Other Natural Ways to Keep Weeds Away

While my vinegar-salt-soap mix is my go-to for tackling existing weeds, the best way to keep them from coming back is prevention. Here’s what I do to keep weeds under control naturally:

• Mulch, mulch, mulch! A thick layer of mulch (like wood chips, straw, or leaves) blocks sunlight and stops weed seeds from sprouting.
• Boiling water treatment. For stubborn weeds in sidewalks or driveways, I pour boiling water directly on them. It’s an instant kill method that’s especially useful for small cracks.
• Hand-pulling when the soil is moist. If I have time, I grab my gloves and pull weeds out by hand, especially after a rainstorm when the roots come up easily.
• Corn gluten meal. This acts as a natural pre-emergent herbicide, stopping weed seeds from germinating before they even start growing.
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