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13 homemade weed killers that work

Don’t want to use chemicals on your garden? You don't have to! Mix up these handy helpers in the kitchen. 1. Boiling water Homemade treatments don’t come much cheaper than this. Put the kettle on, boil a pot of water and then pour it straight over the weeds – just make sure to avoid any surrounding plants. This works especially for small weed coming up through the cracks in pavement or in brickwork. 2. White vinegar Is there anything white vinegar can’t do? You can use regular old kitchen vinegar or get the heavy duty stuff from gardening stores. Spray directly onto the leaves of the weeds and watch them fade away. 3. Salt Another kitchen staple that can do double duty in the garden. You can either sprinkle rock salt or basic table salt directly around garden beds where weeds usually appear or create a 3:1 solution of water and salt to spray onto the leaves. 4. Salt & vinegar Combine the two and you’ll get even better results! Mix a cup of table salt with a litre of vinegar, then brush directly onto the leaves of the weeds. It’ll kill anything it touches, so avoid other plants. 5. Vegetable oil For bulbous weeds, like onion weed and oxalis, you can inject vegetable oil into the ground surrounding the bulbs. The oil will coat the bulbs so they suffocate and will then rot into the soil. 6. Cornmeal This won't kill existing weeds but is great for preventing them from sprouting in the first place. Cornmeal is a pre-emergent, meaning it stops seeds from growing, so it’s best for using around established plants. 7. Clove or citrus oil Mix 15 to 20 drops of clove or citrus oil with a litre of water and spray or brush directly onto the leaves. This works best on small, actively growing seedlings rather than more established weeds. 8. Rubbing alcohol Grab that bottle of rubbing alcohol out of the bathroom cabinet and mix two tablespoons with a litre of water. Pour it into a spray bottle and spray directly onto the weeds. The alcohol removes moisture so the weeds will quickly dry out and die. 9. Baking soda Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate (essentially a salt), so increases the salinity of the ground to a point where the weeds cannot survive. Use around a teaspoon per weed to cover the entire plant, especially the stem. It’s also great for weeds in cracks. 10. Bleach This one couldn’t be simpler. Pour undiluted bleach straight over the top of mature weeds at the hottest part of the day, then let the sun do its work. You should be able to pull the dead weeds out the next day. Plus the bleach stays in the soil and prevents new growth. 11. Newspaper Rather than killing the weeds, you can smother them with leftover newspaper. Lay down at least four sheets (though the thicker the better) and the lack of sun means the weeds won’t be able to sprout. 12. Mulch Another one from the smothering camp, a good layer of mulch will keep your soil moist, healthy and weed-free. It also blocks out the sunshine weeds need to grow while leaving the surrounding plants untouched. Elbow grease Ok, so this isn’t actually something you put on the weeds, but it’s all you really need to get rid of most of them. Roll up your sleeves, put on some gloves and get pulling. Make sure you get the roots so they don’t grow straight back. Image: Unsplash / Josue Michel

