How to Kill Weeds Permanently: 8 Natural Remedies + Herbicide Options

Posted on September 15, 2025

Is It Possible to Get Rid of Pesky Weeds for Good?

For homeowners who care about their yard, the most common frustration is with weeds. A lawn that’s completely free of weeds is the dream, but what kills weeds permanently? Nothing will prevent weeds from returning, but you can kill most weeds, and a thick turf prevents weeds from germinating as quickly.

For years, seeds can remain dormant in your soil, waiting for their chance to grow. However, you can gain long-term control. The goal is to disrupt their growth cycles and continuously keep them from establishing a foothold by fertilizing the turf to increase thickness and prevent sunlight from getting to seeds in the soil to germinate.

In addition to trusting the professionals at Fairway Lawns, you can more effectively fight back against weeds with the information below. Keep reading to learn more about eight natural remedies and an overview of herbicide options.

Can You Actually Kill Weeds Permanently?

Forever is a long time…and not 100% possible. After all, weed seeds are extremely resilient. A smarter approach is all about a long-term, sustained strategy. But what does that mean exactly?

First, you need to know your adversary. Second, you should select the right item for the task (a professionally applied herbicide or a homemade natural remedy). We don’t want to just eliminate what’s visible now. We want to stop what’s waiting to sprout tomorrow and the next day!

Natural Remedies to Kill Weeds

Perhaps you’re only dealing with a small patch in a garden bed or you’re not ready to use chemicals. Although these natural techniques have limitations, they can be surprisingly effective.

Vinegar-Based Weed Killers

The 5% acetic acid in household vinegar may not cut it. Horticultural vinegar (20–30% acetic acid) is the stronger stuff you need. Spray it directly on a sunny day after mixing it with a tablespoon of salt and a squirt of dish soap to help it adhere to the leaves. Since it’s a contact killer, deep roots might not be killed, but the foliage will be.

Salt Treatments

We know what you’re thinking: “Salt as a weed killer!?” Yes, you can kill a weed by placing a pinch of rock salt at its base. The problem is that salt sterilizes soil over time. Never use it in your garden beds or lawn unless you want nothing to grow there for months. It works great for driveways and in between pavers.

Boiling Water

The best solution is sometimes the most straightforward one. Weeds in your driveway or sidewalk cracks will be instantly scorched if you pour a kettle of boiling water directly on them. It works incredibly well on young weeds and is completely free of chemicals. Just be mindful of your flowers and grass!

Rubbing Alcohol or Vodka

It’s true! Weeds can be dried out with a spray bottle mixture that contains one ounce of vodka (or rubbing alcohol), two cups of water, and a few drops of dish soap. The alcohol exposes the plant’s waxy layer to the sun, so sunny days are ideal for this weed remedy to work well.

Flame Weeding

Yes, pyromaniacs, you can literally burn weeds to death with a propane torch. It’s ideal for expansive, non-flammable spaces like gravel pathways. Naturally, you should exercise caution, particularly during drier seasons or in fire-prone areas.

Corn Gluten Meal

Did you know that corn gluten meal is a naturally occurring byproduct that prevents seeds from germinating? Before weeds appear in the early spring, sprinkle it on your lawn. However, don’t use it in your vegetable garden or in areas you’ve just seeded because it stops seeds from sprouting.

Mulch, Newspaper & Cardboard

In garden beds, a thick layer of mulch halts growth and blocks light. When beginning a larger project, such as a new bed, first lay down cardboard or newspaper, wet it, and then mulch over it. Even the hardest weeds are suppressed beneath by this “sheet mulching” method.

Dense Turf & Ground Covers

Growing a thick, healthy lawn is the best natural approach to killing weeds (or crowding them out). Of course, watering, fertilizing, and mowing must be done correctly. You could also think about using dense ground covers in garden beds, such as Asiatic jasmine or liriope, which prevent weeds from growing.

Types of Weeds in the Southern U.S.

While weeds are a national annoyance, the exact types vary depending on where you live. It’s half the battle to know specifically what you’re up against. Here’s a brief list of the typical weeds in the southern U.S.

Dallisgrass: A hardy, clumping grassy weed that sticks out like a sore thumb and has a distinctive, coarse texture. It returns year after year because it’s perennial.

Nutsedge: A perennial pest that thrives in the area’s heat and humidity, nutsedge is one of the most common weeds in the South. Your clue is that distinctive triangular stem.

Crabgrass: A coarse, grassy annual that thrives in our long summers and full sun. It crowds out your nice grass by spreading out in a star-like pattern.

Dandelions: The well-known enemy with yellow flowers. They’re resilient due to deep taproots, and their puffballs guarantee that their seeds spread far and wide.

Spurge: A dense mat-forming, low-growing summer annual. This typical southern weed is frequently found in troubled lawn areas and grows best in full sun and poor, compacted soil.

