If you want a simple homemade weed killer, the most practical option is a vinegar-based spot treatment. It works best on young, small weeds.
Simple homemade herbicide
1 gallon (3.8 L) white vinegar
1 tablespoon dish soap
Mix gently and put it in a spray bottle. Spray the solution directly onto the leaves of unwanted weeds on a dry, sunny day.
Important cautions
This is non-selective: it can damage grass, flowers, vegetables, and other plants it contacts.
Vinegar mainly burns the foliage; perennial weeds may regrow from their roots.
Don’t spray near ponds or waterways, and avoid using stronger concentrated vinegar products without understanding the safety precautions.
Dish soap isn’t essential for killing weeds; it mainly helps the spray spread over the leaves.
For weeds growing between paving stones or in cracks, pulling them out or removing them mechanically is often more reliable and avoids damaging surrounding plants.
