6 Weed Removal Hacks You'll Wish You Tried Sooner (& 6 To Avoid)

Weeds are a never-ending source of frustration for any gardener or landscaper. You spend hours toiling in the soil, causing your back to ache and your arms and shoulders to feel like they've ripped out the equivalent of a rainforest. Then, a week goes by, and you decide to take a fresh, satisfied look at your hard work. That's when you notice that not only are the weeds back, but they're back with a vengeance — and they've brought friends. Luckily there are some weed removal hacks to help ease the load.

Look, we know weeds are a reality of gardening, but that doesn't mean you need to surrender your garden oasis to them just yet. We want to help make your outdoor spaces as beautiful as possible, which is why we've found six ways you can easily get rid of weeds right now that don't involve breaking out the chemical sprays. Plus, we've also included six more that are often touted as awesome, but, after investigating, we found to be nearly useless.

Before we jump into the hacks, let's discuss two popular solutions to getting rid of weeds. The first is hiring someone else to deal with it. The second is using a chemical herbicide like glyphosate (the active ingredient in weed killers like Roundup) and dousing the weeds until they beg for mercy. The first option can get expensive and may lead some plants you actually want to keep to accidentally getting trashed. But, what's so bad about using herbicides, especially since they've been around for so long?

Unfortunately, herbicides' long history in our culture is part of the problem. Glyphosate was first registered for commercial use in 1974 and has since become an issue for ecosystems around the world. Improper usage and the overabundance of availability have led to its contamination of soil surfaces and groundwater. In addition, the UC Berkeley School of Public Health published research that links glyphosate to liver inflammation in younger persons, which may contribute to an increased likelihood of liver cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease later in life. However, the Environmental Protection Agency has found glyphosate not to be carcinogenic or a concern to human health when it's "used in accordance with its current label." Regardless of which stance you take on its safety, there are methods available that can get rid of weeds without the possible side effects, like the ones below. 

Boiling water is more versatile than you think as a solution for common household problems, including weeds. For this method, all you need is a pot, water, an oven mitt, and a stove. Boil your water in the pot, then put on your oven mitt and carefully walk to where your weeds are. Situate yourself so that your feet are as far away from the pour and run-off areas as possible to prevent accidental burns. Carefully pour the boiling water directly over the plant, being sure not to get any on surrounding plants as it could kill them, too. You can then pull the dead weed directly out of the soil.

What is it about boiling water that's so effective at weed control? The trick is in its ability to penetrate even the densest of weed populations by getting under the leaf canopy. It kills off leaf growth, but it's best used on young, less-mature weeds. That's because it only kills what it touches, and you would need the boiling water to seep into the roots to fully eradicate the plant. This will be harder for more mature weeds with large root systems that go deeper into the ground. It's also best used for weeds growing out of cracks in driveways or sidewalks where there are fewer root structures or other plants. In lawns or ornamental plant beds with perennial weeds, it won't work as well.  

Don't throw out those plastic bags just yet; use them as a weed killer instead! For this method, you'll need transparent plastic bags or a roll of transparent plastic film and garden stakes. Flatten out the plastic so that it lays over your garden bed and tamp it down with garden stakes. Leave the plastic over your garden bed at least two to three weeks, but ideally six. 

This method is called "solarization" and works by raising the temperature of the soil to kill off weeds and pathogens living under the tarp. Your tarps must be transparent instead of black; their ability to allow radiant heat from the sun to still reach the soil is important, whereas black bags simply absorb it. Sure, the black bags could kill weeds, too, but transparent ones are better for maintaining soil health, and therefore boost the likelihood of the best crop or flower yield from your garden. Solarization is best done for fall planting during the hottest summer months. And do try your best not to disrupt the soil too much when you're ready to plant — this could cause weeds that were deeper under the soil to come up later.

Do you want an excuse to add more plants to your garden? We (and our credit cards) certainly do! If that's the case, then cover crops are the perfect solution for you. For this method, you'll need to prepare for the upcoming year, as this will require planting crops in the fall to prevent weeds the following year. Grab a few seed packets of plants that have deep-growing, winter-hardy roots like oats, wheat, rye, crimson clover, or daikon radish. Plant these in your garden between mid-August to mid-October, before the first hard frost. Then harvest your crops in the spring and plant your spring and summer garden plants in a weed-free bed!