Home & Garden

16 ways to kill garden weeds

<h2>How to kill garden weeds with ease</h2> Looking for a safe way to keep weeds and grass from growing in the cracks of your paved patios, driveways and footpaths? Here are a few tricks that will keep weeds at bay. <h2>Baking soda</h2> Sprinkle handfuls of baking soda onto the concrete and simply sweep it into the cracks. The added sodium will make it much less hospitable to dandelions and their friends. <h2>Bleach</h2> Pour a bit of undiluted bleach over them. After a day or two, you can simply pull them out and the bleach will keep them from coming back. Just be careful not to get bleach on the grass or plants bordering the path. <h2>Boiling water</h2> Put on the kettle and pour boiling water over cracks where weeds grow. This will kill the stubborn weeds. <h2>Vinegar</h2> Are dandelions a problem? Make them disappear for good by spraying them with full-strength white or apple cider vinegar. Early in the season, give each plant a single spritz of vinegar in its midsection or in the middle of the flower before the plants go to seed. Aim another shot near the stem at ground level so the vinegar can soak down to the roots. Keep an eye on the weather, though; if it rains the next day, you’ll need to give the weeds another spraying. <h2>Borax</h2> Sprinkle borax in the crevices where you’ve seen weeds grow in the past. It will kill them off before they have a chance to take root. When applied around the foundation of your home, it will also keep ants and other six-legged intruders from entering your house. But be very careful when applying borax – it is toxic to plants. <h2>Bottles</h2> When using herbicides to kill weeds in your garden, you have to be careful not to also spray and kill surrounding plants. To isolate the weed you want to kill, cut a 2-litre soft drink bottle in half and place the top half over the weed you want to spray. Then direct your pump’s spraying wand through the regular opening in the top of the bottle and blast away. After the spray settles down, pick up the bottle and move on to your next target. Always wear goggles and gloves when spraying chemicals in the garden. <h2>Corn gluten meal</h2> This non-toxic herbicide kills weed seedlings within just a few days of application. An organic byproduct of the corn milling process, corn gluten meal is made up of 10 per cent nitrogen. It works by inhibiting weed roots from forming, according to <a href="https://www.thespruce.com/corn-gluten-herbicide-careful-timing-2152947">TheSpruce.com</a>. But the timing is important: You have to apply corn gluten meal to soil before weeds emerge. <h2>Landscape fabric</h2> This all-natural method takes longer to decompose than mulch. But don’t buy just any type. “Hold the fabric up to the light and make sure the pores in the fabric are small enough to prevent weeds from growing through the barrier,” recommends the Family Handyman. “Also, a good-quality landscape fabric is one you can’t tear or stretch easily. It should feel stiff, not flimsy and limp. <h2>Carpet scraps</h2> Alternatively, if you have scraps of carpet lying around, us these to suppress weeds in you garden. Place upside down in your garden or along your garden path and cover with bark mulch or straw. Use also around your vegetable garden. <h2>Newspaper</h2> Like carpet, laying down newspaper will block sunlight, prevent oxygen from reaching the soil and smother weeds that are already growing. Put down 10 layers of newspapers on the soil, wet it with water to hold it in place and then cover with mulch. <h2>Salt</h2> Bring a solution of about 1 cup salt in 2 cups water to a boil. Pour directly on the weeds in the cracks of your path to kill them. Another equally effective method is to spread salt directly onto the weeds or unwanted grass that come up between bricks. Wait for rain to rinse it off. <h2>Shower curtains</h2> Those old shower curtains will also come in handy next time you do any landscaping with gravel or bark chips. Just place the shower curtain under the mulching material to prevent annoying weeds from poking through. While weeds can be pests, bugs can be beneficial. <h2>Spray bottles</h2> Fill a spray bottle with undiluted white vinegar to get rid of the weeds and grass poking out of the cracks in your concrete, as well as ants and other insects. Be careful not to spray it on your plants though, as the high acidity could kill them. <h2>Vodka</h2> For a quick and easy weed killer, mix 30mL of vodka, a few drops of dishwashing liquid and 2 cups water in a spray bottle. Spray it on the weed leaves until the mixture runs off. Apply it at midday on a sunny day to weeds growing in direct sunlight, because the alcohol breaks down the waxy cuticle covering on leaves, leaving them susceptible to dehydration in sunlight. It won’t work in shade. <h2>Trowel</h2> <div id="page6"> <div id="test"> Looking for an extremely hands-on approach to how to kill weeds? A trowel is an easy way to dig them up, particularly if they’re big weeds. <h2>WD-40</h2> Don’t let pesky prickly weeds ruin your garden. Just spray some WD-40 on them and they’ll wither and die. </div> </div> Image credit: Shutterstock This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/gardeningtips/16-ways-to-kill-garden-weeds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Home & Garden

