted all summer

  46. sharon l walton Avatar
    sharon l walton

    Thank you for the positive reply from you.! This was my way of thinking also, glad to know it is yours also! Makes me feel secure in my plans!!!!!

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      Good luck!

  47. Deb Avatar
    Deb

    What type of weather is best? Dry
    Or wet? Thanks in advance.

  48. Paula coniglio Avatar
    Paula coniglio

    This definitely works and I thank you for the recipe. The only thing I would add is that after I am done spraying I disconnect the nozzle piece and soak in dishwashing soap and water to clean out because the sprayer might clog if you don’t use it all at once. I love it. Staple in my house.

  49. Sandie Avatar
    Sandie

    I can’t wait to try this at my moms. She has a rock driveway by her shed and rocks along her driveway. She is 82 and goes out and tries to pull them. Thank you so much!

  50. Pamela Avatar
    Pamela

    Can you use this around flowers and shrubs? Or will it kill them also?

  51. Christina Avatar
    Christina

    Can you use in a vegetable garden before planting? Or will it not allow the vegetables to grow?

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      I would not use it in an area that I was hoping to grow things in.

  52. Amanda Avatar
    Amanda

    I know this post is from a while back but hopefully you’ll still see this! Just wondering if you ever tried it on your grass? We have a very weedy lawn! But would it kill the actual grass as well do you think?

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      My guess is that it would kill your normal grass along with the weeds unfortuantly.

  53. Mary Avatar
    Mary

    Do you need to heat the vinegar? A lot of weed killers with vinegar tells you to heat the vinegar and salt. Just wondering

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      I have never done that.

  54. Luther Avatar
    Luther

    If you want to keep it of other plants, use a large piece of card board between the plant you are spraying and the other plants that you don’t want to spray.

  55. krissy Avatar

    I was curious if this kills just the weeds or will it kill Grass too? I have a few areas where my rock bed are close to the grass and get nervous spraying those areas.

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      I would not spray it near grass or anything you want to keep alive.

  56. Jill Avatar
    Jill

    We use 30% vinegar, dish waaher soap and salt and get amazing results! I haven’t found anything it won’t kill except bind weed.

  57. Melanie Avatar
    Melanie

    This works 100% better than anything I have ever tried!!! Thank you

    1. admin Avatar
      admin

      You’re welcome!

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