Is vinegar + baking soda as a weed killer safe?

Question

I sprinkled baking soda then poured vinegar ontop of dandelions. They reacated and formed a fuzzy foam ball. The next day I looked at the spot where my experiment took place. There was NOTHING there but barren land - no grass and no dandelions. Should I continue using vinegar + baking soda as a weed killer?

Question:

Is it safe for the enviorment?
Are there any hazards for humans?

Answer 1

Houesehold vinegar with baking soda makes water, CO2 (the bubbles), and a salt - sodium acetate - all safe. It is the acid in vinegar that injures the plants, probably in two ways. The acid injures the plant's membranes causing rapid water loss leading to eventual plant death. Then, although it will acidify the surrounding soil somewhat, vinegar is a weak acid, so the soil is expected to return to its normal pH after a few weeks or after a good rain. However while still present the low pH of the vinegar will disturb the ability of the plant roots to draw up nutrients and the minor minerals needed to survive provided it doesn't actually prefer acid soil. Vinegar is good for some types of plants and bad for others.
Vinegar should be applied on warm-hot dry days with no chance of rain.
Natural vinegar contains only 4.5 - 6% acetic acid so many people add clove oil or a citrus oil to aid in killing the older weeds. There are even commercial mixes based on vinegar now but some use concentrated vinegar at 10 - 20%.
Vinegar as an Organic Weed Killer
http://www.moscowfood.coop/archive/VinegarKillsWeeds.html

You can find more info about vinegar as an herbicide at usda.gov and search for vinegar
"The researchers found that 5- and 10-percent concentrations killed the weeds during their first two weeks of life. Older plants required higher concentrations of vinegar to kill them. At the higher concentrations, vinegar had an 85- to 100-percent kill rate at all growth stages. A bottle of household vinegar is about a 5-percent concentration."
Nutrient availability in relation to soil pH
N – readily available from pH 6 to 8
P– availability reduced at a lower pH as it binds with Al and Fe. Most available at pH 6-7
K– most available at pH 5.5-7
Fe, Zn, Cu, B, Mn– solubility increases with lower pH, while insoluble at higher pH
Acid soils can lead to deficiencies of phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and molybdenum as well as toxic levels of manganese and aluminium.

Answer 2

Weed Killer Using Vinegar

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Is vinegar + baking soda as a weed killer safe?
I sprinkled baking soda then poured vinegar ontop of dandelions. They reacated and formed a fuzzy foam ball. The next day I looked at the spot where my experiment took place. There was NOTHING there but barren land - no grass and no dandelions. Should I continue using vinegar + baking soda as...

Answer 4

Vinegar For Weeds

Answer 5

I*ve been using vinegar for a week killer for the summer but it takes about 3or 4 applications to kill weeds.
I think I*ll try yur method with the baking soda added.
It isn*t dangerous to humans, after all we use baking soda to cook with, as well as vinegar..I would not put it on something you don*t want to kill
Put a cup of baking soda in the drain and add a cup of vinegar and you open a clogged drain.

Answer 6

The baking soda neutralizes the acidity of the vinegar, so your combination in effect does nothing. There was probably more vinegar that there was baking soda, so you saw the effect of the excess vinegar that the baking soda didn't neutralize. Use the vinegar without the baking soda and it will work better.

Visit our website for more gardening ideas at-
http://www.gardening-at-the-crossroads.com/

Good Luck and Happy Gardening from Cathy and Neal!

Answer 7

I can't imagine why the jeans should smell weird after washing, and why another washing didn't remove the odor. You CAN soak them in a water/baking soda solution and see if that'll help: Fill a mop bucket or dish pan with water and add 1/2 cup baking soda. Soak the jeans for 1/2 hour, then rinse. See if that helps.

Answer 8

I could see nothing wrong with this combination.

I do want to thank you for asking this question. I have never heard of this as a weed killer. I am going to try it.

Answer 9

You can keep using it, it's semi-natural and shouldn't hurt anything you don't put it on. As for human hazards, there shouldn't be any because we eat baking soda and vinegar. (maybe not together...but seperately in stuff).

Answer 10

Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits - http://AppleCiderVinegar.siopu.com/?CJd