7 Best Organic Non Toxic Weed Killers for 2023
Seeing weeds in your garden can be very frustrating, especially if you’ve gone through all the efforts to create perfect vegetable or flower beds in your garden. Fortunately, there are organic, non-toxic solutions to get rid of unwanted weeds.
Going down the harsh chemicals route can leave you with dangerous by-products, which you won’t have to worry about with natural and organic weed killers. With natural solutions, such as salt, vinegar, and soap, you will suppress weeds and make a fantastic organic weed killer that will help you KILL those pesky weeds without worrying about environmental damage or putting yourself, your pets, or your family at risk.
This post will discuss some of the best organic and non-toxic weed killers available to eliminate existing weeds, including grasses, broadleaf weeds, and more without adding any dangerous chemical weapons to your gardening arsenal!
What are Organic Non-Toxic Weed Killers?
Unlike traditional herbicides, which can seep into the groundwater and linger in the environment for years, organic non-toxic weed killers are natural alternatives that use simple ingredients like vinegar, lemon juice, and boiled water to safely and effectively eliminate weeds.
Additionally, organic non-toxic weed killers don’t pose any threat to plants, pets, or children that may come into contact with it. So you can enjoy life without worrying about extra unnecessary exposure to toxic chemicals – all while protecting our planet.
Switching to these types of organic weed killers is an easy way to reduce your environmental footprint while still keeping your farm or home garden beautiful and healthy without any toxic chemicals.
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What are the 7 Best Organic Non-Toxic Weed Killers?
1. Concentrated Vinegar
One of our favorite natural and organic weed killers is concentrated vinegar, also known as acetic acid. We have found it to be one of the easiest ways to kill plants, visible weed seeds, and any unwanted plants. Makes an excellent grass killer, non-selective weed killer, and is one of the best tools in our arsenal to keep a weed-free garden. Our favorite so far has been GO Clean 45% and 30% Pure Vinegar.
The 45% vinegar is a powerhouse when it comes to killing weeds! Especially young weeds sprout and smaller weeds. We mix it in a spray bottle at a ratio of 1:1 with water, then add a couple of squirts of dish soap to help it stick to the weeds and a couple of tablespoons of salt.
We love that the vinegar is safe, biodegradable, and a great organic weed killer. This type of vinegar is derived from corn, making it a much more sustainable option than using harsh chemical herbicides.
Best Pure Vinegar
One of our favorite Vinegars to use to kill weeds. Dilute with water 1:1 in a spray bottle, add a tablespoon of dish soap and a tablespoon of salt for a 32 oz. spray bottle.
Pros: Cons:2. Hand Weeding
A hand weeder is a perfect tool for killing weeds in your vegetable and flower beds. It is easy to use, allowing you to target individual weeds without damage to your other plants or soil. In my dad’s opinion, hand weeding is the BEST ORGANIC WEED KILLER and the best non-toxic weed killer too.
When using a hand weeder, be sure to get as much of the root as possible for more complete weed control. Hand weeding also prevents any sediment or chemicals from entering your garden beds, maintaining an organic and safe environment for your plants.
In addition, many hand weeders are made of durable material and can last through multiple uses if they are properly cared for making them a lifelong weed killer. If you want a hassle-free way of removing weeds from your garden, investing in a good-quality hand weeder will take care of all of your gardening woes!
Best Weed Puller
Stand Up Weeder Hand Tool, Long Handle Garden Weeding Tool with 3 Claws, Hand Weed Hound Weed Puller for Dandelion, Standup Weed Root Pulling Tool and Picker, Grabber
Pros: Cons:
3. Solarization / Plastic Sheeting
More and more gardeners and farmers are embracing green solutions in their weed-control strategies. One alternative that is growing in popularity among experienced and novice gardeners alike is the innovative practice of using plastic to solarize and kill weeds.
Now we know it is using plastic, which may go against some people’s beliefs, but we have been using the same plastic roll for this method for over 2 years. We have found it best used for large areas and while not technically a natural weed killer it burns and kills the weeds so easily that we have found it very beneficial and easy to use.
This easy technique is fast, effective, and successful at protecting the environment and our land from potentially dangerous chemicals. By simply laying down black or white plastic sheeting on top of soil beds for up to 6 weeks, weeds beneath sprout and then die thanks to the lack of direct sunlight blocking out moisture and oxygen supply below the plastic. This will give you what is called a “stale seed” bed.
This method is not only in sync with sustainable ideas but also requires minimal effort, making it very attractive to avid gardeners or farmers who want impressive results without spending more time or money than necessary. Just be sure to weigh the plastic down with sandbags or bricks.
So if you’re looking for a simpler way of controlling annoying weeds while maintaining your eco-friendly values, investigate this solarized plastic option – you’ll be pleasantly surprised!
