VINEGAR SPRAYER INSTRUCTIONS Did you know that a simple solution of regular S For older, more established household vinegar (white or apple cider works best) weeds, you may have to and dish detergent can be used to kill many weeds, reapply the solution as it including crabgrass and dandelions? The recipe below grows back. But by keeping will make enough natural weed killer to fill up your the tops killed back, the roots new City of Olympia Vinegar Spray Bottle. Best of all, will eventually die. This may this solution is non-toxic to people, animals and most take up to a year depending of the beneficial organisms in your soil. on the type of plant. S The dish detergent will help the vinegar stick to the Smaller plants, such as young crabgrass and leaves of the sprayed weeds. The vinegar will then dandelion sprouts, can be killed very quickly dissolve the waxy coating on the leaves, causing the after just one treatment. plant to lose all the water in its tissue and dry out. This S Because the plant is killed by drying out, the will cause the foliage to die, and eventually the root best time to spray is when it is warm and the system will die as well. weed is in full sun. S Keep the spray bottle with you when you mow Ingredients: the lawn to apply weekly treatments to areas 2 cups household vinegar of crabgrass, dandelions or other weeds. 1/2 tablespoon dish detergent S Many recipes on the internet include salt, but salt can ruin the soil over time, and gradually Mix ingredients in the spray bottle, then spot spray leach into surrounding untreated areas and kill onto the foliage of unwanted weeds, being careful the wrong plants. not to hit the surrounding plants. Tips: Warnings: Wear eye protection when spraying the solution. S Make sure the dish soap you use has the word In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately “detergent” on the label, and avoid the word with clean water. “anti-bacterial”. Be careful not to over spray the solution onto S The solution is a non-selective herbicide. This any wanted plants, spray ONLY enough to wet means that it will harm or kill any plant it gets the leaves, and DO NOT DRENCH THE ENTIRE on, including grass, so make sure to ONLY PLANT in the solution. Using the vinegar as a spray the weeds you intend to kill. soil drench will kill plants, but it will also change S The solution is not systemic, which means that the pH of the soil, which will affect what type of it will not be taken up by the plant and carried plants can be grown in the future. to its roots. It will only kill the part of the plant that it is sprayed on. If the plant is young Questions: enough, it will kill the plant completely. Contact Erin Conine, at 360.753.8271, Linda Ayala, at 360.753.8570, or visit our website. www.olympiawa.gov/waterquality.