Fastest Way to Kill Foliage

Remove Root Ball

• The most inexpensive, labor-intensive method to eliminate the unwanted foliage quickly is to remove it completely from the ground. Wearing sturdy work gloves pull away the foliage’s leaves and place them into a trash bag. Continue to deposit the leaves and stems until the main stem or stump is uncovered. Dig around the stump with a spade or small shovel until the root ball is exposed. Carefully lift the root ball and place it into the trash bag. Examine the hole and place any small shoots or remnants of the ball into the bag. Refill the hole and spray the ground with a commercial herbicide to discourage new growth. This is a solution to eliminate small clusters of unwanted foliage but is not practical for a larger number of plants.

Vinegar Herbicide

• Create a mixture of 3 cups of apple cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon of lavender essential oil in a plastic spray bottle. Shake the bottle vigorously to incorporate the ingredients and spray the mixture directly on the unwanted foliage. Cover the foliage with a burlap sack or several sheets of newspaper and allow it to remain overnight. Remove the sack or newspaper and cover the unwanted foliage with another dose of the homemade herbicide. Continue to spray and recover the plants until the foliage is gone. The mixture is effective for eliminating foliage in the shade or full sun.

Vodka Herbicide

• Create a mixture of 1/4 cup of vodka, 3 tablespoons of liquid dish soap and 3 cups of warm water in a plastic spray bottle. Shake the bottle vigorously to create a sudsy mixture and spray it directly onto the unwanted foliage. Repeat the process, spraying a heavy layer of the mixture on the foliage at least three times a day. This mixture is effective on plants that receive full sunlight, as the mixture causes the plants to desiccate and perish from lack of moisture.

Black Plastic

• This is an economical, effective way to eliminate large amounts of unwanted foliage without harming the plant life or grass surrounding it. Cover the foliage with two to three layers of black plastic sheets. Weigh the sheets down with bricks or stones and allow them to remain for one to two days. Remove the sheets and examine the foliage. If it survived, continue to cover the ground until it perishes. The black plastic prevents vital nutrients, including moisture and sunlight, from reaching the plants.