Green tip – white vinegar weed control

White vinegar can be used to kill weeds within  a few hours by being applied directly to the offending plant.

The acetic acid in the vinegar does two things… it burns the weed's foliage on contact and temporarily lowers the pH of the soil, making it hard for the weed to make a comeback. All concentrations of acetic acid, including household vinegar, should cause treated foliage to brown within 24 hours.

Young, tender weeds and annual weeds like crab grass are susceptible to treatment with household vinegar. However the roots are often not killed entirely and the weeds may reappear within a few weeks. Repeated applications, usually three, are more effective and stronger concentrations of acetic acid work even faster and longer.

For best results, use on a sunny, dry day. Vinegar will kill any vegetation it comes into contact with, so avoid using it around plants you wish to keep

A teaspoon of dish soap can be added to the vinegar to help it stick to the weeds.

Some plants are not as susceptible to vinegar. A waxy coating or a “hairy” (fuzzy) surface may interfere with the absorption of the vinegar. This is the type that would suffer more by adding the soap to a vinegar weed killer recipe.

Vinegar is a natural product, usually derived from grain, apples or grapes. It is distilled through a fermentation process. The vinegar you buy is typically labelled at 5% acidity, but concentrates from 5% to 20% are more effective.