How to Level Up Your Lawn and Garden with Non-Toxic Herbicides

You’ve put in the time and effort all season to grow the vegetables, pick the flowers, and maintain the lush, green lawn. But no matter which way you turn, you’re positively bedeviled with the peskiest of enemies—the weed. Here’s a how-to guide on non-toxic herbicides—in a mere matter of minutes, you’ll know everything you need to know, including why organic weed killer is the right choice for your lawn and garden. 

What is a Weed?

A weed is a plant that (typically) grows vigorously but is not valued where it is growing. Sometimes, weeds can have flowers and look pretty, but if not properly handled, they can choke out the plants or grass you do intend to grow. Quite quickly, weeds can become a nuisance. 

Are There Different Types of Weeds?

Yes, there are different types of weeds. In fact, there are more than 30 types of common weeds that can grow in lawns and gardens around the United States.

Some of the most common intruders include:

• Dandelions
• Crabgrass
• White clover
• Velvet leaf
• Canada thistle

Why are Weeds Bad for Gardens and Lawns?

It’s not necessarily that all weeds are bad—but they do need to be controlled, or your lawn and garden will quickly be in a bad place. Without a plan of attack to reduce or eliminate weeds, they become robbers. They steal the water, nutrients, and sunlight from the plants you want to receive them, hoarding those life-giving needs to continue growing. 

Synthetic vs. Organic Weed Killers

A weed killer—also known as an herbicide—is a chemical used to manipulate overgrown vegetation. When you spray a synthetic weed killer like glyphosate, the chemicals choke off and smother enzymes the weed needs to grow, killing the unwanted plant. 

Conventional herbicides are very effective, but they can also be highly toxic to the soil, to humans, and to pets. (Recent tests also confirm that the toxin can cause cancer risks.) Glyphosate is also non-selective, meaning it will kill not only the weed but also the surrounding healthy plants as well.

An organic weed killer, on the other hand, is made up of naturally occurring chemicals that break down in the soil more quickly and safely. When you choose a non-toxic herbicide, like Finalsan, it offers a safe alternative to glyphosate while still killing unwanted weeds. 

Why is it Important to Apply a Non-Toxic Herbicide?

It’s crucial to use a non-toxic weed killer for protection as you create your landscape lawn care plan.

Some of the most important things protected by using organic herbicide include:

• Humans and pets
• Plants
• The soil
• The environment

Protecting Humans and Pets by Using Organic Weed Killer

Using a non-toxic herbicide is safer for both humans and pets. (Anything that is known to cause cancer should always be avoided.) Bypassing unsafe chemicals by using an organic weed killer with safer, more natural ingredients is the way to go. 

Protecting Your Plants by Using a Non-Toxic Weed Killer

A synthetic herbicide uses toxins—while they kill the weeds you want gone, they’re also deadly to the healthy grass and flowers in your garden. Opt for a non-toxic weed killer to protect the plants you love while killing the weeds you don’t.

Protecting the Soil by Using an Organic Herbicide

Did you know that using an organic herbicide can improve your soil’s health? It’s true! A non-toxic herbicide can provide nutrients and improve microbial activity within the soil—a true win-win!

Protecting the Environment by Using a Non-Toxic Herbicide

Last but not least, we should use an organic weed killer to protect the biggest gem of all—Mother Earth. Non-toxic herbicides break down in the soil more easily than synthetic weed killers do, which reduces the risk of long-term chemical runoff, soil contamination, and water damage. 

10 Non-Toxic Weed Killers

When you’re choosing the right non-toxic weed killer for your lawn or garden’s needs, it’s important to note that not all types of organic weed killers are chemical herbicides. There are several non-chemical approaches to killing weeds you can use as well.

1. Hand weeding 
2. Mulch
3. Landscape fabric (or landscape fabric alternatives)
4. Everyday household items
5. Corn gluten meal
6. Ground cover
7. Boiling water
8. Goats
9. Non-selective organic herbicide
10. Selective non-toxic herbicide

1. Using Your Hands as a Non-Toxic Weed Killer

You don’t have to look any further than your own two hands and your garden tools and equipment to serve as your number one line of organic weed killer defense. Use our Hori Hori gardening knife to help dig out those pesky roots. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty!

2. Using Mulch as a Non-Toxic Weed Killer

Mulch is a great organic weed killer. When you pack it around your plants, you’re effectively blocking out the sunlight and stopping new weeds from sprouting. And any weeds that can grow through the mulch will be easier to kill since their roots won’t be as deep. (Bonus tip: using an organic mulch as a non-toxic weed killer also provides a nutrient boost for the soil!) 

3. Using Landscape Fabric (or Landscape Fabric Alternatives) as an Organic Weed Killer

Place landscape fabric or an alternative (like cardboard or newspaper) down on the ground as a natural non-toxic weed killer. Like mulch, these products act like a barrier to sunlight, tamping down weeds. For an aesthetically pleasing finish, place a fresh layer of mulch or one of our mineral soil amendments on top of the weed barrier. 

4. Using Everyday DIY Household Items as an Organic Herbicide

Your house may be the motherlode of DIY organic herbicide products. The following household products have all been known as effective organic weed killers:

• Dish soap: Causes the plant to dehydrate by breaking down the plant’s walls
• Vinegar: Breaks down cell walls (thanks to the acetic acid), causing plants to die
• Salt: Sterilizes the soil, which makes it hard for a plant to grow
• Baking soda: Sucks moisture out of weeds thanks to high salt content
• Bleach: Oxidizes and breaks down plant material (so don’t mix with other materials)

All of these products (except bleach) should be diluted before use as a non-toxic herbicide. Also, while these solutions are effective and inexpensive, they’re also all non-selective—which means they’ll kill every plant or blade of grass they touch.  

