How to Kill Weeds With Boiling Water

Boiling water is certainly an appealing alternative to toxic herbicides: it's free of harmful chemicals, it's cheap, and it kills weeds. Yet, piping-hot water isn't the best weed killer in every situation, because the super-hot liquid kills not only weeds, but also any vegetation surrounding it. Even if you cover your other plants with a plastic cup to shield them from the scalding water, you can't protect them underground. For this reason, reserve the boiling water for weeds growing out of cracks in the pavement or driveway, far from desirable plants.

Things You'll Need

• Kettle
• Water

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Survey your sidewalk and driveway to identify the weeds you can cook without running the risk of killing other plants.

   • 2

     Boil water in a kettle with a narrow spout so when you pour the hot water on the weed, it doesn't splash on anything else.

   • 3

     Pour boiling water to cover the weed and to penetrate the ground to the plant's root zone.