Most gardeners find goutweed a nuisance, because the perennial herb has a tendency to proliferate. But you should not fight it with vinegar.
Vinegar as a home remedy for combating weeds, voles and mold has now firmly established itself in and around the garden. And why not, because the acid is cheap and extremely effective. But there are also disadvantages, namely that vinegar changes the pH of the soil and, above all, together with salt, can only be mixed by professionals or used in the garden.
It is better not to fight goutweed with vinegar
Fighting goutweed with vinegar is not always a good idea. © MBerg/Imago
There are many ways to get rid of goutweed from the garden: You can drive away the perennial herb by targeted mulching, the application of fleece or by growing other plants such as potatoes. Very few people know that you can also eat the umbelliferous plant: For example, in soups or pesto, the spicy taste comes into its own.
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However, if you come up with the idea of fighting goutweed with vinegar, you should reconsider it for the following reasons:
- Although acetic or ethanoic acid has a corrosive and antibacterial effect at the same time and is suitable for controlling weeds, it is a remedy that, even when diluted, is still suitable for killing other plants whose growth you actually want to promote.
- According to the Plant Protection Act, only mixtures that are specifically approved for use are permitted.
- As soon as it rains, the vinegar then gets into your own garden and also pollutes the groundwater in higher concentrations.
- Salt, which is often used together with vinegar, changes the nutrient content in the soil, which is already contaminated by road salt in winter.
It is better to simply pluck out the goutweed or remove it permanently with the help of sunlight.