Solarization Plastic
Best weed killer and seedlings killer in large or small areas. Use on the lawn, multiple flower and vegetable bed rows. Lay plastic where needed, and weigh down with sandbags or large rocks/bricks. Leave for 6 weeks.
Pros: Cons:4. Flame Weeder
If you’re looking for one of nature’s most used ways to rid the soil of weeds, look no further than fire. A natural way to get rid of weeds and grasses in your flower beds and vegetable gardens is the trusty flame weeder.
This organic weed killer is a great non-toxic weed killer alternative to harsh chemical-based treatments that can cause contamination and damage other plants. It’s easy to use, just attach it to a propane tank and direct the heat at weeds and they will immediately begin to die off.
Plus, it’s totally natural so you don’t have to worry about poisoning your soil or polluting the air. We use our flame weeder to kill off weeds in between narrow beds and we use it to flame small weeds before we transplant them into our vegetable rows. With a flame weeder, you can easily keep your gardens and flower beds weed-free without fear of damaging your plants or risking contamination.
Best Flame Weeder
This flame weeder is easy and fun to use. Just connect it to your BBQ propane tank, turn the gas on, squeeze the handle and ignite the flame. Quickly and easily burns weeds in driveways, flower, and vegetable beds. Even melt snow with it!
Pros: Cons:
5. Landscape Fabric
Landscape fabrics are a great non-toxic way to suppress weeds in your yard or garden beds. It is very effective at smothering and preventing weeds, it’s also an easy solution to organic weed killer.
The fabric is made with non-toxic pores material and allows just enough water, air, and sun through which plants can not thrive. Additionally, by blocking the light the fabric prevents weeds from sprouting.
With landscape fabric, you no longer need to worry about buying chemical-based weed killers again, which can harm the environment. Eliminating weeds in a safe and organic way has never been easier – switch to landscape fabric today!
Best Landscape Fabric
Lay down where no weeds are wanted. Typically between vegetable and flower beds/rows. Add mulch on top to cover fabric.
Pros: Cons:6. Mulch / Wood Chips
With organic and non-toxic weed killer options available, using mulch to suppress and prevent weed growth has become a great way for organic gardeners to make sure their flowers, plants, or vegetables are healthy and flourishing.
We use quite a bit of locally sourced wood chips in our walkways and in between rows. In our flower and vegetable beds, we prefer to use an organic straw. It does a great job of preventing weeds and holding in moisture, which helps heaps during our 110+ degree summers.
Aside from deterring weeds, mulch (wood chips/straw) can also provide nutrients to the soil, as well as insulation during harsh weather conditions. When used correctly in combination with an organic or non-toxic weed-killer solution, your garden will be one step closer to being organically maintained with long-lasting results.
7. Chickens
One of the best organic and non-toxic weed killers you can have is chickens. We use them to clean up all of our overgrown weeds. They literally eat it up. From clover, mallow, chickweed, and purslane to nettles, utilizing chickens to eat and kill weeds is a natural and organic way to control their growth. Plus they fertilize!
Whatever weeds the chickens don’t eat, simply use one of the above methods to remove them. (Namely the puncturevine.)
By giving your chickens access to your garden or yard, you can say goodbye to hours of weeding by hand! This natural weed killer will not only get rid of weeds but also eat up any bugs and will help keep those pesky pests away and leave you with a more peaceful outdoor area.
If natural approaches are important to you, having chickens as natural weed killers may be one of the best ways to go. It’s an effective yet gentle approach that won’t damage your lawn or garden but still helps control the growth of weeds. And for those of you who don’t want any chemicals near your families or pets, this natural solution is a great choice!
Conclusion: Which is your favorite weed-killing method?
Keeping non-toxic organic weed killers in your gardening toolkit is essential for any farmer and gardener looking for a safe, inexpensive way to get rid of weeds.
From organic herbicides like vinegar to organic weed eaters like chickens, there have been plenty of options available in the past few years.
These seven organic and non-toxic weed killers listed in this blog post have proven to be the most effective for us on our farm and they offer the least environmental repercussion – it’s sure to make an organic gardener happy!
Whether you’re a seasoned gardener and farmer or environmentalist or just getting started with organic gardening, these natural weed killers are sure to help you control weeds without breaking the bank.
FAQ
What is the safest weed killer to use?
The safest non-toxic weed killer are biodegradable and non-toxic. One of the best organic weed killers is concentrated Vinegar.
Is there a natural weed killer?
Yes, there is. The most popular natural non-toxic weed killer on the market is vinegar. Many people use concentrated vinegar (45% or 30%) mixed in a spray bottle or 2 gallon pressure sprayer with salt and dish soap to kill weeds.
Is there a safer weed killer than Roundup?
Yes, there are many options that are safer than Roundup. The most common and non-toxic weed killer is Vinegar.
Is there an environmentally safe weed killer?
Yes, one of the most environmentally safe weed killers is a concentrated Vinegar product or a vinegar-based product. Simply add to a spray bottle and spray on weeds.