How to know what weeds to pull and what to leave in the garden

One of the least favourite but essential chores that must be performed regularly in the garden would have to be weeding. Because they are often attractive, easy-to-grow plants that thrive, weeds can quickly become invasive and destroy other less rigorous plants if they are left unchecked. The Australian government has produced a <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/weeds/weeds/lists/wons.html" target="_blank">national watchlist</a> of plants that should be avoided in your garden at all costs. If allowed to take root and spread, they quickly turn the backyard into an unkempt mess. Manager of the government’s National Weeds Strategy Project John Thorp, says, ‘Weeds are any plants growing out of place, such as on paths, in lawns or in a home garden, that a person wishes to control.’ <div class="advertisements">State of origin</div> <div class="advertisements"> Location is key in weed warfare, as species that are classified as a dangerous weed in a particular state or territory may be seen as a welcome garden plant in another. “Australia is affected in most places by weeds, but they change because we go from the tropics to temperate climates,” says John. “What may be an indoor plant in Tasmania could easily be considered a weed in the tropics. “You also get subtropical vines which scramble over canopies. “They’re a problem, especially in the Macleay River area in New South Wales where they really damage the bushland,” says John. Garden invaders There are 32 weeds listed by the federal government as having national significance. Many, including the most common one, lantana, are referred to as garden escapes. “That is, they’ve literally escaped from the garden,” explains John. “Birds typically spread the plants by picking up the seeds and flying over the neighbour’s place, dropping a few along the way and eventually heading into bushland. “The culprits include a range of black birds like the currawongs, which are frugivores.” Some of the most common backyard plants that turn into weeds this way include the fast-growing asparagus weed, which the birds prey on for their berries. Other widespread garden weeds are brooms, which come in different coloured varieties but are most common with yellow flowers. All types of broom, regardless of colour, are prolific seed producers. Cat’s claw creeper, Madeira vine and cacti are also garden weeds. “Cacti are a major problem if you are in a dry place,” says John. “Australia was overrun at one time with a type of cactus, the prickly pear. The opuntioid cacti are a whole group of plants that could easily invade entire dry parts of Australia.” Plant right To ensure the plants that are stocked are not dangerous to the environment, every Bunnings store has a Greenlife Buyer. National Greenlife Buyer David Hardie says one of the key selection criteria is suitability for local climate and conditions. “Our team also works closely with regulators to ensure we are always stocking the right plants,” he said. “Bunnings is committed to not selling environmental weeds that may have a negative impact on the natural environment.” David adds there are now more non- or less-invasive plant cultivars than in the past and recommends the state and territory plant guide at, <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.growmeinstead.com.au/" target="_blank">Grow Me Instead</a>. To control weeds, there is a wide range of herbicides and weedmats available instore. Mulching is a good way to prevent them occurring in the first place, as is cutting spent flowerheads from plants. Disposal methods Once a plant becomes a concern, it needs to be eradicated completely by preventing seeding and reproduction. “But the real problem with weeds spreading and propagating isn’t the birds, it is humans incorrectly disposing of garden waste,” says John. “Many people dump waste in the bush or recycle clippings as mulch thinking they’re being green, but it’s really just spreading weeds further. “The correct disposal method for a large amount of material is using an enclosed system like a skip bin, or taking the waste to the tip, making sure that it is tied down securely in a trailer. “Otherwise, use the green bin and dispose of clippings, weeds and other waste material through your normal rubbish removal service.” John also gives the big thumbs down to the backyard burn-off. “It is illegal in many parts of Australia, especially in summer, and the heat from a burn-off opens seeds so they can germinate. Weed residue can also be carried in the smoke.” Weeds are also a major problem in waterways, as they damage and pollute delicate aqua ecosystems. Water invaders “Athel pine is a shade tree which people use in arid lands,” says John. “It becomes weedy and, like the water hyacinth, which was once an attractive pond plant with its blue flowers, it invades major watercourses. “They are presently trying to control 600km of it in the Finke River, which is the largest dry river in the world, running from above Alice Springs to below the South Australian border. “These trees are often found in recreation areas, caravan parks and the banks of rivers,” says John. Many of the 100 willow tree varieties pose a double threat as they grow on both land and water. “Willows have a very short seed life, from two to six weeks, and this very brief propagation period means they can cross-pollinate and produce seed rapidly, so they’re now threatening our waterways.” Growth season The vigour of a weed’s growth depends on which time of year the rainfall occurs. For most of southern Australia, this would be in spring and for the tropical north in summer. Regardless of location, rainfall and season, once any type of weed takes hold, it’s hard work getting rid of it. “If you are going to successfully keep weeds down, you can never take the pressure off, as it requires dedicated persistence to keep them under control,” says John. Pulling weeds The Sydney Weeds Committee offers advice on how to weed manually. Always wear gloves and use a hand trowel to remove the entire root so the plant can’t resprout from any remaining root system. RAKE background mulch. INSERT the trowel and carefully loosen the soil around the roots. PULL the plant free, grasping it by the stems or the leaves while freeing the roots with the trowel. REMOVE the plant and shake off the excess soil. REPLACE the disturbed soil and any ground mulch. Place the entire plant or any part capable of reproducing, such as tubers, rhizomes, berries, seeds or other propagules in a bag and remove from the site. Other debris material can be mulched on site. Written by Handyman. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.handyman.net.au/how-know-what-weeds-pull-and-what-leave-garden">Handyman</a>.</div>

