Non-toxic Weed Killer

[dustdevil]

Anybody try this?

http://zduckman.hubpages.com/hub/Non-Toxic-Weed-Killer

[biscgolf]

been there... done that. works ok on small seedlings of annual weeds but that's about it. my hypothesis is that is due to the fact that it is merely "burning" the affected surfaces rather than permeating the roots.

[roper2008]

I've tried it, and it worked for me.

[Mark0820]

I tried it and my results were similar to biscgolf. Initially, it appeared to work because of the surface burn on the weed, but the root seemed to survive and eventually the weed would regrow.

Having said that, I only used one application, and the article indicates possibly needing 2 or 3. Maybe the second and third applications would have penetrated the root.

[dustdevil]

I appreciate the responses. I'm also curious if the strong vinegar smell kept critters temporarily away as well.

[salix]

Tried it a couple of years ago, after several applications, the weeds and grass were gone. Downside, while working in the nearby garden kept dreaming of a cheese and dill pickle sandwich!

[mike5953]

Did a side-by-side test between vinegar and roundup on my bermuda grass and nutsedge plagued gravel driveway last year.
The vinegar killed everything it was applied to overnight, where the roundup took a couple days to fully work. But, as biscgolf said, most of it didn't stay gone.
However, those two weeds don't stay gone with roundup either, but do stay gone longer.
Overall, vinegar proved to be a cost saver. And I feel a good bit better about reducing my impact on our local groundwater supply.
Just my $0.02

[bughunter99]

It works for me for broad-leafs if applied on hot sunny days. Grasses seem to just do a surface kill unless they are very small to start with. It doesn't do anything for our nuclear clover but I have decided to just live with it anyway rather then dump chemicals on the kid's play areas.

Stacy

http://gardenmutiny.blogspot.com

[Mark0820]

I just used the vinegar on weeds that were coming up through cracks in the driveway, but I don't recall there being less squirrel or rabbit traffic. Maybe if it was being applied in a larger and more concentrated area, the smell would have had an impact.

[Petronius_II]

Somewhat off-topic, but this question has been bugging me for some time. I'm embarrassed to admit I don't know the answer. I keep getting the uncomfortable impression that I'm going to look like such a fool for even asking it.

In large parts of the country, like most of New Mexico for instance, we have alkaline soil, and that can be rather a problem. I've read that agricultural gypsum, some of which comes from down in the White Sands part of the state, is the soil acidifier of choice. But that costs $$$$ that many of us just don't have to squander.

I've read that even though you'd think that locally grown pine needles and other conifer needles would also be helpful as they are in other parts of the country... they're not.

So I keep wondering, what does vinegar do to alkaline soil? Why is that never mentioned? Is that because ultimately, it will just increase the salinity of the soil , or what?

[Dutch]

My problem with using vinegar in the garden is similar to what Willa said. I think it could be quite problematic, especially if you were growing cucumber and dill. As a matter of fact I am going to make a peanut butter and dill pickle sandwich right now.
Dutch

[bughunter99]

Originally Posted by Petronius_II

Somewhat off-topic, but this question has been bugging me for some time. I'm embarrassed to admit I don't know the answer. I keep getting the uncomfortable impression that I'm going to look like such a fool for even asking it.

In large parts of the country, like most of New Mexico for instance, we have alkaline soil, and that can be rather a problem. I've read that agricultural gypsum, some of which comes from down in the White Sands part of the state, is the soil acidifier of choice. But that costs $$$$ that many of us just don't have to squander.

I've read that even though you'd think that locally grown pine needles and other conifer needles would also be helpful as they are in other parts of the country... they're not.

So I keep wondering, what does vinegar do to alkaline soil? Why is that never mentioned? Is that because ultimately, it will just increase the salinity of the soil , or what?

I don't think it is a dumb question at all. Part of the reason this planet is so messed up is that for decades people have done stuff without asking enough questions! I think you are smart to do your research before adding anything to your soil these days.

The pH of vinegar depends upon how much acid is present, but most commercial distilled white vinegars contain 5% acetic acid and have a pH of about 2.4. The juice of a lemon is slightly lower at 2.2. For comparison, rain these days is around 5.5(with lower numbers where acid rain is more of a problem).

Pine needles have pH’s ranging around 3.5 when they fall from the tree. If they are dug in before decomposing, they may have a small impact on pH. However it is temporary. The acidity is neutralized when microbes decompose them. (At least this is what I have learned). Lot of different opinions on this out there.

Now the acetic acid in vinegar is supposed to degrade 90-98% within 48 hours meaning any acidification of soil that occurred would be temporary. I think though that you should try to keep it just on the plants, not on the soil to avoid killing off a lot of beneficial microbes.

Stacy


http://oregonstate.edu/dept/nursery-..._factsheet.pdf

[dice]

I do not think gypsum is an acidifier. It is used to replace sodium with
calcium in sodic oils (which are probably alkaline soils in most of Arizona
and New Mexico). It may have a pH-lowering effect in some specific soils
where the sulfur in calcium sulfate ends up forming sulfuric acid. There
is so much calcium carbonate (and other carbonates, ie magnesium
carbonate, etc) in those soils that the effect on pH does not last long.

There is mention of its use in this context in this document:
http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci...t/sf1087-3.htm

Spraying soils high in alkaline carbonates with vineger is going to be like
dropping an eyedropper full of it on a block of lime the size of a city bus:
a raindrop in the Mojave.