Horticultural vinegar is a liquid solution of 5-7% acetic acid, with the pH usually between 3.5 and 4.5. You can use it to control many types of plant diseases, as well as those issues related to pests and weeds.
The benefits that you receive by applying horticultural vinegar are similar to those obtained by using regular commercial products; however, if you use it improperly, you might get serious health issues or damage your plants in significant ways.
On the other hand, if you use it properly, you will get your desired results. Keep in mind that, because horticultural vinegar is considerably inexpensive when compared to commercial products, it is always a better choice for you no matter how careful and thorough you are when using it.
To obtain the best potential of horticultural vinegar as a fungicide or algicide, apply it using wide range application equipment such as backpack sprayers and water-injection systems. Bear in mind that these types of application equipment will allow you to apply vinegar uniformly over the entire foliage surface; however, be sure that the type of foliage surface is not sensitive to acid.
What is the difference between vinegar and horticultural vinegar?
Household vinegar (5% acetic acid, pH 3-4) is usually used for cleaning purposes around the house. Horticultural vinegar (5-7% acetic acid, pH 3.5-4.5) is often used to control diseases on plants and to treat various issues related to pests and weeds in the garden.
Does vinegar kill weeds permanently?
Vinegar is a broad-spectrum herbicide. It can kill all above ground parts of a weed, but it will not penetrate into the roots. As a result, most weeds will come back if you do not spray vinegar on their roots. After applying vinegar on any type of weed, you only have a couple of weeks to prevent it from coming back; otherwise, the majority of them might return and spread over other areas in your yard.
How long does it take for vinegar to kill weeds?
The answer depends on the concentration of vinegar and the weed species. Some weeds can lose all their above ground parts within a couple of hours after you spray them with horticultural vinegar, while others will start to show dieback symptoms after several days or weeks. Typically, most weeds that are sprayed will die within 24 hours.
When should I use vinegar for weed control?
Broadcast application is not recommended, as it will kill all types of plants in your lawn or garden. When using vinegar as a herbicide, application around the base of target weeds is usually recommended. This technique gives you the opportunity to avoid spraying your desirable plants and makes you more likely to get rid of problem weeds with only one application.