10 Homemade Weed Killers

Try organic gardening and lawn care the Cheapskate way: with cheap homemade weed killers, and no expensive pesticides. See how vinegar, boiling water, salt and other simple ingredients and techniques can tackle any weed problem.

By Jeff Yeager

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9. Eat Them

Many so-called weeds are edible and/or have medicinal uses. The young greens of dandelions (pictured), dock, chicory and other common "weeds" can be eaten raw in salads or cooked like fresh spinach. Chicory root is often added to coffee to enhance its flavor. Pick up a copy of the classic wild-foods field guide Stalking the Wild Asparagus by Euell Gibbons ($12 at amazon.com), and you may find yourself having weeds for dinner.

10. Learn to Love 'em:
One man's weed is another man's rose. If you can't beat ‘em, maybe you should just join ‘em, and appreciate weeds for the beautiful wonders of nature they truly are. Many weeds are native plants that Mother Nature intended to thrive in your area – that's why can be so hard to kill. Learning to love weeds is just a matter of expanding your cultural horizons. For example, in Japan, moss is cultivated and prized for use in landscaping, while in the U.S. and elsewhere, moss is commonly eradicated with chemical pesticides. And check this out, there's even a Dandelion Appreciation Society. Happy gardening!

Did you know? Dandelion greens are a superfood, packed with Vitamin K? Try them in Pasta with Dandelions and Prosciutto, this Beet and Dandelion Salad or other green salads.

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