Having weeds grow in your yard can be truly vexing. They make for an untamed, unpleasant sight. Not to mention, they hog all the nutrients from the plants you actually meant to grow.
I noticed that there has been a lot of talk about Epsom salt being the magical solution to the growth of weeds, so I thought I’d give it a try.
After a lot of digging and experimenting with Epsom salt, I’m here with all of the facts. Does Epsom salt kill weeds or is it a myth? Let’s find out.
What Is Epsom Salt and How Is It Different from Table Salt?
The only similarity between Epsom salt and table salt is that they both look more or less the same. They’re made up of different chemical compounds, though.
Table salt is made up of sodium chloride, whereas Epsom is made up of magnesium sulfate, Both salts have a crystalline structure.
Do they taste the same? Not at all. Trust me when I tell you, you don’t want to add Epsom to your food! It has a very bitter, unpleasant taste.
Epsom salt is easy to find, and it’s affordable. It is said to have many health benefits although there isn’t enough evidence to support these claims.
Epsom salt can be used in baths to give you the relaxing effect of a bath bomb. Moreover, it’s sometimes taken as a supplement to compensate for low magnesium levels in your body.
But does Epsom salt really kill weeds?
The Myth of Epsom Salt as a Weed Killer
Epsom salt seems to be the wrong culprit; to a certain degree, at least. Epsom salt can be very nutritious to plants, actually.
Some plants grow with magnesium deficiencies because of mineral imbalances in the soil or a lack of magnesium. This results in the yellowing of plants and a reduced yield. Epsom salt can help fix the situation. You can actually mix Epsom salt with fertilizers for a monthly plant boost.
Alternatively, you can mix one tablespoon of Epsom with a gallon of water and spray the leaves every two weeks. Some people even choose to soil-drench it or use it with drip systems.
It doesn’t matter the method as much as the effect. You’ll see better plant growth and blooming if you provide your plants with proper nutrition.
That being said, Epsom salt is helpful as long as there’s a deficiency. So, make sure you test your soil first for evidence of magnesium deficiency before you use any Epsom salt. This issue usually exists in prairie soils.
Given in excess, Epsom salt turns from a treatment to a malady. It can cause leaf scorch and root disease.
Also, a high concentration of magnesium will mess up with the plant’s absorption of calcium and phosphorus, which are crucial for the plant’s growth. This, as you may have guessed, could end up killing the plant.
For this very reason, some people choose to use Epsom salt to get rid of weeds. Yet, it isn’t a guaranteed method.
It needs to be in concentrated amounts, and that can be difficult to achieve with a soluble salt. You can change this salt up with table salt for more satisfactory results.
Table Salt as a Weed Killer
A lot of people confuse the use of Epsom and table salt when it comes to DIY recipes for killing weeds. Most of these DIY recipes are formulated for the use of table salt, which is why most people who use Epsom salt get them wrong.
Why table salt, in particular? Table salt interferes with the osmosis process by which the plant gets its water. The plant will use up more energy to compensate, leading to distress.
Table salt can also cause ion toxicity which results in leaf burning. Either way, it disrupts the plant’s life and ends up killing it. This can really work in your favor if you’re trying to get rid of weeds. It will give you a quick and inexpensive solution.
Also, it’s very convenient if you’re trying to kill weeds that are in close proximity to flowers. You can spray the salt mixture on the weeds and a few flying drops won’t be immediately toxic to the flowers. In contrast, any other herbicide won’t be as efficient at selectivity.
On the other hand, it’s hardly a permanent solution. It doesn’t travel through the plant’s rooting system, which will result in the plant regrowing every couple of months or so.
How to Use Table Salt to Kill Weeds
You can dissolve the table salt in boiling water or, as some people would recommend, horticultural vinegar. The ratio of water/vinegar to salt should be 4:1.5.
The vinegar will dry up the plant due to its acetic acid composition. Yet, it’ll also kill beneficial worms and microbes in the soil.
You can also add four tablespoons of dishwashing soap. It’ll help the homemade herbicide stick to the plant because of its viscosity.
You should spray your whole plant every couple of days for a week or two. But be careful that no vinegar comes in contact with your skin so that it doesn’t hurt you.
Is Salt Mixture a Recommended Weed Killer?
Not really. The use of table salt seems to have more drawbacks than perks. Its build-up in the soil can be very harmful. Table salt seeping into the soil makes it prone to sodium toxicity and drought. That can easily become vicious, turning the soil infertile.
I’m pretty sure whoever came up with the expression “salting the earth” learned this the hard way.
Using table salt might be convenient if you’re trying to kill plants in your driveway or sidewalk. A barren soil there wouldn’t be an issue. I don’t recommend using vinegar in the mix, though, as it could eat away at the concrete of your sidewalk.
Keep in mind that even when salt goes unabsorbed and is leached from the soil, it can end up polluting the environment.
Alternative Weed Killing Solutions
There are other weed-killing solutions that are more effective than using salt.
Organic mulch is perhaps the perfect solution. Cover your bare soil or weeds with a layer of mulch. It’ll block the sun, preventing weeds from growing. Also, it will keep the soil cool, moist and will break down with time, fertilizing the soil.
Another option is flame weeding. It’ll take a few attempts, but in the end, the root will cease to regrow.
Wrap Up
Epsom salt is best used to help a plant suffering from magnesium deficiency. Table salt is more effective in killing weeds, nevertheless, none are recommended for the job.
The extra salinity can cause barren soil and can pollute the environment. You can opt instead for mulch or flame weeding for more desirable results!