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curlyred

(1,879 posts)
1. I tried the horticultural vinegar...
Thu Feb 21, 2019, 05:56 PM
Feb 2019

It worked OK on everything except bindweed. I think it worked the best when I heated it up before pouring it on the weeds.
I was a little disappointed that it didn't work on the bindweed, but I haven't really found anything that does.

N_E_1 for Tennis

(9,593 posts)
2. I've used it straight...
Thu Feb 21, 2019, 05:59 PM
Feb 2019

not diluted. Worked awesomely. Used cleaning vinegar (7.5%) on some more stubborn weeds.

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,270 posts)
3. Ordinary grocery store vinegar isn't strong enough, but horticultural vinegar might be too strong.
Thu Feb 21, 2019, 06:02 PM
Feb 2019
Vinegar’s active ingredient, acetic acid, can be produced naturally through bacterial fermentation, as in apple cider vinegar, or industrially, via chemical reactions from such source materials as methanol. But concentrations strong enough to be effective against anything but the youngest, most tender weeds, vinegar is no longer a food product but an herbicide called horticultural vinegar and not so friendly.

In concentrations this strong, vinegar becomes hazardous and can cause environmental damage. Vinegar is a contact or "burndown" herbicide, killing what it touches within hours or days. The worst part is that it may looks like it’s working, but weeds will then resprout from the roots, particularly perennial species.

That partial success worries Jeff Gillman, author of The Truth About Organic Gardening, because it often incites a gardener to continue using vinegar, even if it's not the best for his or her garden. The gardener — seeing results but not entirely satisfied — often trades up to higher concentrations, replacing household vinegar (5% acetic acid) with a horticultural product (typically 20%).

Despite the signal word danger on most such labels, gardeners may instead just see vinegar and be careless. Sobering details: In concentrations over 11%, acetic acid can burn skin and cause eye damage, and concentrations of 20% and above are corrosive to tin, aluminum, iron, and concrete and can even cause blindness. Such herbicides should be applied while wearing goggles and protective clothing.
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/gardening/a20705796/vinegar-weed-killer-danger/

SWBTATTReg

(21,856 posts)
13. Interesting. I never thought of vinegar as a weed killer ... I make wine at home and sometimes...
Thu Feb 21, 2019, 06:57 PM
Feb 2019

it turns into vinegar for various reasons. I wonder if the acetic acid is concentrated enough from the bad wine to use as a weed killer? I will try it this spring and see. Usually when a batch of my homemade wine goes bad (I make about 10-15 different batches of wine depending on the fruit available at the time), I'll save for various purposes such as dressing, cleaner, etc.

Thanks for the tidbit of news. Amazing what one learns everyday!

Atticus

(15,124 posts)
5. There are lots of recipes on line for home made weed killer which feature vinegar as a
Thu Feb 21, 2019, 06:05 PM
Feb 2019

primary ingredient. Most also include salt and a squirt or two of dish detergent to help the solution stick to the weeds. In my experience, they kill all of the plant tissue they contact, but do NOT kill the roots. Best for seedlings without a strong root system yet .

in2herbs

(2,942 posts)
6. Thanks for the replies. We have a couple of acres and the weeds this year are out of control.
Thu Feb 21, 2019, 06:09 PM
Feb 2019

I am reticent to use Round Up or any such thing as it seems that this year the dogs are addicted to eating the weeds, but with summer around the corner the fire danger goes up. I really need to decide on something ASAP cuz the snakes will soon be coming out of hiding and I'm afraid they're hiding in the weeds.

Siwsan

(26,177 posts)
7. I've used the vinegar/water/salt/Dawn dish detergent mix
Thu Feb 21, 2019, 06:12 PM
Feb 2019

Can't remember the specific ratios, but the Dawn helps break down any oils protecting the leaves so that the vinegar and salt can kill the weed. I use it pretty much only on the driveway and sidewalk cracks, and I keep the salt to a minimum.

I always carry another spray bottle with just straight vinegar and occasionally spray it on my arms - just in case I accidentally brush up against some well hidden poison ivy or stinging nettle.

fierywoman

(7,641 posts)
9. I was told that for weeds it needs to be applied before dawn. I think you pull the weed and squirt
Thu Feb 21, 2019, 06:27 PM
Feb 2019

vinegar down where the root was.

Meanwhile: I've made weed-pulling fun by pretending that every single weed I pull is a MAGAt who changes their mind!

fierywoman

(7,641 posts)
11. Seriously: if you want to get into the moon related aspects of it, off the top
Thu Feb 21, 2019, 06:32 PM
Feb 2019

of my head, I think you'd do the work during a waning moon and probably when the moon was in a fire sign or air sign.
FYI, the person who told me about spraying before dawn is a PhD scientist who, as far as I know, cares nothing about gardening by the moon.

Farmer-Rick

(10,072 posts)
15. Never really worked for me
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 04:37 PM
Feb 2019

It doesn't kill the roots and the weeds always come back. Then I have to spray all over again. I tried both horticulture and homemade recipes.

I find covering weeds with plastic to paper and cardboard to be much more effective. I also use cornstarch as a pre emergent weed killer with onions and corn shoots. But mostly I use biodegradable paper to keep weeds to a low roar.

Some weeds I eat and allow to grow as ground cover like purslane and mache.

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