by Colaine Swaby

Created on: August 11, 2008   Last Updated: October 17, 2010

Even the Garden of Eden must have had a weed or two. It seems these nasty little nuisances creep up just about everywhere in every nook and cranny, peeping out through cracks in the driveway and sidewalks. They choke out our lawns and rob our plants of well needed sunlight and nutrients. Popular weeds include Dandelion, Ragweed, Thistle and Clover (except for the four leaf kind of course). But putting all jokes aside, weeds are very prolific, and very difficult to get rid of. So it is imperative that we get them under control.

For many of us, the most effective way to get rid of weeds quickly is by using herbicides. However, the use of these synthetic weed killers may not be the best way. The chemical compounds in these products can be very dangerous not just to us and our pets but may also poison the surrounding plants and grasses, not to mention contaminate the soil. So we end up not only killing the weeds but also ruining our lawns and gardens.

The most practical solution to this dilemma may be to use organic methods to control the weeds, one that does not inject unnatural chemicals into the environment. An organic weed killer is defined as that made from natural ingredients, without the use of any chemicals and without any of its ingredients being chemically altered.

We can try pulling out weeds by hand, though this method is quite tedious and labour intensive. You also have to ensure that you pull out every part of the weed including the roots or the weed will continue to grow and your efforts will be wasted. Perennial weeds, that is, weeds that reproduce by seed or by vegetative means such as rooting, may regenerate themselves even if only a part of the root survives after the weeds are pulled. If you do pull weeds, the only way to guarantee the plant won't come back is to ensure that the entire root system is removed. If done on a consistent basis the weeds eventually lose the ability to create enough food for their roots to continue to grow and they will die off. This method works best if you have a small garden or don't have a lot of weeds in your garden. However, if you have a large yard space this will be a backbreaking task.

Vinegar is said to be an effective method for killing weeds. Since vinegar is made from natural products it is considered biodegradable and is classifies as organic. Plant products such as grapes, malt, apples and sugar cane that decompose under anaerobic conditions produce vinegar naturally. The sugars from these crops are

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