Home & Garden

"Cancer-causing” weed killer found in popular cereals

A staggering 26 different cereals and snack bars have been found to contain an “unsafe” level of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, which is the most common agricultural suicide, and the most popular weed killer. The brands containing the potentially cancer-causing chemical include Honey Nut Cheerios and Quaker Oats. The findings come from a new report from the US by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), that tested 28 oat-based cereal products, 26 of which had “harmful” levels of glyphosate, reports the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-6311997/Cancer-causing-weed-killer-DOZENS-breakfast-cereals.html" target="_blank">Daily Mail</a>. It comes after the recent <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/home-garden/cancer-council-calls-for-review-into-world-s-most-popular-weed-killer" target="_blank">US court case </a>against Monsanto, which originally introduced the chemical four decades ago. Dewayne Johnson, a groundskeeper, won $US289 million in damages with the jury finding that the weed killer was the cause of his terminal cancer. While a judge upheld the verdict, he reduced the sum to $US78 million on Monday. The EWG said that its findings should concern consumers, particularly as the cereals are widely consumed by children every day. After a study in August by the organisation into big cereal brands, including Kellogg’s and General Mills, found high levels of glyphosate in 45 cereals, the EWG has narrowed its investigation to variations of Quaker Oats and Cheerios. These cereals are some of the most popular and had high levels of the chemical. The EWG found that 26 of the 28 cereals tested had “unsafe” levels of glyphosate, particularly in Quaker Oatmeal Squares – Honey Nut which had almost 18 times the level of EWG’s benchmark for how much is safe to consume. The manufacturers of the cereals have released statements saying their products are safe and attempting to allay the fears of consumers. In a statement provided to the Daily Mail, Quaker accused the EWG of “artificially” creating a “safe level” of glyphosate in order to “grab headlines". Quaker argued that the EWG’s benchmark was far more conservative than regulatory bodies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “We believe EWG's approach is invalid, and we stand behind our statement that the Quaker products tested by EWG are safe,” read the statement. The manufacturer of Cheerios also criticised the EWG’s benchmark, telling CNN: “The extremely low levels of pesticide residue cited in recent news reports is a tiny fraction of the amount the government allows." Meanwhile, the EPA has told consumers not to be alarmed by the report and Monsanto said that Roundup is stringently tested and glyphosate is safe. But the World Health Organisation made the finding in 2015 that the the herbicide is “probably carcinogenic to humans". Dr Alexis Temkin, an EWG toxicologist who contributed to the report, argued that that just because glyphosate is legal, telling the Daily Mail it “doesn't mean it's safe or that it provides that extra level of protection for children". “The report shows that breakfast cereals are not a place for pesticides linked to cancer," Temkin added. “What we show here is that there are detectable levels in common foods that children are exposed to every day. Over a long period of time, that can be dangerous.” The Cancer Council Australia has called for an independent review of Roundup, with glyphosate not having been formally reviewed in Australian for two decades.

