This 3-Ingredient Natural Weed Killer Really Works! Get the DIY Recipe Now

Updated on 3/24/2023 at 4:25 PM

POPSUGAR Photography | Kelly Ladd

Weeds can be a pain. While commercial herbicides can get rid of those troublesome visitors, that approach isn't for everyone. Even if you're not a savvy environmentalist with a green thumb, you probably know that contaminating your yard with nasty chemicals isn't a good idea, especially if you have kids, pets, or an edible garden nearby. Luckily, we got you covered with a homemade natural weed killer recipe. This easy-to-make weed killer won't hurt the earth, but it will stop the weeds from growing in your garden.

In three easy steps, this natural epsom salt weed killer with vinegar and dawn will slash the weeds in your lawn or even in the cracks of the pavement, with just the spray of a bottle. All the ingredients can be easily found for only a few bucks, and you might already have all of them in your home! It only takes a few minutes to make the mixture, so you can get out in your yard and start spraying away as soon as possible. Since this is a natural weed killer without any hardcore chemicals, more than one round of spraying will be needed to get the job done.

Ahead, we've laid out the easy steps for your very own DIY natural weed killer recipe.

— Additional reporting by Lauren Harano and Clara Amelia

Natural Weed Killer: What You’ll Need

1 gallon vinegar
1/4 cup Dawn dish soap
2 cups Epsom salts
Large bucket
Wooden spoon or paint stirrer
Spray bottle

Natural Weed Killer Recipe: Step One

Mix together the Dawn dish soap, Epsom salts, and vinegar in a large bucket with the wooden spoon. Vinegar alone will kill weeds, but it's more effective when combined with the soap and salt. The Epsom salts and the acetic acid in the vinegar dehydrates the plant by pulling out its moisture, while the dish soap breaks down the plant's outer coat (cuticle).

Natural Weed Killer Recipe: Step Two

Pour the mixture in a spray bottle. If you're not comfortable pouring the mixture from the bucket into the spray bottle, transfer the liquid using a measuring cup with a spout or a funnel to help with your accuracy.

Natural Weed Killer Recipe: Step Three

Go outside and spray the mixture onto the weeds. Coat all surfaces of the weed with the spray.

Natural Weed Killer Recipe: Results

Voilà! Be careful that you only spray what you want to kill. The mixture is nonselective, which means it will kill nearby grass or other expensive plants that you purchased at your local nursery. Just like chemical weed killers, you'll have to reapply the mixture for those stubborn, older weeds. The younger weeds will die easier.