Studies from a few years ago showed that glyphosate, a chemical found in Roundup and other commercial herbicides, can significantly increase the risk of certain cancers. Although the chemical has since been removed from the company’s non-industrial products, it’s still not banned outright in the United States. Hence, there is a growing need for environmentally friendly solutions to the problems that are presently emerging in yards across America.

The risk of cancer is not the only reason to avoid using these weed killers. After all, many compounds in traditional products often pose serious additional risks to small creatures, such as children, pets, and livestock, if they are used or stored improperly.

While no solution is without its risks,  people still need ways to effectively handle their weed problems. No, not those weed problems. We can’t help you with your pot gardens, unless you live in certain states. (Okay, okay, just don’t tell anyone!)

Safe Roundup Alternatives

Vinegar, dish soap, and/or baking soda (or salt)

A combination of this concoction is regularly published and promoted in publications (blogs, magazines, newspapers) geared towards gardeners. Most of these recipes won’t even require a trip to the store.

You’re usually advised to put the mixture in a spray bottle and apply it to the leaves of the pesky weeds. But does it work? We’re not entirely sure. It certainly gets rid of the leafy green parts of the plants, but isn’t always as effective on the roots. It can also cause your soil to become more acidic, so please proceed with caution.

Manual Removal

Pulling weeds is nobody’s favorite garden task. However, using a hoe, spade, or simply your own two hands to remove them can be a simple yet effective way to ensure they’re gone for good. If you’ve let these menaces go to seed or left behind even the tiniest of bits, the weeds you’re trying to get rid of may return for a repeat performance. (Hello kudzu, my eternal nemesis!)

It’s also a time-consuming process to hand-pull weeds, especially when working in large areas. You’ll also need to wear gloves and other protective gear when handling thorny or toxic specimens. Fortunately, TechNu offers a line of products that are ideal for anyone dealing with the poisonous weed trio: ivy, sumac, and oak.

Applying Boiling Water

Hot water can be a decent way to get rid of one or two small, pesky weeds, as long as you don’t spill it on yourself and cause nasty burns as a result. However, using this method could easily result in large dead patches in your yard, and it probably isn’t an effective tactic for broad areas.

Organic Herbicides

With organic options, gardeners usually have two choices: products made with essential oils (such as clove, citrus, and neem) or those that use more isolated natural components. Companies that produce organic herbicides include Epsoma, Bonide, EcoSmart, and Safer Brand. Be sure to use these products as directed by their manufacturers to avoid any unpleasant experiences. And definitely ensure that the products in question are labeled ‘Food Safe’ if you plan to spray them around anything you intend to eat later.

Very Dangerous Options

We found several other potential alternatives to Roundup and similar herbicide while researching this topic, but we DO NOT endorse them and here’s why:

–Salt. This isn’t advisable as it will harm other plants and their ability to grow in the spot for quite some time to come.

–Flame weeding. This is generally a very bad idea. You could easily set your whole yard/neighborhood/county on fire!!! And then be slapped with all sorts of fines on top of that. Maybe even some jail time. We all know a guy whose death is going to be preceded by the phrase: “Hold my beer and watch this!” In the era of rampant forest fires, don’t be him.

–Pelargonic acid. Many sources suggest this. But we don’t! It’s a highly concentrated acid that could cause severe burns to skin or eyes if improperly used. It’s definitely not something you want to use around pets, livestock, or kids.

Handy Ways to Avoid the Subject

Of course, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and there are numerous ways to avoid growing your weed population without resorting to Roundup or similar pesticides.

Mulching spots to keep problems from emerging is another great idea. You can even use garden cloth (found at most big box stores) to accomplish this. However, garden cloth can be cumbersome to use and it does need to be held down in some fashion for it to be effective. Finally, a good use for all those broken terracotta pot pieces that you’ve got lying around! Or maybe that’s just me.

What if you just want to stop the problem before it starts and not bother with garden cloth?  We got you! Corn gluten meal is an organic herbicide that can keep new weed plants from sprouting and it’s available at many online retailers. Unfortunately, it’s not useful against existing problems.

On the other hand, ground covers like clover, dymondia, etc. can help gardeners subdue the weeds over time. Some even help pollinators! Many ground covers can also be used as mulch at the end of their growing season, enriching the underlying soil in the process. Just cut them down with a hoe or tiller at the end of their growing season and voilà! 

If you happen to have livestock, particularly goats, fencing in the area and turning them loose in it can help eliminate weed problems. In the case of cows and chickens, they can also provide you with useful manure. However, there are weeds that are toxic to certain animals, so be sure that the buffet you offer your livestock is something their bodies can handle.

As always, happy gardening!