A common concern for organic gardeners is finding ways to kill weeds naturally. If you’re trying to avoid synthetic weed killers and keep your garden as healthy as possible, there are many natural alternatives.
From common household items to clever gardening practices, this guide can help you find the best way to manage the weeds without hurting your garden environment.
Corn gluten meal
If you’ve spent time removing weeds and want to make sure they don’t come back, try sprinkling corn gluten meal on exposed areas of the garden. This will prevent the weed seeds from germinating and becoming pesky plants.
Vinegar
Apply regular household vinegar directly to unwanted weeds to kill them off. Use a spray bottle, pump sprayer or even a paint brush to add the vinegar carefully, as it can harm more than just the weeds. Try applying vinegar on a dry day, so there’s no chance of water washing it away.
Newspaper
Have old newspapers to spare? You can use them to smother the weeds and prevent new ones from popping up. Create a thick layer of newspaper to block the sun and prevent photosynthesis. This method works best if you remove existing weeds first and lay the newspaper directly onto damp soil.
Mulch
Mulch is not only an excellent natural weed killer, but one of the best ways to keep your garden healthy in general. Cover the soil with a few inches of mulch - made of organic matter like leaves, wood chips and grass clippings - to help retain moisture and prevent new weed growth.
Ground cover plants
For a low maintenance and long-term weed control, leave no space in your garden uncovered. Ground cover plants like creeping thyme, clover and bugleweed spread out over the surface of the ground to form a natural shield against weeds. As a bonus, you’ll enjoy the lush aesthetic and protection against soil erosion.
These are only a few ways to kill weeds naturally, but some of the simplest. Keep these household items and garden strategies in mind when maintaining your green spaces to keep them free of pesky weeds.
About the Author
Julia Brown and Barry Weiss Weiss
Introducing the partnership of Brown & Weiss. Julia & Barry have a combined 23 years of experience in real estate and over 70 combined years of customer service. They each have lived in the Wilmington area for over 20 years and are very familiar with the local market. Their savvy negotiations and cutting edge marketing join uncompromising integrity as the hallmarks of Julia and Barry’s service. They are well respected in the Wilmington area not only for their professional track record and high ethical standards, but for being hardworking individuals that will do anything in their power to ensure their client’s success. Julia and Barry enjoy working for the number one real estate company in the area- Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage. With the Coldwell Banker brand and their experience behind the sale or purchase or your home, you can’t go wrong. So, put us to work for you today and “Let us light your way home".
