Does vinegar kill weeds?

[passingcat]

I recently saw some advice on a forum, that pouring neat vinegar onto weeds kills them just as efficiently as chemical weed killer? I have two cats, so I hate putting down chemical weed killer on my path. Has anyone ever tried this method to get rid of the weeds?

 

[dim]

the vinegar that they are talking about is the Horticultural vinegar ... 20% vinegar (not the stuff you add to your chips or food)

powerful stuff and if you get any in your eyes, you will go blind:

http://www.amazon.com/EE-NW004-20-Vinegar-Gallon/dp/B0031AY1LA

 

[eackley]

I have tried the store-brand strength vinegar before. It works for just a little bit, but then the weeds bounce back. Is there a place I can get this Horticultural (20%) vinegar in a store in or around the Houston area?

 

[Gina145]

There is a good chance that the vinegar you use on your food will kill weeds, but it should be used with caution. Several years ago, when I was just getting started in bonsai, I read online that vinegar would kill moss and I decided to give it a try as some of my little trees were surrounded by far too much of the stuff and it was damaging the bark. One day I sprayed some vinegar on the moss in several of my pots. It didn't take long for the moss to die, but sadly it killed three of my trees as well.

If you're looking to kill weeds on a paved area where there are no plants that will be harmed, you could also try pouring boiling water on them. You may need to repeat it a few times to kill the roots.

 

[ACSAPA]

I saw on Pinterest that you can make weed killer from Dawn dish soap, salt and Heinz white vinegar. Here's the post I saw.

http://pinterest.com/pin/255297872599395065/

 

[ChanellG]

Just remember that these things are not selective and can harm your other plants. As Gina already said, they should be used with caution. If you're going to use a homemade spray of vinegar, salt and or soap to kill weeds, you'll want to do it with a protective shield like this one.

See the details for how to, including the recipe here: http://pinterest.com/pin/321796335844749013/
Just keep in mind that too much salt is really bad for your garden. The best thing is to pull weeds and turn them into green fertilizer by adding them to your compost.

I have tried the store-brand strength vinegar before. It works for just a little bit, but then the weeds bounce back. Is there a place I can get this Horticultural (20%) vinegar in a store in or around the Houston area?

Weeds bounce back when you use chemical sprays as well. It takes longer, but they do come back, and some sprays are completely ineffectual.

...One day I sprayed some vinegar on the moss in several of my pots. It didn't take long for the moss to die, but sadly it killed three of my trees as well.

Moss grows in shady and moist places so maybe your plants were getting too much water? You could try a mild aspirin solution or maybe just sit the plants in the sun for a bit and water lightly or not at all for a while. Try misting the leaves of your bonsai with a foliar spray instead of watering unless the soil becomes really dry. If you get moss up the trunks again, try hitting it with a blow dryer on the lowest heat setting.

 

[Gina145]

Moss grows in shady and moist places so maybe your plants were getting too much water? You could try a mild aspirin solution or maybe just sit the plants in the sun for a bit and water lightly or not at all for a while. Try misting the leaves of your bonsai with a foliar spray instead of watering unless the soil becomes really dry. If you get moss up the trunks again, try hitting it with a blow dryer on the lowest heat setting.

Thanks Chanell.

My trees get a few hours of sun a day which is as much as I am able to give them but you may be right that some of them are getting too much water. However I've discovered that moss can enhance the appearance of bonsai trees as long as it is kept under control. Some of the members of my club are actually jealous of my moss

The strange thing is that one of my bonsai mentors planted moss seeds in one of my pots when I repotted a tree last spring, but it never grew.

When moss starts climbing up the trunks of my trees I now remove it with a soft brush.

 

[passingcat]

Thank you for all the advice. I mainly hate normal weed killer as my cats are always taking a trip outside. Some of the vinegar recommendations sound very potent! I will stick with all the advice given to avoid any mishaps. I appreciate everyone taking the time to reply.

 

[ChanellG]

Vinegar is supposedly a cat repellent as well. If there's a part of your garden you want to keep the cats out of this is the place to use vinegar. You can even soak orange peels in vinegar for a bit to make citrus vinegar for this purpose.

 

[scotkat]

Interesting .

Never tried vinegar.

But have used salt on path weeds.

 

[DonnaIReilly]

Vinegar is great for killing weeds. My dad is a gardener and has used it for years. He puts it in a spray gun and sprays it on them. He says it works a treat

 

[scotkat]

Must try it Donna.

Ask your Dad what is the best compost to buy?

I dont have room for compost bins.

 

[passingcat]

Interesting .

Never tried vinegar.

But have used salt on path weeds.

That sounds interesting that salt works on path weeds. Is it a particular salt you use. How long does it tend to last? I prefer natural methods if I can find them. Many thanks for your help.

 

[Becky]

He he we could all end up with a salt & vinegar flavour garden!

 

[happyflowerlady]

I seem to have a skunk wandering around here at nite, and maybe it is what is eating stuff in my garden. If vinegar will repel a cat, maybe it would also discourage the skunk ?
I guess it is worth a try, at least, and it can't hurt anything.
I haven't seen the skunk, but the dogs go on the porch and bark, and then we smell it, so I know it is out there somewhere. We always call the dogs in right away, so they don't go skunk chasing and get sprayed.