5. Using Corn Gluten Meal as a Non-Toxic Weed Killer

Corn gluten meal is a double whammy as a non-toxic weed killer. It nourishes the soil by adding nitrogen but also squelches weed root growth. However, this option does not kill existing roots, so it is best used as a pre-emergent option. 

6. Using Ground Cover as a Non-Toxic Weed Killer

Consider yourself lucky if you already know what the deal is with microclover lawns. If you don’t, read up. Using a ground cover, like microclover or a turfgrass seed with microclover included, blocks the sun so new weeds can’t grow. Plus, it adds color and texture to your lawn—always a bonus. 

7. Using Boiling Water as an Organic Weed Killer

Yes, an organic weed killer method can really be as simple as pouring a pot full of boiling water on the troublesome weed. This is an excellent two-for-one method, as you kill both the weed and the tap root when you pour the hot water into the soil. Just be careful with your aim because that boiling water will act as a non-toxic herbicide for every living plant it meets. 

8. Using Goats as a Non-Toxic Weed Killer

Stick with us here, but there’s not a cuter non-toxic weed killer than a goat. Goats’ least favorite food is grass, so they’ll eat anything else first—including those pesky weeds. Just protect the plants you don’t want them to eat before setting them loose!

9. Using a Non-Selective Organic Herbicide

When you need more power than the DIY or natural methods can offer, you’ll need to turn to a chemical version of non-toxic herbicide. You’ve got two options—the first being a non-selective organic herbicide, like Finalsan Non-Selective Organic Weed Killer. 

Our non-selective non-toxic weed killers are herbicidal soaps. They target a plant’s cuticles and roots, leading to a build-up of fatty acids in plant cells, which causes them to die. 

A non-selective organic weed killer kills everything in its path (which is why it’s known as a “total” weed killer), making it a great option for killing unruly weeds and other unwanted ground covers, like moss or algae. In that regard, these organic herbicides are great options when you’re trying to kill a lawn before resodding turf or destroy weeds along fence lines or in sidewalk cracks—places you wouldn’t want any plants to grow, period. 

10. Using a Selective Non-Toxic Herbicide

Your second option for a non-toxic herbicide is a selective organic weed killer, like Pulverize Selective Weed Killer for Turf and Lawns. A selective organic herbicide can distinguish between plants and target the group of weeds you want to kill without harming the rest of your lawn or plants. 

To keep your lawn safe during weed-killing season, choosing a selective, organic herbicide like Fiesta is a great choice. To apply, simply choose the right lawn and garden sprayer for your non-toxic weed killer and spray away! 

When to Apply an Organic Herbicide

Like so much of seasonal lawn care planning, the best time to apply an organic herbicide depends on the weeds you’re trying to kill. But there are really only two times to apply non-toxic weed killers—before they emerge (pre-emergent) or after they emerge (post-emergent). 

In that regard, you should apply a non-toxic herbicide in very early spring to stop them from germinating. If weeds do sprout up, apply an organic weed killer to stop them in their tracks—preferably before the summer heat kicks in.

You can also apply an organic herbicide in the fall before the first freeze sets in. Non-toxic weed killers thrive on changes in the seasons and can shake up your peskiest weeds before the cold arrives.   

What are the Best Conditions for Applying Non-Toxic Herbicides?

Organic herbicides work best in warm weather and need water shortly after application for the nutrients to absorb into the soil. For that reason, spring is often considered the best time to apply your non-toxic herbicides, because the weather is getting warmer, and it rains often.

However, there are certain conditions you should look out for when applying organic weed killers to your lawn and garden.

Applying Organic Herbicides on a Day Without Rain Immediately After Application

For one, you should apply your non-toxic weed killer when it’s unlikely to rain for at least six hours. That’s because you don’t want the product to dilute too quickly and run off instead of soaking into the soil, targeting the roots of unwanted weeds.

Applying Organic Weed Killer on a Day with Calmer Weather in the Forecast

You should also look to apply non-toxic herbicides on days when calmer weather prevails. Strong winds also impact how the organic weed killer is absorbed. If it scatters to the four winds—no pun intended—you could end up killing plants you wanted to keep.

Applying Non-Toxic Herbicides on a Day with Mild Temperatures

While organic weed killers benefit from warming weather, you don’t want it to be too hot when you apply them. For one, weeds thrive and grow in hot, dry weather, which can reduce the effectiveness of the non-toxic herbicide. On the other hand, you don’t want to apply an organic herbicide when it’s too cold—like humans and animals, a plant’s metabolism slows down in the cold, which makes it hard to absorb a non-toxic herbicide. Play it like Goldilocks and apply your herbicide in the spring on a just right, mild, calm day for best results.

Do Different Weeds Respond Differently to Organic Herbicides?

Yes. Some weeds grow in the fall and winter, while others grow in the spring. All weeds seem to thrive in hotter weather. And some weeds die instantaneously after applying an organic herbicide, while others are resilient and come back for years—which is why it’s important to have a non-toxic weed killer plan of attack.

Weeds are a noxious part of lawn and garden care, but it’s not the end of the world. By applying these concepts about non-toxic herbicides, you’ll level up your outdoor spaces and knock out those weeds in no time!