Gardeners urged to use vinegar in their gardens

Vinegar isn’t just for your salad dressing, it can also be a powerful, natural, and weed killer, gardening experts said. Weed can be one of the most annoying issues to deal with when caring for our gardens.

However, experts at  suggested a way to combine gardening and one of the most important household staples to make getting rid of weeds easier. By combining one gallon of white vinegar, one cup of table salt, and one tablespoon of dish soap, you can create an effective solution to tackle those stubborn weeds that interfere with your plants, they said. Simply mix these ingredients and pour the solution into a spray bottle to tackle unwanted plants.  

Vinegar is a surprisingly effective natural weed killer due to its high acidity, which can damage and kill unwanted weeds. The acetic acid in vinegar draws moisture out of the weeds, dehydrating them and causing them to wilt.

The dish soap acts as a surfactant, allowing the solution to stick to the weeds better and ensuring it penetrates the leaves effectively.

This vinegar solution is especially useful for targeting weeds growing in cracks or along driveways and other hard surfaces, where they can be harder to control.

Since it’s non-toxic, it’s a safer alternative to chemical herbicides, making it ideal for those looking for an eco-friendly and cost-effective way to keep their garden free from weeds. 

Despite its natural components, the vinegar and salt mixture can still pose risks to pets and wildlife.

To ensure their safety, keep your pets away from treated areas until the solution has completely dried.

The salt and vinegar could irritate their paws or be harmful if ingested by pets. 

A homemade vinegar solution can effectively kill younger weeds, but it’s not a permanent solution for tough weeds, unless you’re diligent about reapplying and soaking the roots of the weeds. 

White vinegar will cost you barely a pound in any supermarket, whereas other weed-killing solutions often start at around £10.