Natural Grass Killer Ingredients

Killing the grass doesn't mean adding harmful chemicals to your soil.

Killing the grass doesn't mean adding harmful chemicals to your soil.

Healthy, full lawns are attractive and sought after by homeowners, but sometimes grass can be a nuisance. Grass growing in the cracks of your driveway or sidewalk can develop root systems that weaken the cement and make your yard look unkempt. Grasses also can creep into your flower beds. However, there are some natural ways to kill the grass without using harmful chemicals.


One of the ingredients in vinegar is acetic acid, which is helpful when trying to kill grass and weeds. White vinegar can work, but pickling vinegar contains more acid and works faster. Pour the vinegar over the grass on a day when rain isn't scheduled. Bright sun helps the vinegar burn the grass blades, keeping the grass from getting the nutrients it needs. If the grass hasn't started to die after two days, reapply the vinegar. Keep the vinegar away from the leaves of plants you want to keep, because it can kill them as well as the grass.


Salt is a powerful plant killer, drawing water out of the plant and choking it. Sprinkle regular table salt or rock salt over the grass you want to kill, and water it in. You can also mix one part salt with two parts water in a spray bottle, and spray it over your grass. This is best for areas where you don't want grass to grow again, such as cracks in your driveway. Salt leaches into the soil and stays there for years, and it can keep other plants as well as grass from growing there.


Citrus oils, such as orange or lemon, have high acidity levels that can kill your grass. Use straight or concentrated lemon juice or a concentrated citrus oil, and pour it directly over the grass, then reapply daily as necessary to kill the grass. This breaks down quickly, allowing you to plant something else in the area soon after removing the dead grass. For a stronger solution, mix 4 ounces of citrus juice or oil in 1 quart of white or cider vinegar to create a strong acidic solution that works quickly on unwanted grass.


Water is necessary for grass survival, but boiling water can kill it. Pour boiling water over the unwanted grass to burn and shrivel the blades and shock the roots. This usually requires one or two applications to kill the grass. It leaves no residue in the soil, but handle the water with care; it can burn your skin as easily as it burns the grass.

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