Now it has to be said that I have been know to use weed killer on my paths on the allotment, to tackle outbreaks of bindweed in the past. But since the EU limited what we can use even if you buy the varieties that boast results in 24 hours, not a lot happens and they really are not as effective as they used too be.
So I've heard about the cheap DIY Weed killer that you can make using vinegar, salt and dish soap, so I did a quick google search and found this
"To make homemade weed killer, stir together 1 gallon of vinegar, 1 cup of salt, and 1 tablespoon of dish soap. Pour it into a spray bottle and thoroughly spray the weeds. This solution is most effective when it's applied while weeds are actively growing."
Now I was metricised in 1974 in my last year of senior school when they had a panic and said forget Chains, Yards Feet and Inches and Stones, Pounds and Ounces you now need to understand Metres, Decimetres, Centimetres and Millimetres, Metric Tons, Kilograms, Litres and Millilitres because the UK is going decimal !
The last thing I ever measures in Gallons was petrol for my Yamaha YDS250 motorcycle in the 70's, so the first thing I looked for was vinegar which is sold in 5 Litre containers or bottles
When looking to purchase the vinegar I found that its sold in 5 Litre Bottles not Gallon Bottles which is not surprising as we have been metricised since 1974.
Vinegar with a higher concentration of acetic acid tends to control weeds more effectively. Household vinegar is generally 5% acetic acid. Some herbicidal vinegar products are 20% or 30% acetic acid. In general, 20% or 30% acetic acid is more effective because it more completely kills young leaves and growing points.
The receipt also used the measure of "Cups" and "Tablespoons" which surprise, surprise are different for different countries.
Searching google I found that 1 Cup is equal to 8 fluid ounces in US Standard Volume which is about 237-240 ml. 1 metric cup is 250 ml (which is about 8.5 fluid ounces).
The unit of measurement of a tablespoon varies by region: a United States liquid tablespoon is approximately 14.8 ml (0.50 US fl oz), a European, United Kingdom and Canadian tablespoon is exactly 15 ml (0.51 US fl oz), and an Australian tablespoon is 20 ml (0.68 US fl oz).
I was going to do the conversion on what I thought best as I gallon = 4.55 Litres, then though, save time do some more google searching until you find results in metric measurements, and I found this.
For a small batch, simply mix 500ml of vinegar
with 30ml of cooking salt and a tablespoon (15ml) of washing up liquid. Pour the
vinegar into the pressurised sprayer first, followed by the cooking salt and
dishwashing liquid, reports The Express. Then, you should give the mixture a good
shake before using it.
All the items can be purchased cheaply,
with Tesco vinegar coming in at just 35p, Ocado table salt costing 40p, and Asda washing up liquid costing 55p.
They said that the best time to use the
solution is "on a hot and dry day", as this will be when it's most
effective. "Once applied, the weeds should begin to wilt within 24 hours
and be completely dried out within 48 hours.
Doing more searches I found variations on the ingredients' and the quantities of each.
So going back to the original and modifying for the difference between I gallon = 4.55 Litres
5 Litres White Vinegar
1 cup salt = 250ml / 4.55 x 5 = 274.72 say 275ml
1 tablespoon of washing up liquids = 15ml / 4.55 x 5 = 16.48ml say 20ml as I like nice round numbers and as the modified Australian tablespoon of 20 ml/ 4.55 x5 = 21.98ml
Surfing ebay for cost of vinegar including delivery I even found a 40% version available, but as expected the stronger the vinegar the higher the price, typically this is what I found:-
5% White Vinegar £5.99 for 5Litres reducing to £5.00 per bottle based on a quantity of 4 or more
20% Very Strong White Vinegar £12.99 for 5Litres reducing to £10.39 per bottle based on a quantity of 4 or more
30% Very Strong White Vinegar £14.99 for 5Litres reducing to £12.74 per bottle based on a quantity of 4 or more
40% Very Strong White Vinegar £15.99 for 5Litres reducing to £12.79 per bottle based on a quantity of 4 or more
For the moment with the bindweed problems I have on the allotment, I went for a White Vinegar with 5% acetic acid, but I will buy one 5Litre bottle at 40% to trial on the mares tail area, and may add some lemon juice to the mix.
I also found one post that suggest that if you want "Weed Killer for areas never to grow again that you mix two cups of ordinary table salt with one gallon of white vinegar to kill all vegetation in walkways, driveways, and other areas where you don’t want any living thing to grow again.
Do this in a container larger than one gallon capacity so you have room for the salt. Apply the lid and shake to dissolve the salt. Salt dissolves more quickly in vinegar than in water, but it takes a bit of doing. It may not completely dissolve, but that’s okay."
Not something I want to do on the allotment as when the woodchip paths start to support weeds other than mares tail its time to replace the woodchip as it's decaying enough to be used as browns in my composting Daleks.
Other weed control apart from using a hoe or pulling by hand include:-
Boiling Water: Offers immediate weed control by scalding. Pour directly over weeds to destroy them from the top down.
Rubbing Alcohol: Causes rapid dehydration in weeds. Mix with water and apply under the sun for quick evaporation and minimal harm to surrounding plants.
Dish Soap: Breaks down the protective layers of weeds, leaving them vulnerable to dehydration. It's particularly effective on young, small weeds.
Lemon Juice: The citric acid in lemon juice scorches weeds upon contact, disrupting their cellular processes and leading to their demise.
Borax: Utilizes boron toxicity to impede weed growth. Apply sparingly to avoid soil toxicity and damage to desired plants.
Cinnamon: Acts as a natural herbicide and pest deterrent. Sprinkle around plants to prevent weed germination and growth.
Sugar: Disrupts soil nutrient balance, particularly nitrogen, slowing weed growth without harming established plants.
Chili Pepper Powder: Capsaicin in chili peppers interferes with weed cellular functions, preventing photosynthesis and growth.
Coffee Grounds: Their acidic nature and nutrient content make grounds effective in suppressing weed germination and growth.
Hydrogen Peroxide: Oxidizes weed cells, causing damage and death. Mix with water and apply to target weeds directly.
Epsom Salt and Vinegar: A lethal combination that dehydrates and kills weeds through a potent desiccant action and pH alteration.
Application Wisdom
While these kitchen remedies offer a gentler approach to weed control, mindful application is important. Direct application to the weeds, careful avoidance of desired plants, and sparing use to prevent soil alteration are key strategies
For those concerned about the environmental impact of traditional herbicides, these kitchen staples present a viable, effective alternative. Not only do they provide a way to repurpose common household items, but they also align with the principles of sustainable gardening.
No comments:
Post a Comment