If you’re having trouble banishing weeds from your garden then it might be time to whip out the vodka bottle. According to an expert, it makes a safe and effective herbicide
Weeds are one of the most infuriating parts of maintaining a garden, but fortunately an outdoor expert has revealed how you can banish them completely with a popular party spirit.
Common UK weeds include oxtails, dandelions, bindweed, nettles, couch grass, yarrow and horse tails. While they can appear pretty in the right settings, weeds have a habit of growing out of control and can make even the most curated garden appear messy and untamed. Plus, weeds such as nettles can give you a nasty sting if you’re not careful.
Even worse than looking unkempt, weeds can cause serious problems. They compete with other plants for water and nutrients, which can lead to them drying up.
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They can also harbour pests and diseases. These can result in your plants dying off or, if you’re growing crops, reduce their yield. It can be tempting to turn to chemical weed killers once you notice them taking over your garden. However, these can damage both your soil and surrounding wildlife.
According to a property expert from PriceYourJob, there are far more effective and natural ways to keep weeds at bay. One even involves using vodka. It may seem strange, but vodka can serve as a very effective weed-killer. This is because it can remove the waxy outer layer present on most weeds, causing them to dry out and die.
Of course, it’s best not to use straight vodka. The hack works best when you mix the spirit with dish soap, as this helps the spirit stick to the leaves. The solution is more effective depending on where the weeds are located. According to Gregory Smith: “The vodka method works best for weeds that get a lot of sun.” And a bottle of washing up liquid sets you back 64p when you buy an own-brand.
Gregory continues: “Create a mixture of 2 parts water with 1 part vodka and add a couple of drops of liquid dish soap to the solution. Put this in a spray bottle for easier application and spray the solution directly onto the weed. This will dry the out the weed and kill it off.”
However, he also warns to avoid spraying the solution on any surrounding grass or plants. This is because it will dry them out and make them look unappealing.
It is important to note that this trick will not work as effectively on shaded weeds. This is because they won’t dry out as fast, therefore negating the impact of the vodka.
The hack is relatively cheap. You can buy a bottle of Clean and Fresh Washing Up Liquid from Savers for 49p. Meanwhile, you can buy 350 ml of Glens Vodka from Asda for just £7.70.