Good Lifestyle

Summer is there, and with a little luck, the plants in your garden are now lush and prosperous. However, the same factors that help your Favorite flowers GROW - Exchange of sun and rain and favorable soil conditions, to name only a few - are the same conditions that allow weeds to germinate en masse. The good news is that there are several ways to rid your courtyard of these invasive plants, an option being to make homemade weeds with just a handful of household ingredients. Compared to the solutions purchased in stores, these are delivered with some key advantages, according to gardening experts.

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Why is the home-made weeding killer better than the options purchased in stores?

Ionel Giuran , a lawn care expert for Fantastic gardeners , said there are advantages for homemade weed killers and bought in stores.

"There are organic herbicides that you can buy which often contain chemicals that already exist in nature and which are not harmful to the environment. On the other hand, certain recipes for house killers will force you to use Synthetic ingredients, such as dish soap or other ingredients that are toxic if they are ingested or enter the surrounding ground of your lawn or garden, such as borax and whitening, "explains Giuran.

He adds that if you are dealing with larger and more persistent weeds, you will probably need to use a weed killer bought in store to avoid regrowth.

"Those homemade is generally more effective than against small sowings of weeds and do not target the roots, which is essential to completely eliminate weeds," he said. "If you have to do, I would recommend looking for biological weed killers with an appropriate organization for your country."

However, there are some key reasons to opt for a homemade solution. These are some of the clearest advantages.

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Health and security

Chemical pesticides are toxic and can be harmful if they are ingested. This can be particularly dangerous if you have children or domestic animals at home.

In fact, some ingredients found in the chemical killers of weeds have been linked to non -hodgkins lymphoma, a form of cancer that begins in the lymphatic system. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (CIRC) warns that those manufactured with glyphosate are " Probably carcinogenic to humans . ""

However, it should be noted that the EPA has challenged this evaluation. They say the chemical Do not pose a risk To public health when used in accordance with its current label, although they recognize that it can be harmful to pets if it is swallowed.

For some people, this is a sufficient reason to opt for homemade weed killers rather than options purchased in stores.

Profitability

Rob Palmer , president of the mark of Lawn , said you can also save money by making your own natural weed killer, as you probably already have most of the ingredients you will need.

"While the two options have their advantages and disadvantages, the killers of house weeds are certainly more profitable," he said Better life.

Environmental conviviality

Many people also choose to make killers of DIY weeds in order to be more respectful of the environment and sustainable and to reduce their dependence on rigorous chemicals.

"Most of the home -made weeding killers cause minimal environment unless you use bleach," said Giuran. "They are generally made of natural ingredients which decompose more quickly compared to commercial ingredients, which reduces the risk of residual chemicals fleeing in the soil or water systems."

He says that making your own weeds at home can help preserve biodiversity, protect beneficial insects, birds and other wild animals that visit your garden and keep a healthy ecosystem in your outdoor space.

Soil health

When they are used properly, homemade weed killers are generally less disruptive for your soil health and more beneficial for soil microorganisms, such as earthworms, explains Giuran.

"They allow better cycling of nutrients and promote a healthier soil soil ecosystem. Over time, this can improve the structure of your soil, its water retention and the overall health of plants," he said Better life.

"The ingredients of homemade solutions also tend to decompose more quickly and naturally in the environment, reducing the long -term impact on the soil of your lawn," accepts Palmer.

(A little) Targeted weed control

Giuran says that killers of DIY herbs can also offer a more targeted control of weeds when they are strategically deployed.

"Homemade weed killers can often be used to target the foliage of weeds rather than the whole plant, which allows more selective control. This targeted approach can help minimize damage to unmarked plants in your garden or your Pelouse and reduces the risk of involuntary damage to neighboring vegetation, ”he explains.

