Natural Weed Killers

[Anonymous]

Hello All,

I've tried vinegar. It doesn't work. I've tried Korean vinegar, which is powerful stuff. It doesn't work. I've tried a flame thrower. It doesn't work. Most recently I tried Clorox - I read somewhere it kills everything. I don't know what other people's experience is, but it set the foliage back temporarily, only now it's coming back one week later, happy and bright green.

Star of Bethlehem is taking over my yard. It's pretty when it blooms, but the foliage disappears in late Spring and grass won't grow where the bulbs are located. Last year I spent some serious time digging up clumps of bulbs, but this year I must have 2-3x last year's quantity! Lots of weeds are taking over the yard besides the star of bethlehem.

Any other suggestions? I prefer not to use chemicals. Yes, I know Clorox is a chemical, but we use it in the house, right? Any tried and true natural remedies? I think I'm gonna start digging up the clumps later this week, as this seems to be the only answer short of serious chemicals. But what else should I try on the other run-of-the-mill weeds?

TIA!

[Anonymous]

hand weeding is the only thing that really works. I did my whole lawn and got rid of the garlic mustard in 3 weekends.
Vinegar works if you buy the landscaper concentration (20+%) and use in a directed sprayer and do each weed individually.

[Anonymous]

Star of Bethlehem (on the exotic invasive list in 10 states), is a bulb, so really the only way to get rid of it is to dig up all the bulbs. Also deadhead the flowers so it doesn't reseed. It may take about 3 years to get it all.

[Anonymous]

For weeds in the cracks of driveway/sidewalk, pour boiling water on it. Might this work for you?

[Anonymous]

Hand weeding. It’s the only thing that is effective but non-toxic.

[Anonymous]

As a landscape business owner, and Certified Pesticide Applicator with the Maryland Department of Agriculture, please don't be so quick to buy the hype all pesticides are bad. The rate used to be a couple of gallons of weed killer per 100 gallons of water. Now that rate is down to just ounces. And the new chemicals are safer and more target specific, meaning we can treat specific items while not harming anything else. Also, though unrelated, we need to spray for Mosquitoes. Again the products we use are made from Chrysanthemum flowers and very safe. Much safer then west nile virus, dengue fever and malaria, yes they are back in Maryland now. Of course, only use a licensed and trained applocator to apply any pesticides.

[Anonymous]

I read this recipe online. Has anyone had success?

1 gallon white vinegar
2 cups Epsom Salts
1/4 cup Dawn (blue original)

Spray on weeds after the morning dew has evaporated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a landscape business owner, and Certified Pesticide Applicator with the Maryland Department of Agriculture, please don't be so quick to buy the hype all pesticides are bad. The rate used to be a couple of gallons of weed killer per 100 gallons of water. Now that rate is down to just ounces. And the new chemicals are safer and more target specific, meaning we can treat specific items while not harming anything else. Also, though unrelated, we need to spray for Mosquitoes. Again the products we use are made from Chrysanthemum flowers and very safe. Much safer then west nile virus, dengue fever and malaria, yes they are back in Maryland now. Of course, only use a licensed and trained applocator to apply any pesticides.

Pyrethrin may be extracted from chrysanthemums but that does not make it "safe." It kills virtually all insects on contact, including bees and other beneficial pollinators. It's also harmful to mammals. I hate that people are fooled by the "natural"=safe argument. There are lots of things in nature that are not safe. And you're talking about a very potent extract, often mixed with other toxic chemicals. I hate the mosquitoes in my yard as much as anyone but I just do what I can to eliminate mosquito breeding spots and then wear repellent if I need it.

[Anonymous]

My point exactly! you think I said organic, I didn't. And you assume I mix with other toxic chemicals, and I don't! I use only what's needed to treat a specific problem. And I do it according to the label, rules and regulations set buy Maryland Department of Agriculture and UMD Extension Services. I train yearly as required and then some.

You are so quick to cover yourself in chemicals to repel mosquitoes, why are you so against spraying outdoors and treating the cause?

People are so quick to cover themselves in chemicals, cover their pets in chemicals or ingest them in pill form. They also have no issue with Terminix or Orkin coming monthly to spray every inch of the inside of their homes. That just puts pesticides IN you home, on every surface you and you family touch and in the air you breathe. That's why I treat OUTSIDE before spiders or ants get in. Why expose your family more than needed.

