Top Ways to Kill Weeds Permanently in Your Garden (2024)

Healthy soil is vital for the growth and upkeep of a beautiful environment. Weeds, on the other hand, thrive in unhealthy soil. Yet, regularly, many homeowners struggle with stubborn weeds even if their soil is in good health. So it’s reasonable that homeowners and gardeners want to know how to eliminate weeds or what will kill weeds permanently.

Targeting and killing the plant’s root is what permanently kills weeds. You can use natural and manufactured weed killers; however, they will ultimately come back if the plant’s root survives. In this blog, Summit Turf Services will provide suggestions and guidance on eliminating irritating weeds.

Why Do Weeds Reappear?

To better comprehend weeds and the best way to remove weeds from large area, you must first understand why these troublesome plants keep returning. The most prevalent explanations are as follows:

• Not eradicating weeds — ideally, you should remove the entire weed, including the roots. However, if you miss the roots, any remaining sources can grow, causing weeds to reappear.
• If you live in a wooded area, the wind and birds transport seeds in your lawn and garden as well as to neighboring properties.
• If you have a patchy lawn with sparse growth in some areas, there is more space for weeds to thrive.

In all its glory, Nature finds ways to allow weeds to grow where you don’t want them. These weeds may be competing for nutrients in your lawn or garden if left unchecked. The struggle to control weeds is a common issue for most gardeners.

How to get rid of weeds permanently?

There are numerous products available that may help you get rid of weeds. However, some products contain harmful chemicals. So, you may be wondering what kills weeds permanently naturally.

Natural weed control methods are typically safer to employ since they do not potentially harm your family, pets, or the environment. For example, mulching your garden with newspaper is one natural technique to keep weeds at bay in your yard, which should hinder their development while maintaining the soil’s nutrition.

Other natural options include using everyday household items, proven as effective herbicides. For example, gardeners have employed salt and vinegar, both readily available and inexpensive, to battle weeds successfully.

Does Vinegar Kill Weeds Permanently?

If you are an avid gardener, you may read that vinegar is a common remedy to kill unwanted grass and weeds.

Vinegar is considered a contact herbicide and may kill weeds and undesirable plants by drying out the leaves above ground. However, it only works on weeds with shallow roots and weed seedlings.

How to Kill Weeds with Vinegar

You will need 2 cups of household vinegar along with 1/2 tbsp of dish soap to create your vinegar herbicide. Vinegar is fantastic to keep on hand for your gardening requirements.

Combine the ingredients in a plastic spray bottle. Then, spray the mixture in places where you want to eliminate weeds, taking care not to spray nearby plants. Choose a brand of dish soap that is a detergent, not an anti-bacterial. Vinegar is a non-selective herbicide, which means it will destroy anything you spray it with, even the healthy plants you wish to retain. Below are a few more tips to remember when using vinegar to kill weeds.

• Vinegar is a contact herbicide; that cannot get to the roots of weeds to kill them.
• This pesticide is most effective when applied on a warm day.
• Reapply herbicide to older and more established weeds to keep them from re-growing. Reapplying will weaken the weeds, eventually killing them.
• Vinegar may be more effective against weeds like immature dandelions and crabgrass with one application.
• Do not saturate weeds with herbicide. Instead, spray only enough to moisten the foliage.
• When spraying, remember to wear gloves and safety glasses.

Can You Kill Weeds with Dawn Dish soap, Epsom salt, and Vinegar?

To kill weeds, some amateur gardeners recommend combining Epsom salt and Dawn dish soap. Together, these household items create a potent mixture, so only use it in places you wish to eliminate weeds, such as a patio or sidewalk permanently.

As a herbicidal mixture, gardeners often combine salt, vinegar, and their favorite dish soap in the following proportions: one gallon of white vinegar, one cup of salt, and one tablespoon of liquid dishwashing detergent. Vinegar and salt will dry out weeds and grass, whereas the dish soap helps the vinegar and salt to cling to the leaves rather than absorbing the mixture.

If utilized correctly, they may be an effective herbicide. However, it’s better to use this DIY spray on a warm day where the weeds will dry up and die in a few hours.

Does Bleach Kill Weeds Permanently?

Bleach can also be an effective home treatment for weeds because it increases the pH of the soil, helping it to become more alkaline and inhibiting the development of weeds.

Of the DIY mixtures listed, bleach is by far the most hazardous. Nevertheless, it has the same potency as a herbicide as a household cleaner, so use caution. Bleach is a household chemical that should not be tampered with, especially in areas you are trying to cultivate nearby plants.

Using Bleach to Kill Weeds Permanently

• To avoid skin irritation, wear protective clothing, such as gloves.
• Apply one cup of bleach, undiluted, to the afflicted area.
• Wait until the weeds turn brown before pulling them out of the ground.
• Run water around the area to flush the bleach, especially if you are trying to grow plants or grass in that area.

When Using Bleach, Take These Precautions

• Use just enough bleach to moisten the weeds, being careful not to saturate them.
• Keep pets and children away from any area you use bleach until it is dry.
• Keep bleach away from areas you are trying to grow plants.
• Do not use bleach near vegetable gardens or food crops.
• Do not spray bleach near any source of water.
• If there is a chance of rain, do not use bleach.
• Finally, and most important of all, do not combine bleach with any other chemicals.

How Do You Keep Weeds From Re-Growing?

Home gardeners commonly ask how to keep weeds from re-growing. Unfortunately, you will never be able to eliminate weeds completely. These pesky plants are tenacious and will eventually come back. However, there are ways to prevent and manage their growth.

Set up Landscape Fabric

Landscape fabric can help reduce weed development by acting as a barrier to the soil. Nonetheless, it still allows water, nutrients, and oxygen to aid in the growth of your plants.

Landscape fabric is a natural weed management approach that can provide long-term effects to inhibit weed development while enabling your plants to grow.

Placing mulch in flower beds and around plants is another technique to keep weeds at bay. Mulch blocks the sunlight, inhibiting weed growth. In larger areas, such as around shrubs or between trees, use shredded bark as your choice of mulch. The bark will not decompose quickly and nor will it be blown away easily by wind.

Grass clippings are another great voice to use as mulch. Grass clippings are easily accessible, and they are a natural fertilizer. Additionally, they are excellent in your vegetable garden.

Before mulching, it is vital to remove all visible weeds. Keep the mulch at least three inches from the stems of plants and trunks of trees to avoid disease. Mulch should be a maximum of four inches deep.

Conclusion

Weeds are undeniably an annoyance. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer to issues with weeds, you may cut your time and effort in battling them by using the management techniques listed above. These homemade weed remedies can help eradicate weeds quickly, but this alone is not enough. Regularly caring for your flower beds and vegetable gardens, spot spraying, and pulling weeds will help you manage and prevent regrowth.

Summit Turf Services provides more than just tips and advice on lawn maintenance. We are the lawn care experts of Lee’s Summit and are here to maintain your lawn to perfection with our variety of lawn care services. So whether you need assistance to kill weeds permanently, landscaping installation, or need help with everything in between, contact us today for a free estimate!