If you’re trying to be an environmentally-conscious person and if you have a garden at home, then the best route to go is to use eco-friendly herbicides. Don’t know which ones to choose? Worry not as this guide will provide you with the best organic herbicides for weeds in the market today.
Why Go Organic?
Before we introduce you to the best organic herbicides, you need to know why using organic products is important. Below are some of the reasons why:
- They Reduce Your Risk of Getting Illnesses
Let’s face it, using non-organic products will likely give you illnesses, from skin rashes to difficulty in breathing. That’s why, for those who have a garden at home, reduce your risk of possibly getting ill by using organic herbicides.
- They Don’t Have Harsh Chemicals
As organic herbicides don’t use harsh chemicals, you’re sure that your plants, produce and soil are safe, thus not only saving the environment but saving your health as well.
- They Are Eco-Friendly
For those who value the environment greatly, using organic herbicides is a great choice. Because they are made from organic ingredients, you’re sure that you’re not significantly damaging the environment.
- They are Safer to Use
Lastly, when you use organic herbicides to get rid of the weeds at home, you are not subjecting yourself to harsh chemicals, so you’re protected. It’s much safer, so you really don’t have to worry when you use them at all times.
How to Pick the Best Organic Herbicides?
Now that you’re aware of their benefits, you can now start buying one. However, you can’t just pick the first organic herbicide that you see in the market. Of course, you’ll have to consider certain factors so that you can maximize the herbicide.
Luckily, knowing how to pick the best organic herbicide is not that hard. Below are some aspects that you should take note of:
- Your Target
First, before you pick a particular herbicide, know first what kind of weed you’re targeting. If your garden is full of a certain type of weed, then it’s better to buy the herbicide that specifically targets that particular weed.
In this way, you can make the most out of the herbicide. You’re not only going to save your time but your money as well since choosing the ideal one is much more effective.
- Your Goal
Next, you’ll have to take note of your goal. This means that you’ll have to identify your objective when it comes to dealing with the weeds in your garden.
Do you want to eliminate the already existing weeds in your area? Or are you planning to prevent the weeds from growing beforehand? This is crucial since there are certain herbicides which are made for particular instances such as whether you’re focusing on the elimination process, or on the preventive measures.
- Your Needs
Your need means how much of herbicide will you purchase for you to see results. You can start by recognizing how big your garden is and how abundant the weeds are in the area.
Doing this will allow you to buy just the right amount of herbicide for your garden, not too much and not too little.
- Your Preferences
Lastly, consider your preferences. This includes the brand, the price, the ingredients used, and the like. Choosing the herbicide that you prefer will give you ease, knowing that it’s something that you’re truly comfortable with.
The Best Organic Herbicides for Weeds
As you already know how to pick the ideal organic herbicide for you, you can now choose from any of the suggested ones below:
30% Pure Vinegar – Home and Garden
The first one on our list is this 30% pure vinegar. It’s effective in killing weeds to the root. In just 4 days, you can already see results. What’s great about this is that once applied, it’s rainproof, lasting up to 2 hours. And because it contains 41% glyphosate, it’s very effective in removing weeds.
- Versatile as it can be used with other organic blends
- All-natural
- Stronger than your regular vinegar
- Too strong so protective gears are needed
Avenger Organics Weed Killer Concentrate – Organic Gardening
This organic herbicide from Avenger Organics is perfect for organic gardening. Made from natural citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons, it can kill weeds without leaving stains or damaging concrete, pavements, or bricks. It’s highly effective with its citrus oil, its active ingredient, as it naturally gets rid of plant cuticles and causes them to dehydrate and finally die.
- Made of natural ingredients
- Fast-acting
- Safe and easy to use
- The results depend on the type of weeds
Natural Armor Weed and Grass Killer – All Natural Formula
This one is an organic blend that does not have any toxic formulas at all. What’s more, is that it’s biodegradable. Also, there is no need to mix other formulas here. All you have to do is just spray it in an area, and you’re already good to go.
