Vinegar can be used as a weed killer, and it is an inexpensive and environmentally safe option. The acetic acid in vinegar breaks down cell walls and removes moisture from weeds, causing them to die off. Here are some tips for using vinegar as a weed killer:

• Concentration: Regular white vinegar in the store is 5% vinegar (acetic acid) and 95% water, and it can be used as a weed killer. However, stronger concentrations of vinegar are more effective. Studies show that 20% acetic acid is more effective than a 5% or 10% concentration. Industrial vinegar, which is made as a petroleum byproduct, has a pH of 2.4 and a high enough concentration to easily kill plants.

• Application: Vinegar is a nonselective herbicide, which means it will kill any plant it comes in contact with. Therefore, it is important to apply it carefully to avoid damaging desirable plants. Apply vinegar on a sunny day with no wind, as the sunlight will work with the vinegar to burn the leaves. If its cloudy or the leaves are wet, wait to apply the vinegar. Spot spraying is recommended, and its best to remove as much of the weed as possible before spraying the remaining leaves.

• Effectiveness: Vinegar works best on very young weeds that have only one or two leaves. Weeds with more than three or four leaves are likely to survive treatment, but using more of the product can improve weed control. Multiple applications can also improve control. Kitchen-strength vinegar may work on a few types of young weeds, but stronger concentrations are more effective.

• Limitations: Vinegar weed killer may or may not kill the root of the weed, so you may need to reapply it if green growth shows up afterward or pour a little of the weed killer over the root zone to ensure the root is killed. Vinegar weed killer is a viable organic solution, but it shouldnt be your final solution for weed management. The best kind of weed control is multifaceted, and a combination of manually pulling, organic herbicide, and your plantings will be best.