Say Goodbye To Weeds Growing In Cracks With One Easy, Affordable DIY Solution

There's nothing more annoying than spotting weeds growing in random places where they shouldn't be, like between cracks in your sidewalk, driveway, or foundation. If you've noticed unwanted weed growth and want to remedy the situation fast and without store-bought chemicals, check the laundry aisle. You can say goodbye to weeds growing in cracks with one easy, affordable and DIY solution: borax.

Borax is a versatile white powder cleaning agent with a few different scientific names, including sodium tetraborate, sodium borate, and disodium tetraborate. Borax shines at boosting laundry, works for general cleaning purposes, and is commonly used in insecticides containing boric acid. However,the mineral's versatility also extends to outdoor purposes, such as natural weed control. When applied directly to weeds, borax works like an herbicide, causing the weeds to die. 

Many people sprinkle borax to kill unwanted weeds for good and keep invasive plants away from garden beds. But the uses shouldn't stop there. When you patrol your premises, focus on small areas where weeds shouldn't be, like in the cracks along your foundation, sidewalk, porches, or driveway. These areas are perfect for applying a DIY borax weed killer solution. An added benefit is that borax can also work for pest control and deters irritating insects like ants.

Borax works due to its alkaline nature, which is toxic to most plants, including various types of weeds that can grow around your lawn and between cracks. Because borax is so good at killing all kinds of plants, it's a smart choice for weed removal in areas like cracks where there's less risk of it affecting the greenery you want to keep. Applying the borax to small areas can be done directly with the powdered form. However, you can also create a borax solution for a spray application across broader areas like driveways.

Borax used directly as a powder can be fast and effective for weeds growing in cracks and areas where the chemical can't come in contact with pets, food, or young children. Once applied, you can sweep up the excess with a broom. However, in its original powdered form, borax can easily travel from the application site to unwanted areas through the wind, irrigation, or rainwater, potentially causing damage to any nearby lawns, gardens, or flower beds.

To mix up a borax weed killer spray solution, you'll need about 2.5 gallons of water for every 10 ounces of borax powder. Wear gloves when working with borax to avoid skin irritation. You can combine this mixture in a bucket and simply pour the solution over the plants for a heavier concentration or use a spray bottle for more precise application. When applying your DIY weed killer solution, focus on covering the entirety of the plant, from the top of the leaves down, allowing it to seep into the cracks of your outdoor surfaces.