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How to make homemade weeds killer

If you prefer to avoid weeding killers purchased in store, there are ingredients without chemicals that will help keep these plants annoying at a distance - and you will probably already have them at home. You can use these ingredients individually or combine them in a spray bottle to start getting rid of weeds in a few hours.

Vinegar

If dandelions or other weeds invaded by vegetation take up your garden, the spraying of vinegar can help to retaliate. Indeed, vinegar contains acetic acid, a by-product of fermentation, which helps to dry the sheets of the plants. AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

Chris Ramos , a representative for Blain's Farm & Flotte , says that white vinegar and apple cider vinegar are up to tasks for smaller and less developed plants. "Simply fill in a sprayer bottle and spray it directly on the weeds. Target the flower and the stem so that the vinegar infiltrates the roots," he recommends.

However, Giuran notes that "domestic vinegar has an acetic acid of five percent, and it is only strong enough to kill sowing of very young weeds with only one or two leaves".

For larger and more established weeds with three or more sheets, "you will have to use a horticultural quality vinegar which has higher acetic acid concentrations of more than 20%," he said.

Epsom salt or salt

Then, table salt and Epsom salt can both kill the weeds. However, if the salt is applied incorrectly, it will modify the balance of the soil pH and will affect the growth of future plants.

"This method is ideal for sidewalk cracks or garden trails where no plants ... are desired," explains Ramos. "Sprinkle with rocky salt sparingly or use a mixture of a cup of salt and two cups of boiling water in a spray bottle for a homemade weed killer. Make sure to keep it away from your beds garden to protect your desirable plants. "

Boiling water

You can also use boiling water to rid the isolated areas of weeds - for example, an aisle of gravel without neighboring plants.

"Fill your tea kettle and tighten the weeds of boiling water. Be just careful not to get hot water on any of your garden plants. Hot water will kill weeds, as well as other plants than 'He touches, "said Ramos Better life.

Dishwasher soap

Puting dish soap in your homemade solution can increase the efficiency of weed control, as it can help better adhere to the spraying mixture with weeds, Palmer note.

However, it is important to be careful when using dish soap as weed killer - water runoff after the rain can transport it to your other plants, causing damage to your garden.

Baking soda

Soda bicarbonate can be used as a killer of autonomous house weeds or as part of a sprayed solution which combines several of the ingredients listed above.

Palmer notes that the use of his own chief is the most effective on small weeds, "especially in areas such as cracks and sidewalk crevices".

"Salt in dry soda baking soda, which makes it difficult for this plant to absorb moisture, causing death," he explains.

"If you make a solution to spray on weeds, using about a cup of baking soda by a gallon of water should make a mixture powerful enough for the fight against weeds," adds Palmer. "For little weeds, a slight asparagus of baking soda to coat the leaves and stems without completely burying the weed should be sufficient, and for bad weeds, a heavier application may be necessary."

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What can I use to prevent weeds from going back?

Whatever the type of weed killer killer you choose, you will need to take some additional measures to make sure your courtyard or garden is grass.

"In addition to these homemade remedies, shooting weeds is always a good practice to help prevent the overexacitude of weeds in the lawn," explains Palmer. "Hand shot weeds while they are limited in number and before producing seeds can help prevent the future incursion of weeds and the need for intense herbicidal treatments."

He adds that maintaining your lawn can also help prevent the growth of weeds: "You can maintain a Thick and healthy lawn by fertilization, ventilation and overvaluation. This may be enough to limit the amount of spraying weeds necessary to keep the weeds away from your lawn. ""

If weeds remain despite these lawn care practices, you can manage them through "methods of firing or physical elimination or chemical control, such as pre and post-emerging control products", note-t -he.

Conclusion

If your garden is overwhelmed by weeds, there are a lot of options at your disposal to control them - and the best approach can combine several methods at a time.

Experts emphasize that house killers alone are not a long -term solution to a single and long -term. "For this reason, it will be better if you develop a more complete prevention herb control strategy and prevent them from taking root in the first place," said Giuran.