The FullCircles Blog

Multi-contributor blog on the topic of reusing, freecycling… garbology in general.

Vinegar: Natural Weed Killer

by Marcia Passos Duffy, All About Lawns Columnist

If you are searching for an inexpensive, organic weed killer, look no further than an ordinary ingredient found in the kitchen.

Vinegar, or acetic acid, is an effective organic herbicide according to research done by Cornell University.

Vinegar found on a supermarket shelf, at 5 percent acetic acid concentration, provides short-term control of many perennial weeds–but the study found that just one application is not strong enough to kill the more vigorous crabgrass and plaintain varieties of weeds.

… But beware: acetic acid does not discriminate weeds from your ornamental plants, so do not apply to grass or flower beds.

 

Vinegar: A Natural Weed Killer – All About Lawns.

posted by Gub in Tips and Tricks and have Comment (1)

Making Dandelion Wine

I have always wanted to try this. I have a neighbour who has lower-than-average lawnmowing skills and about one million dandelions in the backyard. They are encroaching into my grass. Wouldn’t this be a nice way to make use of them?

Check out this editorial on how to make your own dandelion wine!

 

 

The website I am linking to has a lot of really cool, different ideas about homes and living, many very frugal and environmental. Give them a browse!

 

posted by sara in Cheap Eats,Environment,Foodstuffs for Thought,Free Stuff,gardening,Simplicity and have No Comments

Cheap Chick: Dandelion Killer – Spring Is Here!

Two dandelions side-by-side in some grass.

Image via Wikipedia

If leaving dandelions in your yard is not an alternative, you can make your own dandelion and weed killer using inexpensive and safe household ingredients.

Ingredients

  • 1 gallon of white vinegar
  • 1 lb. table salt
  • 8 drops of liquid dish soap

Instructions

Mix vinegar and salt in a pan on the stove top. (If you use a stainless steel pan that is grungy looking, it will acquire a like-new bright finish).

Bring to a boil so that the salt dissolves into the vinegar. Turn off the stove.

Stir in the dish soap.

Allow the mixture to cool enough so that it won’t burn you or melt your spray bottle. (You can let it cool completely if you aren’t in a hurry to go out and kill dandelions).

Pour the mixture into the bottle and spray on plants.

It is best to use a stream setting on your bottle and aim directly into the middle of the dandelion rosette so that you do not kill the surrounding grass.

Your dandelions will be dead in less than a day.

Cost Analysis of the Earth-Friendly Alternative

A one-gallon jug of generic vinegar cost $2.00. A one-pound container of salt cost $1.00. The cost of dish soap is nominal. The total cost for one gallon of non-toxic dandelion killer is $3.00.

So if you’re not into making salad, don’t want to substitute your coffee for roasted dandelion root, and not into making wine…you can brew up a batch of DANDELION KILLER – not sold in stores – distilled in the privacy of your own home…

Good luck with those nasty little beasties…

Shelby Cooper is the Cheap Chick with Green Tricks for almost anything.

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posted by CheapChick in Cheap Chick,Environment and have No Comments