Caring

How to get rid of weeds without ruining your lawn

The battle for weed-free grass is something almost every home-owner will deal with at some point. Weeds like crab grass, dandelions, ivy, clover, bluegrass, and chickweed are some of the most common culprits when it comes to sullying the appearance of a perfectly manicured lawn. While some accept weeds as a fact of life or opt for grass alternatives, others will try whatever they can to get rid of those unwanted plants. Luckily, it’s not quite as hard as you think. Try some of these preemptive tips and suggestions for regular maintenance, and look forward to a lawn that all of your neighbours will envy! 1. Apply corn gluten meal There are non-toxic products that you can use on your grass that work just as well as herbicides, and the best is corn gluten meal. Corn gluten meal is great for your grass because it contains nitrogen, and it also prevents the seeds from weeds from germinating. You shouldn’t use it if you’ve planted seeds you want to keep, though, as it can have an adverse effect on these as well. It’s best to use corn gluten meal early in the spring before you see weeds. Applying it to already-established weeds will just be feeding them and can make your problem worse. 2. Lay down mulch One of the best ways to get rid of weeds is to prevent them from taking root in the first place. Weeds can get out of hand pretty quickly, so it’s important to do everything you can to keep them from invading your yard. For flower beds, patios, and walkways, you can apply mulch to the top of your soil. Mulch prevents weeds from getting the sunlight they need to grow. 3. Pull weeds by hand Sometimes, the best way to get rid of weeds is to pull them out by hand. While this is not a great solution for a weed problem that’s gotten a little out of hand, it is a good — and effective — solution if you’ve just started to notice weeds popping up in your grass. Always make sure you grab the weeds at the base of the plant so you can make sure you pull up the roots as well. You can also purchase a stand-up weeder to make the job easier on your back and legs. 4. Use the right amount of fertiliser If you don’t fertilise your grass, it’s time to start. Fertiliser is essentially food for your grass, and it provides it with all of the nutrients it needs to stay healthy. While it may seem counter-intuitive, fertiliser can be a great way to curb a weed problem; the trick is to make sure you’re using the right amount. Too much fertiliser can encourage weed growth and send them into overdrive, whereas not enough fertiliser will make your grass too weak to stand up to weeds. The best defense against most types of weeds is a thick lawn to ensure there’s no room for them to take root. 5. Water your lawn deeply One of the biggest mistakes gardeners and home-owners make is how much they water their lawns and flowers beds, and this can have a big effect on your weed situation. Instead of watering lightly and frequently, it’s best to water your grass deeply and not too often. This kind of watering schedule will allow your grass’s roots to take hold, letting them grow strong and healthy. Strong and healthy grass means it can compete better with weeds. 6. Mow your lawn high Regularly mowing your lawn is essential to keeping your lawn healthy, and it can also prevent weeds from growing and getting stronger. Even if your lawn has been cut recently, you can adjust your lawnmower to a higher setting if you’re noticing weeds appearing. Run your lawnmower over these weedy spots on a setting that’s high enough to leave your grass relatively untouched but low enough that it decapitates the unwanted weeds. If you do this regularly, eventually the weeds will stop coming back and they’ll die off. 7. Use weed-specific herbicides If you want to go the herbicide route for your weed problem, it’s important that you do your research before you buy any herbicides. Herbicides are designed to target specific plants, and if you don’t buy the right one, you could damage your grass without having any effect on the weeds. There are a wide range of weeds, so make sure you identify which weeds you have and choose an appropriate herbicide to combat your problem. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.domain.com.au" target="_blank">Domain.com.au</a>.

