Vinegar for killing weeds -- follow up
 

In addition to posting here, I asked around and some friends have used
vinegar for weeds. So I figured, it's cheap, I'll give it a try. I
purchased jugs of vinegar from the grocery store (diluted to 5% acidity,
according to the label) and a new watering can (for better control). I
"watered" the weeds with the vinegar on the west-facing brick
sidewalk and gravel parking strip. Both get full sun, especially in the
afternoon. The weeds turned yellow within a few hours.

My friends had always used cider vinegar, so I started with that.
Afterwards, I tried a jug of plain vinegar, which is cheaper, and that
worked just as well.

In addition to killing the weeds, I'm enjoying the novelty of it all.

Vinegar for killing weeds -- follow up
 

Does it kill the grass.
I my area we cannot use any herbicides so I am wondering if I can use this
as an over all spray on grass area to kill only the weeds.

Chelsea Christenson" wrote in message
...
In addition to posting here, I asked around and some friends have used
vinegar for weeds. So I figured, it's cheap, I'll give it a try. I
purchased jugs of vinegar from the grocery store (diluted to 5% acidity,
according to the label) and a new watering can (for better control). I
"watered" the weeds with the vinegar on the west-facing brick
sidewalk and gravel parking strip. Both get full sun, especially in the
afternoon. The weeds turned yellow within a few hours.

My friends had always used cider vinegar, so I started with that.
Afterwards, I tried a jug of plain vinegar, which is cheaper, and that
worked just as well.

In addition to killing the weeds, I'm enjoying the novelty of it all.

Vinegar for killing weeds -- follow up
 

"Magen" wrote in
:

Does it kill the grass.
I my area we cannot use any herbicides so I am wondering if I can use
this as an over all spray on grass area to kill only the weeds.

it will turn grass brown ... well grass in a driveway crack anyway.

Vinegar for killing weeds -- follow up
 

Xref: kermit rec.gardens:240543

My experience with vinegar as a weed killer is that it turns the plant brown,
weakens it a bit, but doesn't really kill it. It invariably bounces back to
life. Putting vinegar on is equivalent to pulling the plant out but not doing a
good job of getting the root. I've had better luck with boiling water if I can
put enough on so the water is still hot when it trickles down to the root. If I
can't boil the root, it is the same old story-- dead leaves + healthy root =
weed that comes back.

--Lia

Chelsea Christenson wrote:

In addition to posting here, I asked around and some friends have used
vinegar for weeds. So I figured, it's cheap, I'll give it a try. I
purchased jugs of vinegar from the grocery store (diluted to 5% acidity,
according to the label) and a new watering can (for better control). I
"watered" the weeds with the vinegar on the west-facing brick
sidewalk and gravel parking strip. Both get full sun, especially in the
afternoon. The weeds turned yellow within a few hours.

My friends had always used cider vinegar, so I started with that.
Afterwards, I tried a jug of plain vinegar, which is cheaper, and that
worked just as well.

In addition to killing the weeds, I'm enjoying the novelty of it all.

Vinegar for killing weeds -- follow up
 

I tried vinegar a while back and it killed the weeds DEAD! Nasty stuff with
big tap roots. Other than the smell, I like using this alternative to
expensive chemicals.


"Julia Altshuler" wrote in message
...
My experience with vinegar as a weed killer is that it turns the plant
brown,
weakens it a bit, but doesn't really kill it. It invariably bounces back
to
life. Putting vinegar on is equivalent to pulling the plant out but not
doing a
good job of getting the root. I've had better luck with boiling water if
I can
put enough on so the water is still hot when it trickles down to the root.
If I
can't boil the root, it is the same old story-- dead leaves + healthy root
=
weed that comes back.

Vinegar for killing weeds -- follow up
 

Julia Altshuler wrote:
My experience with vinegar as a weed killer is that it turns the plant brown,
weakens it a bit, but doesn't really kill it.

It's been over a week since I used the vinegar, and I'm not seeing any
new growth, not even from the crabgrass. My impression from talking
with my master gardener (who's back from vacation now) is that the heat
from the full sun exposure (not to mention the radiant heat from the
bricks in the walk) is an important element, and that vinegar isn't
nearly as effective in shadier areas.

Vinegar for killing weeds -- follow up
 

Oooh, an experiment. I can give it a test.

"Chelsea Christenson" wrote in message
...
Julia Altshuler wrote:
My experience with vinegar as a weed killer is that it turns the plant
brown,
weakens it a bit, but doesn't really kill it.

It's been over a week since I used the vinegar, and I'm not seeing any
new growth, not even from the crabgrass. My impression from talking
with my master gardener (who's back from vacation now) is that the heat
from the full sun exposure (not to mention the radiant heat from the
bricks in the walk) is an important element, and that vinegar isn't
nearly as effective in shadier areas.