This Household Ingredient Can Kill Crabgrass, But Is It A Good Idea?

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Crabgrass can be a nightmare. Its leggy habit looks unsightly, it can spread quickly, and it will steal water and nutrients from your lawn, soon leading to bald patches. It's an annual, so it dies in winter, but by this time, the seeds could be all over the place, ready to pop up again in spring.

Of the numerous types of weeds that can grow on a lawn or in any other part of the yard, this is one you'll definitely want to tackle quickly. Store-bought weedkillers are an option, but many people would rather not introduce toxins to their yard. Fortunately, there are alternative options, and while you may want to think twice about using some natural weedkiller methods, baking soda (technically sodium bicarbonate) is a common household ingredient that is particularly effective at destroying crabgrass. It's actually a salt, so it pulls all the moisture out of the plant's cells until they collapse, and the plant dies.

The drawback is that baking soda is what's called non-selective. In other words, it could have the same lethal effect on any plant it comes into contact with. So, is it a good idea? It's understandable that people might have second thoughts, but there are several different ways you can apply baking soda depending on where the crabgrass is growing.

If the crabgrass is found in hardscaping, a little baking soda can be sprinkled directly onto the plant, either straight from the container or using a small spoon. Damp the leaves first so the powder sticks, or make it into a liquid so it can be sprayed. One and a half cups of baking soda, a few teaspoons of white vinegar, and half a gallon of water should be added to a spray bottle to thin it down so it doesn't block up the nozzle. A few drops of dish soap can also be added to help it stay on the plant.

The main problems with using baking soda to kill crabgrass are any dust that gets blown onto other plants or any overspray. One way to avoid these is to use a small plastic syringe, like the HiMo 3-Pack of Syringes, to apply the baking soda and vinegar mix directly into the middle of the weed. It may take a little longer, but it's one of the least harmful ways to kill weeds on your lawn – it dramatically reduces the risk of damaging other plants if you have crabgrass in beds or borders, and there's very little waste.

One final note: although baking soda is safe to use in food, in powder form, it should be kept out of reach of children. If it's swallowed, it can cause a number of health problems, including stomach pain, diarrhea, and vomiting.