Home & Garden

7 ways to tackle weeds with items from the kitchen

Keep those pesky weeds from infiltrating your garden with these simple remedies you can find at home. 1. Pour boiling water on them Use that leftover pasta or potato water and dump it straight on those tough weeds. They’ll shrivel up from the scalding water. 2. Smother them with newspaper Cover low-growing weeds with several layers of newspaper (they’re biodegradable) and the lack of sunlight will eventually kill them. 3. Sprinkle with salt Salt dehydrates plants and disrupts the internal water balance of plant cells making them a great weed killer. Bring a solution of one-cup salt in two cups of water to boil and then pour directly on weeds. However, use solution cautiously as salt can leave the ground barren for quite some time and damage nearby vegetation and soil. 4. Bleach them If weeds seem to thrive in the cracks and crevices of your driveway or walkway, pour some undiluted bleach over them. After a day or two, pull them out and the bleach will stop them from growing again. Just be careful not to get bleach on the grass or plants. 5. Douse with vinegar Douse weeds, especially weeds with long taproots like dandelions; with white or apple cider vinegar and they’ll wither in a few days. 6. Spray with WD-40 Not just for rust-prevention, the trusty WD-40 can be used to kill pesky weeds – especially great for weeds growing in cracks. 7. Learn to love them As they say, one man’s weed is another man’s flower. So if you can’t beat them, maybe you can learn to love them. After all, many weeds are native plants that Mother Nature intended to thrive in the area, which may be why the weeds are so difficult to kill in the first place. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/01/how-to-beat-weeds/">5 easy ways to beat weeds</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2015/12/homemade-remedies-for-the-garden/">Homemade remedies for the garden</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2015/11/plants-that-are-hard-to-kill/">8 plants that are near impossible to kill</a>

Home & Garden

5 easy ways to beat weeds

Weeds – they’re the bane of a gardener’s existence! A single weed can produce as many as 250,000 seeds so here’s five easy ways to banish them from your garden once and for all. Know thy enemy Before you come up with a defence strategy, you need to know what you’re up against! Different types of weeds will require different control methods so identify the weed, research it thoroughly so you know the best line of defence. Shower perennials with water The long taproots of perennial weeds will break if you try to yank them out of dry soil so only attempt when soil is wet – either from rainfall or your hose. When you pull these pesky perennial weeds out with roots intact, you won’t get grow back. Attack annual weeds when dry Wait for a hot and dry day before you attack annual weeds. This will ensure weeds will shrivel and die even if you don’t manage to remove the entire root of plants. Mulch, mulch and mulch Covering bare soil with mulch will deprive weeds of the light they need to thrive. Plus if those sneaky weeds still manage to grow, they are usually weak enough to be easily removed. Bake big weeds problems If the weeds are getting a tad out of control in one part of your garden, an easy way to kill them all at once is to bake them beneath a sheet of clear plastic. Wet soil first and then cover with sheet of clear plastic and leave for three weeks. The best condition to do this is when the weather is hot and sunny. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2015/12/how-to-control-whiteflies-in-the-garden/">How to control whiteflies in the garden</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2015/12/homemade-remedies-for-the-garden/">Homemade remedies for the garden</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2015/12/household-tricks-from-the-1900s-2/">More great vintage household tricks from the 1900s</a>

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13 homemade weed killers that work

16 ways to kill garden weeds

How to know what weeds to pull and what to leave in the garden

"Cancer-causing” weed killer found in popular cereals

How to get rid of weeds without ruining your lawn

7 ways to tackle weeds with items from the kitchen

5 easy ways to beat weeds