Homemade Foliage Killer

Vinegar

• Vinegar is a common substance found in many kitchens. It is cheap, natural and, most of all, it kills plants. Vinegar is a distilled and fermented liquid that contains acetic acid. This acid pulls moisture out of whatever it touches, including plants. A spray of vinegar on plant foliage will result in the withering and death of the leaf. Add enough of this substance to the plant you are concerned with and it will not be able to survive. Keep in mind that while the vinegar will kill the foliage you are targeting, it is non-selective. This means it will also kill any other plants it comes in contact with. This includes your favorite flowers and your lawn.

Salt

• Salt is another common ingredient found in the home. This flavor enhancer is used a lot in cooking, but it can also be used to destroy plants. Salt removes moisture from plants in the same way acetic acid does. Mixing salt with water to make a strong saline solution is effective in killing off foliage but be careful not to use too much of it. The properties of salt are long-lasting. It is not recommended to use salt to saturate the soil around the unwanted plants. Although it will effectively kill the plant, it will remain in the soil and make it difficult to grow plants in that location for a long time to come. When you see grass or other plants “burned up” by fertilizer, it is because of its salt properties.

Soap

• Soap is a common ingredient in many household remedies for killing plant material. It is not necessarily a good foliage killer on its own but is an excellent additive to other remedies. Adding a small amount of regular dish soap to a plant-killing substance will help increase the absorption of the substance into the foliage. Dish soap breaks down the waxy surface on leaves and lets liquid, such as vinegar or salty water, penetrate the leaves and work faster.

Water

• There is nothing more natural that water to apply to your plants. After all, it is an essential ingredient to plant life. But it can also be a killer if you serve it up hot. Carefully pouring boiling water onto the plants you want to kill will literally cook the plants to death. The foliage will be the first part of the plant to die back. Repeating the boiling water treatment will eventually kill roots and all. But boiling water will also destroy any other plants it comes in contact with.