Gardening and Horticulture - vinegar, weed killer?

I was informed that vinegar can be used as an effective organic method to kill weeds if you spray it on them. Researching it a little on the net, I am coming across conflicting/confusing info about how well it works. Mainly I am coming across info that states regular store-bought grocery type vinegar apparently doesn't have enough percentage of acetic acid to do the job on hearty weeds, and that you need to get a stronger solution.

Any comments/advice/experience using vinegar to kill weeds would be appreciated.

I guess its possible..just like bleach will kill plants...but where would you get stronger vinegar? Buy laboratory acetic acid? Prob cost more than a weed killer and would still affect surrounding foliage.

Anything extremely acid or alkaline will kill a plant....

Household vinegar has 5% acetic acid. Horticultural vinegar has anywhere from 15% to 30% acetic acid. Household vinegar used full strength will sometimes kill young weeds. If you want the 'big guns' you will need to purchase horticultural vinegar. It's non-selective so it will kill or harm anything it splashes on. Horticultural vinegar isn't that effective in thistle unless you spray when the thistle is young.

Here's some helpful links about vinegar as weed control.
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2002/020515.htm
http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publications.htm?seq_no_115=131932

And if you would like to make your own...
http://www.vinegarman.com/

Newt

If you want the 'big guns' you will need to purchase horticultural vinegar.

Lotsa controversy about that horticultural vinegar Vinegar for Weed control (http://www.hort.wisc.edu/mastergardener/features/weeds/vinegar/vinegar.htm), and it's really not too easily available (can't just run to the local garden store and expect to find it), would have to order it (23 bucks a gallon from Amazon.com plus of course the shipping cost). Also apparently it can be dangerously harmful if applied without full body protection, etc.

This stuff here http://www.naturalknowhow.com/EcoClearTech%20Bulletin%20-%20Comparison%20of%20Vinegar%20and%20EcoClear.pdf seems like a good way to go, but I have no clue where to buy it.

I know these folks sell it. I don't think they sell direct to the public, but there is a store locator and contact info.
http://www.bradfieldind.com/

Do a google with the term:
buy horticultural vinegar

Newt

I know these folks sell it. I don't think they sell direct to the public, but there is a store locator and contact info.
Bradfield Natural Fertilizers for lawns - organic fertilizers for your gardens (http://www.bradfieldind.com/)

Do a google with the term:
buy horticultural vinegar

Newt

Thanks Newt for that info.:thumbup:

Sgull, you are very welcome!

Newt

A kettle of boiling water works just as well...you could also add some vinegar to the water...

A kettle of boiling water works just as well...you could also add some vinegar to the water...

But the boiling water would start to gradually cool off while doing it, and I wouldn't know when it cooled to the point where it would at an ineffective temperature, whatever that would be.

I usually use it when I am working on a no more than 12 foot length, usually on walkways...unless there is a spot of weeds I want to get rid of.... and it has worked fine.....

Boiling water works almost instantly. Pour it on dandelions and watch them drop over. Yes, you do need to keep it hot. I made the mistake of trying to kill the dandelions early when it was 52 degrees out. I got 2 killed, but then the water had cooled off too much.
Apple cider vinegar is a little stronger than white vinegar. Yes, what you can buy in the grocery store does work. It takes a little longer. As was stated earlier, it is not selective and will kill everything: grass, flowers, trees, ect.
Rubbing alcohol is also a weed killer. But the same thing goes, it is not selective.

Apple cider vinegar is a little stronger than white vinegar. Yes, what you can buy in the grocery store does work.

Apparently the regular vinegar you can get from the grocery store is generally effective on killing weeds during "the early stages" rather than beyond that when they've had a chance to get better established. I suppose that should be considered when trying to use regular grocery store vinegar as a weed killer.

Quoted from one of the links provided in the third post in this thread (test results of vinegar as weed killer): "The results indicated that the effectiveness of the vinegar to kill weeds was dependent on the concentration and the plant growth stage. Lower concentrations of 5 and 10 percent were more effective in killing the weeds during the early stages while at later stages they were not as effective as the 15 and 20 percent concentrations. Vinegar provided 95-100 per cent kill at all growth stages of the weeds studied at 15 and 20 % concentrations."

Quoted from http://www.versatilevinegar.org/faqs.html: "Typical white distilled vinegar is at least 4% acidity and not more than 7%. Cider and wine vinegars are typically slightly more acidic with approximately 5-6% acidity."

From Jerry Baker:
Buy a big sack of "corn gluten meal". It is highly effective preemergent herbicide that zaps troublemakers including crabbgrass, dandelions, plantain and creeping bent grass. It will not harm the teeny life forms that keep your soil healthy. Perfectly safe for use around toddlers and pets. Just apply 25-50lbs per 2500 square feet. Works best in early spring before weeds sprout.