Spring has arrived in Australia, bringing with it longer days and the fragrance of blooming flowers. For many, it’s the perfect time to return to the garden. However, it’s not just the flowers thriving—this is also the season when weeds and grass begin to make their presence known. While the weather warms, our gardens demand more care, from watering and fertilizing to, inevitably, weeding.
Before I began researching non-toxic herbicides, my go-to method for dealing with weeds was pulling them out by hand, always trying to remove as much of the roots as possible. Despite my efforts, they seemed to love my yard a little too much, sprouting back up within a week or so.
In my previous post, I mentioned that one natural alternative to toxic chemical herbicides is a vinegar-based spray mixed with essential oils. When my cinnamon and lemon essential oils arrived in the mail, I was eager to get started. At first, I assumed regular cooking vinegar combined with essential oils would be enough. But after some research, I discovered that for acetic acid to work effectively as a weed killer, it needs to be at a concentration of 10% to 20%. This meant I had to find a commercial-grade cleaning vinegar. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any stores nearby where I can immediately buy one. I found a few on the internet, but it will take at least a few days for me to receive the product.
Since I’m feeling a little desperate to get started, I’ve decided to search for available natural herbicides that has acetic acid as the main constituent. I’ve scoured the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) database for acetic acid based products, found a few, and decided to chose the product called Richgro Beat-A-Weed Natural Weedkiller. According to the database, the active constituents of this product are acetic acid and sodium chloride. No 2,4-D, no glyphosate, no MCPA, so at least I am confident that this won’t have any toxic chemicals.
I grabbed an empty spray bottle and poured in the liquid concentrate, following the label’s instructions to dilute it with water. To enhance the mixture, I added 10ml of lemon essential oil and 5ml of cinnamon essential oil, hoping the combination would boost the effectiveness of the solution.
Just to be clear, this post isn’t sponsored by any of the companies selling these products —I’m simply sharing my firsthand experience.
So, what were the results? I have to say, I’m quite impressed. After doing some spot spraying, I noticed the weeds starting to dry out within just a few hours—something clearly visible in the before-and-after images. The best results came when I applied the weedkiller in full sunlight to small, actively growing plants. It worked faster and more effectively than I expected, and it’s a relief to see that such a natural solution can be so powerful.
In conclusion, using a non-toxic weed killer like not only keeps the weeds away but also gives me peace of mind knowing my pet is safe. Traditional chemical herbicides can pose significant risks to our furry companions, but with natural alternatives, I don’t have to worry about my dog accidentally coming into contact with harmful substances. By making small changes like this, we can create a healthier, safer environment for both our pets and our gardens.