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Banish Crabgrass From Your Lawn With This Common Kitchen Ingredient
By JOANNA MARIE
For an accessible, cost-effective, and eco-friendly way to kill the crabgrass in your yard, simply reach for a box of baking soda from your kitchen cabinet.
Baking soda's active ingredient, sodium bicarbonate, has phytotoxic properties that wreak havoc on the cellular functions of plants by increasing salt content in the soil.
This essentially alters the soil's pH levels, which turns it into a hostile living condition for weeds like crabgrass. It impacts their ability to absorb vital nutrients and starves them.
When you apply baking soda directly to crabgrass, it removes essential moisture from the plant tissues. This dual action weakens the crabgrass until it can't sustain itself.
However, it's crucial to use baking soda judiciously, as it can also damage other plants that you'd like to keep. When applying, make sure you're only aiming at the crabgrass.
Your baking soda solution's potency will dictate how quickly it takes effect. Stronger concentrations of vinegar act faster, but come with a heightened risk for other plants.
Staying safe is paramount when using baking soda, so be sure to wear gloves to protect your skin from irritation before you start mixing any ingredients.