Homemade Brush Killer

Brush is made up of a variety of annual and perennial shrubs, small plants and grasses. Because the plant life is so varied, it can be difficult to find an appropriate commercial herbicide to treat them. You must either purchase several different herbicides or use a non-selective one that may persist in the soil for quite some time. If you plan to re-plant the area, it may be a good idea to avoid commercial herbicides altogether. Luckily, a combination of vinegar and boiling water makes an effective and inexpensive homemade brush killer that will allow you to plant right after the brush has been cleared.

Step 1

Use the lopping shears to cut the brush back. By getting rid of some of the foliage, you can get better coverage for the steps that follow.

Step 2

Pour boiling water all over the area. This will cook and kill the foliage and most of the roots of almost any plant that it touches. The next day, clear off any dead foliage.

Step 3

Wait one to two weeks to see if anything grows back. If it does, spray it with vinegar that is 15 to 30 percent concentration, or simply pour it into the soil around the plants.

Step 4

Re-apply the vinegar at two-week intervals as necessary.

Retail products are available that are designed to kill brush and weeds, but the price tag on these products can often be quite high. Instead, consider making your own homemade brush killer. Pour one-half gallon of apple cider vinegar into a spray bottle, and spray the vinegar all over the brush, especially targeting the roots of the brush. Repeat this process once a day for an entire week, and the brush will die off on its own. This solution should not be used in gardens or where you plan to grow grass, as heavy amounts of salt in the soil will prevent vegetation from growing for several years. In a spray bottle, mix a solution of one gallon apple cider vinegar, and two cups of table salt.