Inexpensive and healthier sidewalk weed control!

[bradedit]

Sidewalk Weed Control More Lawns Solutions
by Annie Berthold-Bond, Care2.com Producer, Green Living Channels
We often think of the wonderful healing qualities of plants and gardens, but fail to realize how much damage we can do using conventional gardening products. Use these eco-friendly, health friendly tips to control weeds in your garden without chemical herbicides that can cause serious health problems.



Simple Solution:
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Use this tried-and-true recipe for weeds growing in sidewalk cracks and between bricks, not in the garden (the plants will be killed).

1 cup salt
teaspoon liquid detergent
1 gallon vinegar
Easy Directions
Combine the ingredients in a bucket. Stir to blend. Sprinkle over weeds.





Helpful Hints:

Use a small shovel or your hands to pull out weeds. (You can compost the weeds to produce rich soil after you’ve removed them.)
Lay down newspaper between rows, and a thick layer of mulch. This will prevent weed seeds from sprouting.
For greatest ease, remove weeds when the soil is damp.
It is easiest to remove younger weeds, so don’t let them get out of control. “Nip them in the bud,” so to speak.
Try to get all the roots. Damp soil makes this easier.

[kat]

I don't know that the detergent is necessary. For years we've used a mix of salt & vinegar to keep the weeds at bay in the bricks that surround my front garden.

Just be careful that you don't let it sit if it's in a really sunny place. I have a few bricks that were bleached by the vinegar drying in the sun so, if that's a concern, try to use this stuff at night or when the area isn't hit by direct sunlight.

[bradedit]

Thanks Kat, I never thought of it bleaching anything but I made a batch up and put it on my driveway and sidewalk, I am curious to see how long it takes to kill them.

It sure is alot less expensive and doesn't have all the nasty chemicals

[bigred]

Originally Posted by bradedit

Thanks Kat, I never thought of it bleaching anything but I made a batch up and put it on my driveway and sidewalk, I am curious to see how long it takes to kill them.

It sure is alot less expensive and doesn't have all the nasty chemicals

Please let us know how it works. With the weather warming up here, I'm going to need to work on my (brick) sidewalk soon.

[bradedit]

It did work, even though we had a rainstorm the next morning. Most of them have turned brown but I think I will have to go back and get some areas that the rain washed away. I just did it on the concrete driveway and sidewalk.

I only mixed a half gallon this time but now that I know it works I am going to do the gallon size!

[lavenderlady]

Just sprinkle baking soda on the weeds. No need to water. Watch them turn black!

Originally Posted by bradedit

It did work, even though we had a rainstorm the next morning. Most of them have turned brown but I think I will have to go back and get some areas that the rain washed away. I just did it on the concrete driveway and sidewalk.

I only mixed a half gallon this time but now that I know it works I am going to do the gallon size!

[bbouma]

Originally Posted by lavenderlady

Just sprinkle baking soda on the weeds. No need to water. Watch them turn black!

I tried this with the baking soda, and it didn't work for me, but maybe I didn't put enough baking soda on? We have some very tall weeks in our alley. Is there a certain rule of thumb in knowing how much to use?

[lavenderlady]

Originally Posted by bbouma

I tried this with the baking soda, and it didn't work for me, but maybe I didn't put enough baking soda on? We have some very tall weeks in our alley. Is there a certain rule of thumb in knowing how much to use?

I've used it on short weeds, weeds between driveway cracks and specifically crabgrass. Turns them black in 24 hrs. Good luck.

[lookn4deals]

I have a gully type thing at the end of my driveway where weeds grow like crazy (we have stones there) would this work there too? Would it kill grass to I dont want any of that there either. DF told me to go buy roundup but it will cost a fortune its a large area...

[lavenderlady]

Originally Posted by lookn4deals

I have a gully type thing at the end of my driveway where weeds grow like crazy (we have stones there) would this work there too? Would it kill grass to I dont want any of that there either. DF told me to go buy roundup but it will cost a fortune its a large area...

You can surely try the baking soda over the rocks and see what happens. It's inexpensive enough and it's better for our planet than Round-Up! Personally, I've never tried it on rocks but believe that as long as the baking soda sits on whatever it is you're trying to kill, you're good to go. As a reminder, do not water in. Good luck!

[lookn4deals]

just thought id update. Id tried the baking soda with no luck. I didnt kill one of them LOL.My luck it probably feed the little buggers. I will now try the vinegar & Salt!