- Easy to use
- Does not contain glyphosate and other chemicals
- Fast-acting, so you can see results after a few hours
- Spray or applicator is not consistent
Green Gobbler Vinegar Weed and Grass Killer – Organic and Pet Safe
This certified organic herbicide can already kill weeds after a few hours. It’s a very powerful formula that does not depend on any harsh chemicals at all. The benefit of using this is that it can be applied anywhere, so it’s really convenient and efficient.
- Can effectively kill weeds after a few hours
- Can be applied anywhere
- Too strong so protective gear is needed
Natural Weed Killer with Ocean Water and Commercial Food Grade Vinegar
If you have pets at home, then this last organic herbicide is the right one for you as it contains only safe ingredients. It also does not need any mixing, and you can already see results after a day or two. This is a great choice if you are dealing with weeds but not so when maintaining your lawn.
- Pet and environmentally-friendly
- Fast-acting; results will appear after a day or two
- Not applicable to lawn maintenance
FAQs
What is a good organic herbicide?
The two I use the most are glyphosate and horticultural oil. Glyphosate is safe to apply directly to the soil or foliarly (as long as you use a product that is safe for use with that particular herbicide). It is very effective at killing weeds, and works very quickly.
The problem is that it has a tendency to burn the leaves of plants that are not directly targeted by the spray. This can be easily remedied by using a spray that targets all plant parts, like horticultural oil. Horticultural oil is safe to use on plants, but it is not always effective. It will kill weeds, but it can also cause leaves to fall off of some plants (not all). Another thing to consider is that you may have a weed issue with this area.
What is the most environmentally friendly herbicide?
The herbicide with the lowest environmental impact is glyphosate. Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide that kills many weeds and other plants. It works by disrupting an enzyme called EPSPS (enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase) found in plant cells.
In the last decade, glyphosate has been widely used in crops, especially soybeans, corn and cotton. It has also been found in drinking water. Glyphosate has been proven to be extremely safe according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
It's hard to beat the fact that it doesn't persist in the environment and has no negative effects on humans or animals. This isn't true of all herbicides.
Is vinegar a good herbicide?
Vinegar is a great herbicide for many plants. It can be sprayed directly onto the leaves and stems of most plants in your garden. It will kill weeds quickly, and it will keep them from coming back. Vinegar is also effective as a preventative measure to control the growth of weeds before they start to sprout. The best time to use vinegar is during the first few weeks of spring when the soil has warmed up and is moist. You can use vinegar on weeds, grass, annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, vegetables, fruits, roses, and even houseplants. It’s important to be careful when using vinegar on your vegetables, however, because it can burn them if it is sprayed directly on their leaves. If you are spraying vinegar on a vegetable, wait until the sun is shining and the temperature is above 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Is there a natural alternative to glyphosate?
Some people are using vinegar as an alternative to Roundup or other pesticides. Vinegar has antibacterial properties and is good for your plants.
What is the most effective herbicide?
If you're looking for a broad-spectrum herbicide that will kill all the plants in your garden, then glyphosate (Roundup) is it. It is probably the most effective herbicide we have today. Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide and has a low toxicity to animals. It kills plants by inhibiting their ability to manufacture amino acids and thus, prevent them from growing.
Conclusion
While all of the mentioned organic herbicides above are great, there is only one winner here, and that’s the Natural Armor Weed and Grass Killer. This is because it’s the most natural amongst all of the mentioned herbicides above.
It does not have harsh chemicals, making it safer and much eco-friendlier to use. Because of this, you’re less likely to get any illnesses at all.
Lastly, as it’s very versatile, it can easily apply to all of the buyers’ needs. One can target all types of weeds with this. Plus, it’s great at eliminating weeds and maintaining a garden, making it the best one in this list.
Brian is an avid gardener who loves spending time outdoors. He is passionate about using his green thumb to create beautiful, lush gardens for her friends and family. He finds joy in tending to her garden, trimming plants, and cultivating new species. He enjoys to share his knowledge and experience with others with a similar gardening enthusiasm. Brian is a true nature enthusiast and a has true passion for the outdoors.