Herbicide Options for Killing Weeds

For a serious weed infestation, natural remedies aren’t always sufficient. Herbicides can help with that. Our professional lawn care service truly shines in this area because of our knowledge and expertise in choosing and using the right product. However, knowing the fundamentals is still beneficial.

Pre-Emergent vs Post-Emergent Herbicides

Pre-Emergent: They prevent weed seeds from sprouting by forming a barrier in the soil. This proactive approach needs to be timed correctly, applying the herbicide before temperatures rise and weeds begin growing again.
Post-Emergent: These pertain to weeds that are already visible. They’re sprayed directly onto the leaves of weeds that are actively growing.

Selective vs. Non-Selective Herbicides

Selective Herbicides: These are designed to take out specific types of weeds without harming your desired turfgrass.
Non-Selective Herbicides: These will kill or damage almost any plant they touch. They’re best reserved for completely clearing an area, treating driveway cracks, or for careful, targeted spot-spraying. In short, they’ll kill grass, so they’re not recommended for use on turf.

Contact vs. Systemic Herbicides

Contact herbicides: These produce rapid results but occasionally fail to kill the root system because they only kill the parts of the plant that come into contact with them.
Systemic Herbicides: These give perennial weeds a more complete kill by being absorbed by the leaves and then moving down to the root system.

Regional & Seasonal Considerations

There’s no universal set of rules that applies to weeds. Your strategy is determined by your local climate, so the secret to true success is to customize your approach.

Cool-Season Lawns: The seasons are the key to your rhythm. The two main strategies for cool-season grasses are applying a spring pre-emergent before the soil reaches 55°F. Then overseed in the fall to naturally push weeds out with a thick, healthy turf.

Warm-Season Lawns: Weed pressure is an even bigger deal since the growing season for warm-season grasses is longer.

Dry Climates: Because a lack of rain won’t wash away vinegar or salt remedies, you run the risk of causing long-term soil damage. Although flame weeding works well, there’s a genuine fire risk, so caution is crucial.

Humid Climates: Everything grows quickly when there’s constant moisture. Pay attention to the physical obstacles. In garden beds, mulch is key for obstructing light. Soil solarization, which involves baking weeds under clear plastic, is a chemical-free method of cleaning your slate with the help of the sun.

Preventing Weeds From Coming Back

Permanent control is more about creating a self-defending lawn than landing a knockout blow. You want to create an environment in your yard that’s simply inhospitable to weeds.

The best defense against weeds? A healthy, thick lawn. Your home turf gives you an advantage. Because they’re opportunistic, weeds invade grass that’s weak or struggling. Your goal is to make your grass so dense and robust that weeds can’t survive. But how’s that done?

Regularly aerate and overseed. Strong grass outcompetes weeds naturally when the soil is healthy. It’s important to overseed thin areas because it keeps invaders out and encourages a thicker, more resilient lawn.

Mow higher. Increasing the height of your mowing (3″+) helps to shade the soil underneath it. As a result, weed seeds are unable to receive the sunlight they need to sprout. It’s a quick and easy method of warding them off.

Wise watering has a big impact. Just be sure to water sparingly but deeply. This promotes the development of strong, deep roots for your grass. Don’t sprinkle too often. Overwatering promotes shallow roots and provides the moist conditions that weeds prefer.

Early on, pull small weeds. Although it’s a tough task, it prevents them from dispersing thousands of seeds and causing a much more serious issue the following season.

Lastly, give your lawn some fertilizer. A healthy lawn has the vital nutrients required for thick growth and increased resistance to weed invasion. Buy fertilizing, you give your grass what it needs to more easily win the battle.

FAQs About Killing Weeds Permanently

What is the strongest herbicide?

There isn’t a single herbicide that’s considered the most powerful, but our EPA and state approved professional-grade herbicides are all extremely effective.

How do you kill weeds without harming grass?

In addition to the natural remedies we listed in this article, you can also hand pull weeds or use specially formulated herbicides.

Does vinegar kill weeds permanently?

No, vinegar doesn’t usually impact the root, so it allows weeds to grow back.

Can Dawn dish soap kill weeds?

Yes, a mixture with dish soap can dehydrate weeds, but it isn’t a permanent solution because these weeds can recover eventually.

Is bleach suitable to use on weeds?

Bleach kills weeds, but it’s also toxic, damaging almost anything it touches. It should only be used in non-plant areas where weeds are growing, such as between sidewalk cracks or pavers.

Ready for a Less Weedy Lawn?

There isn’t a single magic fix for long-lasting control. So what kills weeds permanently? It all comes down to combining effective, regular prevention with the appropriate knockout technique, be it a targeted herbicide or a natural cure.

Keep in mind that knowing the timing in your area and making a commitment to a healthy lawn will make the biggest difference. So get in touch with Fairway Lawns today! We proudly serve seven states and dozens of communities, ensuring high-quality lawn care and pest control services across the South: