How Effective are Homemade Weed Killers
                     
A natural approach to lawn care 
is preferable for protecting 
delicate plants and animals. 
At first glance, the concept 
of mixing up a weed spray from 
ingredients in your pantry 
may be appealing. 
It may seem faster and easier 
to try to take care of a weed 
problem yourself. 
Or, you might like hearing 
the claims that these sprays 
are safer for the environment.
The effectiveness of homemade 
weed sprays depends upon 
the ingredients that you use. 
The application method, timing, 
and type of weed that you also 
treat impacts how well they work.
Weed control is a complicated 
process, and understanding why 
and when to use specific 
methods helps you to maintain 
a beautiful lawn.

The majority of homemade weed spray recipes that you’ll 
find use some combination of vinegar, soap, and salt.
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Vinegar is the primary ingredient 
in most homemade sprays. 
It contains acetic acid that breaks 
down the outer layers of weed 
leaves and stems. 
Household vinegar typically 
contains only about 5% acetic acid. 
The vinegar in your pantry can kill 
some weak or young weeds. 
Since it only works on the top part 
of the weed, it tends to be less 
effective on perennials and ones 
with deep root systems. 
Salt is another ingredient that 
is used in homemade sprays. 
Table salt works similarly to vinegar 
by drying out weed plants. 
Without proper hydration, 
the weed cannot grow. 
Once again, this only provides 
surface-level benefits that don’t 
affect all types of weeds.
Some recipes only call for salt and vinegar, but many also require 
dish soap. 
The reason why soap is used is to help the vinegar and salt solution 
to stick to the weeds. 
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Certain types of soap can also 
help break down the waxy 
surface of leaves. 
This makes it easier for the 
solution to soak into the weeds.

If you spray homemade 
solutions on a young weed 
on a sunny day, you might see 
some results. 
Brown leaves and dying plants 
are often short-lived once 
the root system helps 
the plant recover.
Professional treatments 
are designed to be absorbed 
by the plant rather than just 
sitting on top of the leaves.
This makes it possible to target 
specific types of weeds and 
ones that are well-established. 
For instance, dandelions often 
have taproots that extend well 
beyond one or two feet below 
the ground surface. 
Homemade weed sprays cannot 
simply reach deep enough 
to have much of an effect 
on the most common weeds.

People tend to think that 
homemade weed sprays have 
fewer long term effects 
on desirable plants than 
professional treatments. 
Vinegar can disrupt the pH balance 
in the soil. 
Salt does as well, and the results 
can be long-lasting. 
Nearby desirable plants 
can be affected by the runoff 
from homemade sprays. 
Soil treatments are often needed 
to restore nutrients to the ground 
after DIY weed control methods 
were used.
Homemade weed sprays can 
sometimes work in a pinch on one 
or two young plants. 
They just don’t help to eliminate 
all of the factors that help 
weeds thrive. 
Untreated seeds and weeds 
with mature root systems 
are often unaffected 
by home treatments. 
Using the wrong homemade 
spray can sometimes be worse 
than doing nothing at all. 
Professional spraying 
is the only guaranteed way 
to get rid of weeds and stop them 
from coming back.
Custom Weed & Pest Control 
has been in business since 1989, 
serving the greater Phoenix metro 
area for both residential 
and commercial.
We offer an affordable weed 
and pest control package, 
with customized service to meet 
your specific needs.