The other morning I poured some plain old distilled vinegar into a spray bottle, added a squirt or two of dishwashing liquid and attacked my weeds. I don't necessarily mind pulling weeds, but 1) you have to stay on top of it or they get out of control quickly and 2) it is nearly impossible to get them out of the cracks in the cement completely.
While I was spraying, my vinegar-smell hating husband poked his head out the back door and asked if I wanted him to use "real weed killer".
Now, why would I want you to do that? So you can be like this city worker I spied the next day at the library:
And his results from spraying "real weed killer":
Well, I guess you really can't tell from the photos (and blogger won't let me enlarge it), but more than 48 hours later there is no difference in the weeds despite that funky brown spray all over the ground. Trust me, I was very careful not to step on any cracks over there. 🙂
I am pretty sure my solution cost far less than the mystery chemical that was less effective. Maybe the City of Murrieta should look into it both to stop exposing residents to chemicals and save tax payer dollars.
Mary~Momathon says
What kind of dishwashing liquid? Handwashing or Dishwasher washing?
Vinny C says
I'm on weeding duty at home, so you know I have to try your formula now.
Audrey Humaciu says
The stuff you use for handwashing dishes. I just used a squirt or two. You can use straight vinegar, but the soap is supposed to help penetrate the oily layer on some weeds and make it work faster/better.
Vanessa D says
We can no longer even buy chemical weed killers here in Ontario, so I know a lot of people who will give this one a try.
Audrey Humaciu says
Vanessa, if it weren't so bloody cold up there I'd consider moving to Ontario.