Weed control in summer cottages is carried out constantly, with the exception of the winter period. One common control method is to use a weed killer with vinegar. The substance can be used in combination with various components to enhance the effect on unwanted vegetation.
Why is vinegar effective in controlling weeds?
By treating the beds with a vinegar solution, it is possible to remove weeds due to a special effect. In terms of composition and principle of action, the effect of vinegar is comparable to herbicides and is as follows:
- destruction of membranes on plant cells, which leads to drying out and death of weeds;
- blocking photosynthesis, causing growth inhibition;
- slowdown of metabolic processes and depletion of vegetation at the cellular level;
- penetration to the roots for a comprehensive effect.
A folk remedy based on vinegar essence can be used with any type of weed. This simplifies the work of cultivating the beds and increases efficiency.
Advantages and disadvantages
Vinegar solutions designed to combat weeds have a number of positive characteristics. The main benefits include the following:
- Vinegar is an environmentally friendly substance and, when used correctly, does not have a negative effect on the crops grown.
- The substance decomposes easily and does not linger in the soil for a long period, which increases the safety of its use.
- Variability of recipes for preparing a solution for spraying and watering weeds.
The main disadvantage that gardeners face when processing beds is the strong impact of vinegar on vegetables and other crops. Inaccurate watering with a solution often leads to poor plant growth.
Blend recipes
There are a large number of ways to prepare a solution to combat unwanted vegetation. Depending on the selected additional components, the nuances of the impact on green spaces depend.
Acetic acid in various concentrations
Acetic acid contains components that cause cells to burn out when watering weeds. Before using the substance, it is worth inspecting the beds to assess the extent of the spread of the grass and its dimensions. To combat a large area of vegetation, highly concentrated acetic acid should be used.
Otherwise, the destruction of plantings will be ineffective.
With salt
The combination of salt and vinegar enhances the effect on the weeds. The substances have a powerful effect and, when combined, can quickly destroy grass overgrowth. It is important to consider that any vegetation will not sprout in the treated areas for several years, so it is better to use the product for watering areas near the fence or garden paths.
The watering agent should be diluted in a ratio of 5 tablespoons of vinegar to 2 tablespoons of salt. The substances are poured into 1 liter of water, the liquid is brought to a boil, stirred thoroughly and, without allowing it to cool, poured onto the weeds. The highly effective solution has a rapid destructive effect and destroys large thickets.
With added soap
A mixture of vinegar essence, salt and soap also allows you to fight unwanted grass in your garden beds. This mixture is called herbicidal soap. To prepare the substance you will need 1 liter of vinegar, 150 g of rock salt and 2 tablespoons of liquid soap. Salt is poured into a container, vinegar and soap are poured in, then the components are shaken until a homogeneous consistency is obtained.
To get rid of the thickets found on the dacha area, you need to treat them with a mixture, preventing them from getting into neighboring plantings. You also need to ensure that the liquid does not spread over the surface of the beds.
The best effect can be achieved when treating annual weeds with a prepared soap solution.
Combination of acetic and citric acids
Professional gardeners prefer to use a mixture of citric and acetic acids to control weeds. To create a working solution, it is important to maintain the correct proportions. A suitable ratio is 3 parts acetic acid to 1 part citric acid. The concentration of vinegar essence should be 15% or higher, since otherwise the effectiveness of treating the beds will deteriorate.
When preparing a solution, the acids are placed in one container and wait until all the formed crystals dissolve. Then all that remains is to pour the liquid into the sprayer and treat the thickets in the beds.
With detergent
One way to create a weed remover is to add regular dish detergent to the vinegar essence. The recipe for preparing the solution is to use 1 liter of vinegar and 10 ml of the general product. The components are thoroughly mixed and the resulting mixture is poured into a spray bottle for subsequent spraying of the plantings. To simplify the removal of unwanted vegetation, it is allowed to use a highly concentrated essence.
How to Kill Weeds with Vinegar
When using prepared solutions containing vinegar and additional substances to remove weeds, you need to take into account that they negatively affect the growth of any plants. For this reason, in the immediate vicinity of vegetable and garden crops, the grass is sprayed with a spray bottle, covering other plants with a protective film.In places where there is a strong accumulation of weeds, it is recommended to resort not to spraying, but to the method of spilling soil and plantings. This technique will help remove all unwanted weeds for a long period. During processing, it is important to comply with the following requirements:
- The time for spraying or watering occurs at the end of May - beginning of June, when the weeds have not begun to bloom.
- Carrying out the work is recommended in hot and dry weather, as this enhances the effect of the working solution on green spaces.
Precautions when working with mixtures
Even a weakly concentrated vinegar solution is a chemically active substance. The stronger the concentration of the substance, the more powerful the effect it has on the skin and mucous membranes. To avoid negative consequences, precautions must be taken. Including:
- work in the garden is carried out wearing protective gloves, and a bandage or respirator is put on the face;
- the ingredients of the working solution are mixed carefully, avoiding splashing and contact with the skin surface;
- In case of contact with the working solution, rinse the affected areas.
If you adhere to the listed safety measures, the use of the solution will not be dangerous compared to ready-made herbicides produced by chemical industry enterprises. At the same time, the efficiency of treating weeds with vinegar solutions is significantly higher.
