Natural Weed Killer For Lawns [Hint: not vinegar]

Everyone wants the prettiest lawn on the block, whether as a sense of pride, an accent to a beautiful home, general curb appeal, or bolstering property values. Vinegar, or other non-selective applications like salt-based formulas, will damage or kill the turf around the weed. These methods are often considered a natural weed killer for lawns, providing an alternative to chemical herbicides for targeted weed control.

Few things can detract from a well-groomed lawn like unwanted weeds showing up. Clean Air Lawn Care CEO Kelly Giard was highlighted in a Martha Stewart post that touched on some of the practices to reduce weed presence naturally.

Natural weed killer for lawns can be effective when combined with other sustainable practices to produce healthy grass. The first step is creating a lawn that does not leave room for weeds to become established. Weeds are opportunistic, and they look for space where healthy turf does not exist. Many weeds also thrive in sub-optimal conditions, so the healthier the lawn and soil, the less likely weeds will take hold.

By focusing on your lawn’s overall health and using smart maintenance practices, you can significantly reduce weed growth. There are also mechanical practices like mowing, proper watering and weed pulling that benefit the process.

It all starts with the soil.

Making a healthy lawn begins in the soil. Hearty soil is a microcosm of good bacteria and microbial life. That underground life is key in providing nutrients and supporting strong turf growth.

• Healthy Soil: Use organic fertilizers to enrich the soil with nutrients, promoting robust grass growth and making it harder for weeds to establish.
• Aeration: Aerate your lawn annually to improve oxygen, water and nutrient flow to the roots. A deeper, stronger root system equals stronger, healthier grass above ground.
• Reseeding: Overseed your lawn to fill in bare spots for cool season turf like fescue or Kentucky blue grass, ensuring thick grass that crowds out weeds. Warm season turf may require sprigs or sod repair if the bare or damage area is large enough.
• Compost top-dressing: Spreading a layer of organic compost 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch thick will return needed carbon and microorganisms to the lawn. Not only does it enrich the soil, but it also provides a natural fertilizer boost.

Proper mowing and edging techniques are also important.

Adjust Your Mowing Routine

• Mow Higher: Keep your grass height at 3 inches or more for cool season grasses. Taller grass shades the soil, preventing sunlight from reaching weed seeds and encouraging deep root growth. Warm season turf should be maintained between 2 and 2-1/2 inches.
• Mow More Frequently: Regular mowing removes weed heads before they can flower and produce seeds, limiting their ability to spread. Also, frequent mowing ensures that no more than a quarter of the blade of grass is removed at one time. Removing more than that can stress the turf.
• Use Sharp Blades: Ensure your mower blades are sharp to avoid tearing grass, which can weaken it and create opportunities for weeds.
• Vertical Edging: Clean, vertical edging without cutting deeply into the turf reduces the space for weeds to gain hold. Scalping edges or creating a dirt trench along the sidewalk can open space for weeds to propagate.

Weeds will still find a way into our lawns. They are adept at moving across great distances by wind or animal, and many weeds travel through rhizomes underground to spread across yards and pop up at unsuspecting places. Even in the healthiest and thickest lawns, weeds will still find a way.

• Early Removal: Remove weeds while they are young and small to extract as much of the root system as possible.
• Use Proper Tools: Tools like a weeding fork, hori hori knife or claw cultivator can make it easier to dig deep and remove the entire root.
• Consistency: Regularly inspect and remove weeds to prevent them from maturing and spreading.

If opting for treatments, products like vinegar are safer than chemical herbicides. However they do not affect the roots of the weeds and require continued maintenance. Vinegar is also non-selective, meaning it will damage the foliage of any plant it contacts, whether desired grass or not. Targeting precise spot spraying can be effective as an additional approach. There are also herbicides like Fiesta, which is simply chelated iron and provides an overdose to broadleaf weeds.

Providing adequate nutrients and healthy soil also requires proper watering. Too much or too little can stress the lawn more than the opportunistic weeds. Turf grass with well-established roots prefer to drink deeply from the soil

• Water Deeply but Infrequently: Water your lawn once or twice a week for longer durations to encourage grass roots to grow deep into the soil. Water in the morning so the surface moisture can dry off during the day and reduce the likelihood of a fungus taking hold.
• Avoid Shallow Watering: Short, frequent watering supports shallow-rooted weeds rather than turfgrass. Frequent watering also keeps the turf wet, allowing more chance for fungus to spread.
• Use Smart Irrigation: Consider drip irrigation or sprinklers that target turfgrass zones to minimize water reaching weed-prone areas. New technology with improved controllers allows for remote access via smart phone apps and can also better determine weather conditions and if irrigation is needed.

By implementing these strategies, you create a less hospitable environment for weeds while nurturing a healthy, lush lawn that thrives without heavy chemical intervention. We love the use of a natural weed killer for lawns and really any garden or flower bed.

Use of Natural Weed Killer for Lawns

As stated in the Martha Stewart article, the approach to removing weeds once they do appear can be varied. Non-chemical natural weed killer for lawns do not affect the roots and require regular attention and maintenance.

Vinegar, or other non-selective applications like salt-based formulas, will damage or kill the turf around the weed. These methods are best used in areas outside of the lawn, such as sidewalks, driveways and patios. Additionally, salt-based products can lead to a build up in the soil and may prevent any plant growth from occurring.

Using boiling water or propane torches to spot treat a weed are also effective. Both processes burn the foliage. Repeated applications will eventually lead to the root dying as well. However, they can be difficult to target weeds without also damaging the desired turf grass.

Manual pulling can be effective, especially when weeds are young and not deeply rooted. It’s also key to remove weeds before they go to seed and begin to potentially spread.

Develop a healthy, organic lawn regimen and the weed presence will diminish, which will require less direct attention to remove the unwanted pests.