I have been using the vinegar as weed killer trick for years now. I started when I found poison ivy on our property. I am highly allergic to the oil on this plant and can’t even touch something that touched poison ivy without getting it.
So I used vinegar. Dr. Osborne recommends adding dish soap to vinegar to kill some plants that have waxy leaves. I find that if I add a nice cup of kosher sale to a gallon of cider or white vinegar, stir until dissolved and pour it on the poison ivy, it doesn’t stand a chance.
Weeds don’t either.
The good doctor does note that vinegar doesn’t discriminate – it kills anything. So be careful how your pour or spray. Other plants will go down with the weeds.
And using this common household product ensures that you are not poisoning the water for you or for your neighbors (think wells, water table and where Round Up goes once it leaves the sprayer).
I love this post and am so glad that Dr. Osborne shared his secret.
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This is great! Can’t wait to try it as I am also very allergic to PI and hate using RoundUp (but do where that scurrilous plant has been concerned). Thanks so much!
I first heard about this technique on You Bet Your Garden – Mike McGrath’s NPR show out of Philadelphia. But I couldn’t get the concentrated vinegar he referenced so I tried plain old white vinegar. It works…but it works even better coupled with salt! Scorched earth….for poison ivy!!
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I’ve been using this as well, works like a champ!
Amazing how easy it is to avoid all the chemicals if you just look around the kitchen – garlic, horseradish, red pepper flakes, dishwashing liquid and, who knew, vinegar! They all work in various ways to protect the veggies and fruits without, literally, poisoning the well water of my neighbors.
Thanks Pat for sharing this article. It does work really awesome, esp with the added soap.
Love sharing great info like the kind you put up on your blog!
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I love that we are not alone on planet earth – other people are singing the praises of vinegar for everything from household cleaners to dynamite weed killers! I even taught the Amish man who owns the local general store about vinegar and he is now telling his customers about it and stocking 4 gallon cases for our use!! Thanks for sharing the link to my blog. Loving getting to know people like you!
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Hey Tao of Vinegar! I use vinegar on any nasty weeds, too! Poison ivy is my personal favorite to “cook” with vinegar. So glad I have a fellow gardener who chooses a healthy option for weed warfare!!