I have used the same method for many years now. Who would know that a huge mistake could turn out to be something useful years later? Maybe many ideas come to use that way, this one for sure did.
We were boiling shrimp with some friends when I lived in Louisiana. Being young and trying not to show it, actually taught me two things in the same weekend. One: do not put shrimp down the garbage disposal. Two: the hot mixture of spices kills your grass almost instantly! I do pretty much everything I can organically. If I still lived in the South where you boil shrimp or crawfish often, I would just use the left over water to pour on all my weeds. Since I have moved from there, now I make a special "brew" to kill all of those weeds, without hurting the environment. The ones that come up through cracks in driveway or close to the steps can't hide from this hot and spicy weed killer.
You take Cajun pepper (red pepper will do) and hot sauce, vinegar can also be added if you have extra. Bring it to a boil and pour directly on any area where you want everything to die. Be very careful not to get it on grass you want to stay alive. Anything this hot mixture is put on will die (ants don't like it either). If you make more then you use at any given time, put in bottle for next time. This works cool, but I have found it works faster when boiled, steaming hot. If you aren't wanting to see results immediately, know it works after mixture has cooled off.
I add a half jar of Cajun or red pepper and half a bottle of hot sauce to a large pot of water. You just know it is ready when your eyes are watering and the room fills with the smell of the mixture. I have added left over pickle juice, vinegar, even jalapeno juice to this, depending what is left over in my fridge or cabinets. This works and works well without hurting anything in the air; animals tend not to eat in that area but it doesn't hurt them.
If you do boil shrimp, crab or crawfish, please drain the water where any unwanted weeds are so you get double use out of something you would just throw away. At most markets that sell seafood, they have bags with seasoning already in it. I always ask this time of the year to let me know if any are past the selling date.
By Luana M. from San Diego, CA
You can mix up a homemade weed killer solution using salt and vinegar. This page contains a salt and vinegar weed killer recipe.
How do I kill a large patch of Agapanthus using only natural ingredients? I want to plant there afterwards as well. Any suggestions?
Is there a homemade recipe for killing weeds in the lawn without killing the grass?
Instead of using harsh chemicals that can be lethal to children and animals and quite expensive, grab a nice big pot and fill it with water. Bring water to a rapid boil and pour on weeds. This literally fries the roots and the active growing weeds nearly instantly.
Does anyone know where corn gluten can be purchased? I have been told it is used in Oklahoma, spread like grass seed. It apparently feeds the grass and kills the weeds.
By Jaci
I have a lot of grass right up next to my house and azaleas not too far from the house. Will the homemade Roundup seep over into the azaleas? I have already killed some of the grass. So far, the azalea is still alive, but I was wondering if anyone knew about this because I have more grass to kill with several more plants.
By Sandy M. from Tyler, TX
How do I make my own weed killer?
By Bill from Ajax, Ontario
Will the recipe of 2 cups Epsom salt, 1 gallon white vinegar and 1/2 cup blue Dawn detergent kill my centipede grass or flowers?
By Jackie
A common kitchen product that can be helpful to kill unwanted plants, but you need to be careful around plants you want to keep. This is a page about killing weeds with vinegar.
We would like to try the solution of vinegar, Epsom salt, and dish soap, but are concerned if it will kill everything. We do not want "volunteers" oaks, coffeeberry, etc. to be killed. Thanks!
By Maria R.
First of all, you'd use regular salt; epsom salt is actually a plant food. Vinegar will render the soil sterile, meaning that nothing at all will grow there, maybe for decades (it stays in the soil). It will also render the soil sterile if a rain washes it to another place.
I use vinegar, ammonium sulphate, salt, and liquid soap to kill my weeds. Is that better or not? What is the most highly effective homemade weed killer?
By Ansa from Nigeria
I thought I saw a homemade recipe to kill vegetation and weeds using rubbing alcohol. Can you help me? Or is there any other recipe that would kill thistles, etc.?
By Norrene
Is there a formula for homemade weed killer?
By Pat H.
Vinegar works well as a weed killer. Put it in a spray bottle, turn the sprayer so it shoots out in a stream, and aim it at the bottom of the plant.
What is the best thing to use for Florida betany weed commonly known as rattlesnake weed grass? It is very invasive and spreads fast.
By Glenda
What is the weed killer recipe that includes gin?
By Barb Jean
Does anyone have a homemade weedkiller that works on kudzu, the vine that ate the south?
By Debra from Marion, NC
The best way to kill kudzu that we have found, is to spray a solution of 1 gallon of vinegar to 1 cup of salt and add a squirt of dishwashing liquid. It may take more than one spraying, but will do the job. This works better than any commercial herbicide plus it is not so hard on the environment!
It might be noted that if possible, you may want to pull vines down from trees and/or cut from trees before spraying. This will ensure that the kudzu will have less chance of spreading before you can get it sprayed down.
It also helps if the day is long and hot after spraying as the sun helps to bake the solution into the plant.
Do not stray until all dew and/or rain is absolutely DRY. Spray liberally next to the vines proper and soak the leaves top and bottom. One to three applications could be possible on old vines, but works great on new growth!