Point is, malaria, dengue fever, west Nile, lyme are ALL in MAD and spreading. These need to be handled and prevented. Having your yard treated is MAJORLY less threating to you and your family than all the diseases carried by mosquitoes and ticks.

Again...just educate yourself, learn the FACTS. Read labels to see what EXACTLY your are spraying on yourself and your pets. Also for you organic fruit an vegetable lover...pesticides ARE used in organic production and you handle them every day. Again a FACT.... just educate yourself. I wont even go into the Monsanto Corn you eat...but info is easily found online and YES you eat it...no question its in everything! I am NOT preaching, just want people to educate themselves and use licensed trained professional ONLY! We atay up to date on regulations, usage and procedures.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: My point exactly! you think I said organic, I didn't. And you assume I mix with other toxic chemicals, and I don't! I use only what's needed to treat a specific problem. And I do it according to the label, rules and regulations set buy Maryland Department of Agriculture and UMD Extension Services. I train yearly as required and then some.

You are so quick to cover yourself in chemicals to repel mosquitoes, why are you so against spraying outdoors and treating the cause?

People are so quick to cover themselves in chemicals, cover their pets in chemicals or ingest them in pill form. They also have no issue with Terminix or Orkin coming monthly to spray every inch of the inside of their homes. That just puts pesticides IN you home, on every surface you and you family touch and in the air you breathe. That's why I treat OUTSIDE before spiders or ants get in. Why expose your family more than needed.

Point is, malaria, dengue fever, west Nile, lyme are ALL in MAD and spreading. These need to be handled and prevented. Having your yard treated is MAJORLY less threating to you and your family than all the diseases carried by mosquitoes and ticks.

Again...just educate yourself, learn the FACTS. Read labels to see what EXACTLY your are spraying on yourself and your pets. Also for you organic fruit an vegetable lover...pesticides ARE used in organic production and you handle them every day. Again a FACT.... just educate yourself. I wont even go into the Monsanto Corn you eat...but info is easily found online and YES you eat it...no question its in everything! I am NOT preaching, just want people to educate themselves and use licensed trained professional ONLY! We atay up to date on regulations, usage and procedures.

Look, you're just wrong. I never said mosquito-borne illnesses aren't a thing. I never used the word "organic" in my comment. I don't use pesticides in my yard OR my home. I certainly don't have my house treated by Terminix or Orkin. But do you honestly think it's better to kill spiders and ants outside, which is where they belong, than to clean them up or prevent them inside the home?

I am very well-educated on the subject. I write about it for a living, and not for some weird, unscientific website full of conspiracy theorists. There is ample proof that the overuse of pesticides and herbicides has done terrible things to our environment. I understand that you apparently make a living off of convincing people that spraying their yards with stuff that indiscriminately kills insects (and animals further up the food chain) is just fine. But you can't expect to put that info out there on a public site and expect no push-back.

[mdlawnland]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: My point exactly! you think I said organic, I didn't. And you assume I mix with other toxic chemicals, and I don't! I use only what's needed to treat a specific problem. And I do it according to the label, rules and regulations set buy Maryland Department of Agriculture and UMD Extension Services. I train yearly as required and then some.

You are so quick to cover yourself in chemicals to repel mosquitoes, why are you so against spraying outdoors and treating the cause?

People are so quick to cover themselves in chemicals, cover their pets in chemicals or ingest them in pill form. They also have no issue with Terminix or Orkin coming monthly to spray every inch of the inside of their homes. That just puts pesticides IN you home, on every surface you and you family touch and in the air you breathe. That's why I treat OUTSIDE before spiders or ants get in. Why expose your family more than needed.

Point is, malaria, dengue fever, west Nile, lyme are ALL in MAD and spreading. These need to be handled and prevented. Having your yard treated is MAJORLY less threating to you and your family than all the diseases carried by mosquitoes and ticks.

Again...just educate yourself, learn the FACTS. Read labels to see what EXACTLY your are spraying on yourself and your pets. Also for you organic fruit an vegetable lover...pesticides ARE used in organic production and you handle them every day. Again a FACT.... just educate yourself. I wont even go into the Monsanto Corn you eat...but info is easily found online and YES you eat it...no question its in everything! I am NOT preaching, just want people to educate themselves and use licensed trained professional ONLY! We atay up to date on regulations, usage and procedures.