Cover crops aren't just an excuse to buy more plants (we see you); they also do wonders for soil quality, are one of the least harmful ways to kill weeds, and reduce erosion and nutrient runoff, all while their long roots break up hard, compacted soils. They're typically used as a weed prevention method for vegetable gardens, but this method should work wherever you want your plants to thrive without weeds. Cover crops, also known as "green manures," kill off weeds by creating a dense mat of foliage that makes it hard for weeds to push through. This makes it difficult for them to get adequate sun, which eventually kills them off. Harvesting them is optional, and many farmers opt to just till the soil with the crops intact instead, using the full plant to add more nutrients to the soil.

Are you ready to break out the big guns in the war on weeds? If so, it's time to pick up an ounce of clove essential oil, some dish soap, water, and a small (about 2 ounces) spray bottle. Pour the entire bottle of clove essential oil into the spray bottle and add a squirt of dish soap, then fill the rest of the bottle with water. Shake the bottle up to mix the ingredients together and spray it directly on the weed. You can make a bigger batch if necessary, just try to keep it at around 50% oil to mimic the ratios used in store-bought weed killers.

Clove oil is not only great for helping your garden thrive, but it's considered a greener herbicide because it breaks down a plant's leaf cuticle, drying it out. The dish soap is necessary to bind the oil and water together, while the water helps dilute the oil, making it cover more ground. You could just pour straight essential oil over the weeds, but that could get expensive quickly. Be aware, though, that the clove oil will only kill the visible parts of the weed — you'll still need to pull the roots out to ensure it won't come back. 

Let's say clove oil isn't your thing, but you like the idea of creating a homemade herbicide spray. You're in luck, because we've got an efficient way to kill weeds with vodka instead. For this, you'll need 1 ounce of vodka (or gin), 2 cups of water, some dish soap, and a spray bottle. Combine the vodka and water into the spray bottle and add a squirt of dish soap, then shake. Head over to your weed nemesis and give them a generous misting with your new herbicide. To improve its efficacy, spray the weeds on a sunny day, as the sun will speed up the process. Within a few days, the weeds will shrivel up and die, allowing you to pull them out easily.

So, what is it about the things in your liquor cabinet that destroys weeds? Liz Will, a garden consultant and founder of Learn to Grow Gardens, explained to Homes and Gardens, "The vodka mixture will remove the waxy, protective coating from the surface of the weeds, allowing the sunlight to penetrate and dry out the leaves, effectively killing the plant." 

If you want to keep things simple, you can take the strongest vinegar you can find and spray it directly on the weeds. The vinegar will work like vodka or clove oil, destroying the plant's cells and forcing it to wilt and die. Once it's dead, simply pull it out with the roots and toss the offending weed in the trash.

There are a few caveats to this method, though, that are worth mentioning. First, it's important to understand the key ingredient in vinegar that kills off plants is acetic acid, and the stronger the concentration, the better. Opinions vary as to how much: Montana State University's Land Resources and Environmental Sciences lab believes 20-30% should do the trick, while the University of California's Agriculture and Natural Resources division says that just 10% will do. Regardless, common household vinegars typically go anywhere from 5-7%, making them ineffective for killing off weeds in one go. If you can't find more concentrated options, it's still worth giving white vinegar a shot. Just be aware it might take you multiple attempts to kill off the weed.

On its surface, tilling (digging and overturning soil) seems like a good method because you're chopping up weeds with a spade or rake and covering them with dirt. Unfortunately, you might want to think twice before tilling your soil, because it alone isn't effective for weed control and may even make things worse. The truth is, some weeds are just too tricky to be killed so easily.

To understand why, you need to first know that, like plants, there are different types of weeds. Some, like crabgrass and chickweed are annuals and will die off within the year. Then there are biennials, which die off within two years. Finally, there are perennial weeds (bermudagrass, mugwort, and Canadian thistle, to name a few) that are in it for the long haul and are especially hard to kill, thanks to their structures. Killing off the top leafy layer isn't enough because they store the essential nutrients and reproductive methods underground in tubers, roots, and rhizomes. Tilling soil with perennial weeds gives them an advantage because it lets them spread their roots, tubers, and rhizomes across a bigger soil area and each piece can start a new plant. 

