Non toxic weed killer - Ask Extension
Hello. I'm looking for a non-toxic broadleaf weed killer. I want to seed or possibly resod my yard (it's currently bare soil) and need to kill the wee...
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Non toxic weed killer #869813
Asked May 23, 2024, 3:38 PM EDT
Hello. I'm looking for a non-toxic broadleaf weed killer. I want to seed or possibly resod my yard (it's currently bare soil) and need to kill the weeds that have grown. I have baby bunnies that eat the weeds and I believe applying an herbicide like Roundup will cause the bunnies harm.
I have seen non--toxic recipes for herbicides like vinegar and salt solutions but I'm unsure how effective they are. Do you have recommendations for an herbicide that is non-toxic to wildlife?
Thank you.
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
There really is no non-toxic herbicide that will kill your weeds.
Vinegar solutions abound on the internet but what they do is desiccate the tops of the weeds. They do not kill the roots. At the University, we do not recommend using food products as poisons.
If your yard is bare soil now, you may want to try solarization. It is non-toxic though it will take a little longer to work.
https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/solarization-occultation
