Weed control is a significant concern for homeowners, especially those with patios, but more so with gravel drives.
There is a vast range of common gravel weed species. From grassy weeds like henbit and purslane to woody weeds such as broadleaf or dandelion, these plants are not afraid of residence on your decorative gravel surface.
Thankfully gardeners don’t need to rely on shop-bought weed killers that are full of toxic chemicals as gardeners share how to utilise white vinegar and salt.
Curious about how to make a homemade weed killer with these two ingredients, one gardening enthusiast asked for some tips.
Carley Meadow said: “Hi, I’ve got white vinegar and salt. How do you apply them to weeds on a gravel driveway? Are they mixed together?”
For white vinegar and salt to work on gravel weeds, gardening fans claimed that washing up liquid is a “must”.
Jennifer Hill said: “You must add washing-up liquid to it for the salt and vinegar to stick to the weeds.”
Mike Turner commented: “Mix the vinegar and salt with dish soap as that’s what helps them grab onto the weeds and kill them for good.”
Anne Rodgers wrote: “Salt, vinegar and washing up liquid. They say the soap clings to the weeds, kills them quicker.”
Sharing specific measurements for the homemade weed killer, Peter Laing said: “One gallon of white vinegar, one cup of salt and one tablespoon of dish soap.
“Spray directly onto weeds. This is for areas such as gravel drives and patio paths only as it poisons the soil.”
As you should with any new treatment, gardeners might want to test it first. Before applying the soap solution to a large area, test it on a small area to ensure it doesn’t cause any unintended damage.
This homemade weed killer recipe works best on a dry sunny day and should be applied at midday, or just before, when the sun is at its peak.
Before you start, give the weed a shake to remove any insects on the plant to avoid harming them.
For small weeds and younger dandelions spray the solution directly onto the leaves.
For larger, more well-established weeds, spray the leaves and also pour a good amount of the solution onto the plant. Gardeners should notice the weeds beginning to wilt within an hour.
