Will Coconut Oil Kill Weeds?

How it Works

• Coconut oil contains an abundance of fatty acids that impair a plant's ability to photosynthesize and eliminate waste through transpiration. Unlike systemic herbicides that are absorbed into the plant and kill from within, coconut oil coats the outer skin of the target plant and blocks it vital functions, essentially smothering the plant until it expires. The active component in coconut oil is sodium lauryl sulfate, which is often extracted and used as a surfactant in detergents and commercially prepared coconut oil herbicides. Pure coconut oil works as well as the heavily processed variety, but it requires much heavier and more prolonged dosage to achieve the same level of efficacy.

Preparation

• Measure equal parts coconut oil and vegetable oil. Pour the two components into a saucepan and place it on the stove over a low heat. Apply heat just until it the oil liquifies. Remove the saucepan from the heat and turn off the stove. Whisk the coconut and vegetable oil together until it appears uniform in appearance. Pour it into a spray bottle. The two oils will separate as they cool, so it is necessary to vigorously shake the bottle before spraying the solution.

Use

• Spray the weeds with the coconut oil solution until all parts of the plant are thoroughly saturated. Apply it every day for one to two weeks, depending on the toughness of the weed. It is best to apply the solution until the weed suffers noticeable damage such as wilting. Stop applying the coconut oil solution once the weed wilts. Pull up the weed by the base several days after the stem and leaves wilt. Spritz the hole left by the weed one or two times with the coconut oil solution just in case any of the root fragments are still viable. Fill in the hole left by the weed.

Considerations

• Using coconut oil as an herbicide leaves a fatty, fragrant residue that will persist for several weeks after the cessation of treatment. If the smell of coconut is disagreeable to you, it is best to find an alternative eco-friendly herbicide. Apart from producing a strong odor, the residue left by coconut oil can also provoke an allergic reaction in people with nut allergies. If anyone in your home is allergic to coconuts or other tree nuts, it is best to avoid using coconut oil on your lawn or garden to spare them a dangerous allergic reaction.