Look, you're just wrong. I never said mosquito-borne illnesses aren't a thing. I never used the word "organic" in my comment. I don't use pesticides in my yard OR my home. I certainly don't have my house treated by Terminix or Orkin. But do you honestly think it's better to kill spiders and ants outside, which is where they belong, than to clean them up or prevent them inside the home?

I am very well-educated on the subject. I write about it for a living, and not for some weird, unscientific website full of conspiracy theorists. There is ample proof that the overuse of pesticides and herbicides has done terrible things to our environment. I understand that you apparently make a living off of convincing people that spraying their yards with stuff that indiscriminately kills insects (and animals further up the food chain) is just fine. But you can't expect to put that info out there on a public site and expect no push-back.

Read my posts..ive said the new products are safer, more target specific. AND I ONLY use what's needed to treat after IPM option have failed. Didn't say YOU in particular had your home treated, I said PEOPLE do. Please don't put words in m mouth.

I have (and still do) work with MD Dept of AG, UMD Extension and various Veterinarians to treat problems though IPM first, educate client son what causing issues, then I will treat if all else fails, but only minimal as needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read this recipe online. Has anyone had success?

1 gallon white vinegar
2 cups Epsom Salts
1/4 cup Dawn (blue original)

Spray on weeds after the morning dew has evaporated.

I saw this online and wondered if it worked as well. Anyone tried it yet?

[mdlawnland]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: My point exactly! you think I said organic, I didn't. And you assume I mix with other toxic chemicals, and I don't! I use only what's needed to treat a specific problem. And I do it according to the label, rules and regulations set buy Maryland Department of Agriculture and UMD Extension Services. I train yearly as required and then some.

You are so quick to cover yourself in chemicals to repel mosquitoes, why are you so against spraying outdoors and treating the cause?

People are so quick to cover themselves in chemicals, cover their pets in chemicals or ingest them in pill form. They also have no issue with Terminix or Orkin coming monthly to spray every inch of the inside of their homes. That just puts pesticides IN you home, on every surface you and you family touch and in the air you breathe. That's why I treat OUTSIDE before spiders or ants get in. Why expose your family more than needed.

Point is, malaria, dengue fever, west Nile, lyme are ALL in MAD and spreading. These need to be handled and prevented. Having your yard treated is MAJORLY less threating to you and your family than all the diseases carried by mosquitoes and ticks.

Again...just educate yourself, learn the FACTS. Read labels to see what EXACTLY your are spraying on yourself and your pets. Also for you organic fruit an vegetable lover...pesticides ARE used in organic production and you handle them every day. Again a FACT.... just educate yourself. I wont even go into the Monsanto Corn you eat...but info is easily found online and YES you eat it...no question its in everything! I am NOT preaching, just want people to educate themselves and use licensed trained professional ONLY! We atay up to date on regulations, usage and procedures.

Look, you're just wrong. I never said mosquito-borne illnesses aren't a thing. I never used the word "organic" in my comment. I don't use pesticides in my yard OR my home. I certainly don't have my house treated by Terminix or Orkin. But do you honestly think it's better to kill spiders and ants outside, which is where they belong, than to clean them up or prevent them inside the home?

I am very well-educated on the subject. I write about it for a living, and not for some weird, unscientific website full of conspiracy theorists. There is ample proof that the overuse of pesticides and herbicides has done terrible things to our environment. I understand that you apparently make a living off of convincing people that spraying their yards with stuff that indiscriminately kills insects (and animals further up the food chain) is just fine. But you can't expect to put that info out there on a public site and expect no push-back.

And yes, I do believe on treating foundations to prevent insect from coming into the home. Its NOT a full blanket yard spray to kill everything in site, far from it. But what should I tell my clients who have spiders and/or ants in their baby's crib...deal with it??? Don't think so...they want a safe place for their children. I guess you wanna save bedbugs next huh???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read this recipe online. Has anyone had success?

1 gallon white vinegar
2 cups Epsom Salts
1/4 cup Dawn (blue original)

Spray on weeds after the morning dew has evaporated.

I saw this online and wondered if it worked as well. Anyone tried it yet?

You are literally salting your fields if you use this. Don’t use salt (or bleach which break down into salt) anywhere where you want to regrow anything ever again.