Weeding is hard no matter which method you choose. It can take an exhausting few hours, so it's no surprise that many people don't want to consider it a regular part of gardening. Unfortunately, all of your hard work done during that weekend intensive weeding session will be for naught if you don't stay vigilant.

Weeds are tough little plants that tend to grow in the most bizarre locations — cracks in your sidewalk, hard-to-reach corners of your yard, wherever. We wonder if weeds might understand they're not wanted, and thus, need to get creative in order to survive. Unfortunately, the more hard to kill they become, the more proactive you'll have to be. But that doesn't mean you'll need to spend every waking moment worrying about weeds. Walk through your property every few weeks and look for new weed growth, as younger weeds are easier to get rid of. Lighten the load by changing the landscaping to prevent weed growth from even happening. Mulch, landscape fabric, and ground cover plants are all helpful ways to make your weeding efforts last longer. 

Okay yes, we'll admit there's something primal and awesome about the thought of using fire to scorch weeds to a crisp. This process, known as "flame weeding" or "flaming" involves using a propane torch to set fire to the weed. The flames burst the walls of the plant's cells, which dries the weed out, killing it. On its foundational level, flame weeding is an effective strategy.

So, why don't we recommend doing it? Safety is the biggest issue. Not only is it dangerous to you, but plants or flowers you want to keep may get caught in the crossfire. Also, garden areas typically have things that are incredibly flammable, like landscape fabric, plastic mulch, irrigation systems, hoses, etc., making it an awkward conversation to have with the fire department when you have to explain how you accidentally scorched your entire lawn. In the end, it's just not worth the risk when there are other methods out there that do the job just as well. 

Hand pulling is probably the default method of weed control for most gardeners. It requires very few tools, can be done on the fly, and you get to see the results of your labor in a nice, big pile. So, why are we listing it as a method to avoid? Essentially, because it's only effective for annual or young weeds. 

Mature or perennial weeds have deep, extensive root systems that make hand pulling extremely difficult. Some weeds just won't budge, no matter how strong you are. Plus, you might accidentally break up the weed into pieces, effectively creating a new plant every place a piece falls. However, there are ways you can tweak this method to be more effective. First, understand you're going to need to attack the weeds multiple times. Next, soak the ground with water a day or two before your weeding session, which can make it easier to pull the complete plant out of the ground. Finally, consider adding a weeding tool like this Fiskars 4-Claw Stand Up Weed Puller ($62 on Amazon) to your arsenal to help lessen the strain your body goes through trying to tackle these leafy foes. 

This is a bizarre one we came across, especially because opinions differ on just what this method is effective at doing. This method involves cooking pasta and using the pasta water to destroy weeds, with some people mentioning the starch helps kill weeds. While it's true that boiling water is effective, the pasta starch theory left us scratching our heads. There are many gardening experts who you actually believe you should water your plants with pasta water, since the starch could give plants (and weeds) more nutrients.

Sorry to break it to you, but we think this method is probably the opposite of what you'd want to use for killing weeds. Not only would the starch act like a fertilizer, but any leftover seasoning or salt would enter the soil and affect plants you actually want to keep around. Instead, it's probably better to just opt for unused boiling water and save the pasta water for something else.

Social media has lots of weed killing methods that include some form of salt as a key ingredient. Yes, salt can kill weeds by dehydrating plant tissues and preventing it from taking nutrients through its roots. But salting your soil will cause much bigger problems than a few dead weeds.

On a smaller scale, the main issue is that there's an inability to control where the salt will spread, so it could kill off plants you want to keep, too. But on a bigger, macro scale, adding salt to soil increases the sodium level and messes with the ratio of sodium to other minerals, like calcium and magnesium, which can disrupt the pH level of your land. The higher the sodium level, the less porosity a soil has, which prevents it from holding onto air and water necessary for plant growth. And then there's the whole problem of how long salt can stay in the soil, causing damage to plants over years and rendering your garden a sad, sad place. In short, unless you're planning to make the soil useless for years to come, stay away from salt.