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With summer fast approaching, it's time for me to head outside and get my backyard ready for entertaining.
And if there’s one hated gardening task for me, it’s tackling those stubborn weeds. Not only do these just spring up in my lawn and patio, but they also push through the gravel in my front yard — completely ruining the overall look of my garden.
While I’ve tried all sorts of methods to banish weeds, from chemicals to boiling water, one natural hack always seems to pop up — white vinegar. It seems like white vinegar can do so much more than just remove stubborn stains and unclog drains, and it has long been a non-toxic way to banish weeds.
However, since my task of pulling weeds seems relentless, I decided to ask the gardening experts how effective white vinegar really is, when it actually works, and when it doesn’t. So before you take out your spray, here’s what the experts say.
Why is white vinegar effective at killing weeds?
So why is white vinegar considered the 'miracle' solution for eliminating weeds? It’s all thanks to acetic acid, which works by rupturing plant cells and causing tissues to dry out. As a contact herbicide, it only damages the parts of the plant it physically touches.
“White vinegar contains acetic acid, which has a nasty habit of stripping the waxy coating off a weed's leaves,” adds Michael Wheat, founder of Ponds.
“Once that layer goes, the plant can't retain any moisture, and the leaves just shrivel up pretty fast. It's a contact herbicide so it kills what it touches, but it doesn't travel down into the root system, whatever you might be expecting."
Typically, for best results, mix white vinegar and water in a 50:50 ratio within a spray bottle. Add a small amount of dish soap to this solution — it acts as a sticking agent for better foliage adherence — and shake well until fully combined.
When is the best time it actually works?
Like any solution, you’ll need to know how to use it properly for it to work. But is there a right time for white vinegar to actually work?
Gardening experts agree that using white vinegar to control weeds requires you to stick to certain best practices and apply this common solution correctly. “If you are planning to use vinegar as a weed killer, do this once the weeds are not stressed by drought and are actively growing,” advises Angelika Zaber, lawn care specialist and gardening expert at Online Turf.
“You can then spray any unwanted plants with the solution, and they should start wilting within a few hours, turning completely brown and crispy in around 24 hours. You can then reapply it every two weeks or so as soon as any new weeds appear.”
Similar to there being a best time to water your plants or lush lawn, is there an optimal time of day when to apply vinegar to weeds?
“The best time of the day is usually early morning, when the sun is not overhead, and temperatures are milder, as this will prevent the vinegar from evaporating too quickly,” adds Zaber. “It also shouldn’t rain for at least 24 hours, so that the vinegar doesn’t get washed away. ”
The only caveat is that vinegar only affects the parts of the plant it touches, which means it won’t get to the taproots underground. This is why you tend to see weeds sprouting up again due to the well-established roots and regrowth. Therefore, white vinegar is more effective on younger, softer weeds than on mature, persistent ones.
When will it not work?
As mentioned above, white vinegar won’t work on getting rid of the tough taproot beneath the soil. To tackle this, you’ll literally need to get to the root of the problem by digging out the taproots using hand forks, trowels or investing in a sturdy weed-pulling tool.
“For anything with a taproot deeper than two inches, you're better off with good old-fashioned hand-pulling after a rain when the soil is soft," agrees Glen Chandler, gardening expert and founder of Evergreenseeds.
“What most gardeners don't realize is that vinegar only burns the green parts you can see — it rarely kills the root system of established perennials like dandelions or plantain. I've watched clients spray the same patch of crabgrass three times in one season because they expected permanent results.”
In addition, white vinegar may work on only certain weed types and not others, so it’s best to identify the specific weed before applying. "Some weeds like dandelion, bindweed, and docks are pretty tough — white vinegar won't kill them,” states Wheat.
“The top bit of the weed will go brown within a few hours, but then it's straight back to business as usual — the deep roots are still intact, and the weed is back to its old tricks in no time. It also struggles if it's damp or overcast out or if it's a mature woody weed with thick leaves."
Overall, white vinegar does make an effective weed-killer, only when used correctly on younger, softer weeds. Just bear in mind that results may not always work overnight, and you may have to repeat your solution.
“I've lost count of how many gardeners I've spoken to who say, 'white vinegar doesn't work,' but I think it's just a case of giving it a bit more time and persistence," Chandler says.
For more top tips, check out 7 tips to banish weeds from your lawn that won't harm the grass.
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