Vinegar as herbicide

[TomSeller]

Anyone use vinegar as an herbicide? What concentration? Mixed with anything? The 20% bottles seem expensive. Talking for around the garden, walkways where the kids play, etc. I use crossbow and roundup out in the fields, but don't want to use them around the house.

 

[Panik]

I haven't tried it yet but have been looking into it. From what little reading (no expert here) I have done my understanding is that a 10% solution is generally required for decent action. That may vary of course with the plants to which it is being applied. I believe that the method of action is burn down of foliage with little or no systemic activity.

I've been thinking long and hard about doing it due to the wife having become concerned about the application of pesticides around the property with three litle ones. A concern of mine is that for my property I would have to use and mix a pretty decent amount for a residential situation as we have a lot of mulched beds with plenty of open space. Middle of summer I can go through 5-10 gallons of herbicide at a shot, although that may be because I get a little lazy on keeping up with the weeding.

The problem for me is that at that level economies of scale and some logistics start coming into play. The closest retailer of glacial acetic acid (i.e 99.85% pure) is about 2.5 hours away and I can purchase:

- 5gal pails (will call) @ $87.00
- 15 gal drum (motor frieght) @ $225.00 - Not sure if I can legally transport that amount across state lines

Thriftiness would argue for purchasing a 15 gallon drum and being done with it. However, the stuff freezes at 62 degrees and I'm not sure I really want to be dealing with that large of a volume of pure acetic acid.

 

[TnAndy]

However, the stuff freezes at 62 degrees and I'm not sure I really want to be dealing with that large of a volume of pure acetic acid.

You sure about that 62 degrees ? Seems a bit on the high side......

 

[Panik]

You sure about that 62 degrees ? Seems a bit on the high side......

Good eye, it was a bit early...... Anhydrous acetic acid does have a freezing point of ~16C so roughly 62F. However as water is introduced the freezing point apparently drops. It also has a flash point of roughly 102F. The stuff I was looking to buy is supposed to 98% nominal with the plan to dilute to 10% for application.

Reference MSDS: Acetic Acid >96%

I'm not a chemist so I have no idea what the percent water to freeze point curve looks like for dilutions.

Between freeze point, flash point and the corrosive nature I'm still on the fence about wanting to go down this route. I dunno I could well be making more of this than needs be. I still am very interested in it as an alternative to Roundup and the like.

 

[TomSeller]

That sounds scary strong. I was hoping to get 20% solution cost effectively.

 

[super55]

I use vinegar quite a bit in our gardening operation. I bought 4 gallons 20% acetic acid and tried it to compare it to regular store bought white vinegar and there is no difference in the effectiveness.

White vinegar about 5-8% acetic acid.

The vinegar does work. It's actually quite impressive. Spray weeds on warm bright sunny days and by afternoon they will be all wilted and shriveled but thats where it stops. It is completely effective on annual weeds but with perennials it is only going to knock them back not kill them. They will brown up and you will think you killed them but after about 2/3 weeks you'll see them start to green up and start to come back to life.

Go with 1 gallon white vinegar, 1 cup epsom salt and 1 tbsp of dish soap. Spray on warm sunny days. I've tried on days that were overcast and my burn down was significantly less than on the sunny days.

 

[DFB]

There's also pelargonic acid. Goes by trade name of "Scythe". Its a concentrate that you mix with water from 1.5 to 10%. Scythe is supposed to have 3 year shelf life.

Scythe Herbicide

Its not NOP certified but is considered natural. (I thought one time it was on the list) They have done research using on edible squash crops.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140428121247.htm


Weed freaks can also double up Scythe with Glyphosate too!



The newest stuff is Citrus based Avenger AG. And it is OMRI approved. Says it has a shelf life of 2 years

Avenger Weed Killer Concentrate 1 Gallon

Again it is also a concentrate so you mix up the percentage that you need.

 

[TomSeller]

It is completely effective on annual weeds but with perennials it is only going to knock them back not kill them.

It would be worth it on the annuals, but I would think repeated application on some perennials would starve the roots?

 

[RalphVa]

I've just used household vinegar. I agree with others. Works on annuals but need repeats on the perennials. Haven't ever had it kill perennials like glyphosate will. Painting on is pretty safe.

You can also burn, but about the same effect as vinegar. I had to make war on 5 leaf akebia. Only thing fully effective is cutting and painting stubs with glyphosate.

Ralph