Kill Dollarweed With Baking Soda

If you’re tired of seeing dollarweed take over your lawn and garden beds, you might be looking for a safe, natural way to get rid of it. One popular home remedy is to kill dollarweed with baking soda, and it can be a surprisingly effective spot treatment.

This common kitchen ingredient offers a chemical-free alternative to harsh herbicides. It’s easy to apply and won’t harm pets or children once it’s settled. Let’s look at how it works and the best way to use it for lasting results.

Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, works as a desiccant on dollarweed. In simple terms, it draws moisture out of the leaves and stems it directly touches. Dollarweed has very thin, tender foliage, which makes it susceptible to this drying effect.

The high sodium content also disrupts the plant’s internal balance. It’s not a systemic killer, meaning it won’t travel through the roots. Instead, it burns the foliage it contacts, which can kill the plant by preventing it from photosynthesizing.

Why Choose Baking Soda Over Other Methods?

Many gardeners prefer starting with baking soda for a few key reasons. First, it’s incredibly affordable and you probably already have some in your pantry. Second, it’s a much safer option if you have pets or wildlife that frequent your yard.

Chemical herbicides can sometimes leach into soil or water sources. Baking soda breaks down naturally and poses minimal enviornmental risk. It’s perfect for treating small patches or weeds growing in cracks on patios and walkways.

Cost-Effective: A box of baking soda costs very little compared to commercial weed killers.
Immediate Availability: No trip to the garden center is needed.
Safety: Safe around pets and kids after application dries.
Precision: Allows you to target only the weed without spraying desirable plants.

When Baking Soda is Most Effective

This method works best on young, actively growing dollarweed. The thinner leaves are more easily damaged. It’s also ideal for spot treatments in lawns where you want to avoid grass damage or in paved areas.

For large, established infestations covering big sections of your lawn, baking soda might not be the complete solution. It’s a fantastic tool for maintenance and controlling small outbreaks. Consistency is key, as you may need multiple applications.

How to Apply Baking Soda to Dollarweed

For the best results, follow these steps carefully. Timing and technique really matter to make this natural remedy work.

Pick the Right Time: Apply on a warm, dry, sunny day. Rain will wash the baking soda away before it can work, and sunshine accelerates the drying effect.
Prepare the Weed: If the dollarweed has dew or is wet from recent watering, let it dry first. Moisture will turn the baking soda into a paste that doesn’t stick as well.
Apply Generously: Sprinkle a heavy, even layer of baking soda directly onto the leaves and center of the dollarweed patch. You want to completly coat the foliage so it looks dusty white.
Avoid Drift: Be careful not to get significant amounts on surrounding grass or plants you want to keep. Using your hand or a shaker bottle close to the weed helps.
Let it Sit: Do not water the area. Allow the baking soda to sit for at least 24-48 hours. You should see the treated leaves begin to brown and wilt within a day.
Remove Dead Foliage: Once the dollarweed is brown and crispy, you can gently rake it out. This helps prevent it from decomposing and smothering your grass.

Important Precautions and Tips

While safe, baking soda can affect your soil’s pH if used in massive quantities repeatedly. It’s slightly alkaline. Avoid over-applying in the same small spot of garden soil where you grow other plants.

On your lawn, the effected area of grass might yellow slightly if it gets coated. It should recover with a good watering after the treatment period is over. Always test a small, inconspicuous area first if your worried.

Don’t apply before heavy rain.
Use it as a spot treatment, not a broad-scale lawn spray.
Reapply in 7-10 days if you see new dollarweed sprouts emerging.
For weeds in cracks, you can sweep excess baking soda into the crevice for better contact.

Understanding Your Enemy: Dollarweed Basics

To control dollarweed effectively, knowing a little about it helps. Its official name is Hydrocotyle spp., and it’s a perennial broadleaf plant. It thrives in moist, poorly drained soils and often appears in overwatered lawns.

The name comes from its round, coin-shaped leaves that have a scalloped edge. A single stem attaches in the center of the leaf, like a tiny umbrella. It spreads primarily through an aggressive network of rhizomes and tubers underground.

This is why killing the top growth with baking soda might not be a permanent fix. The underground system can send up new shoots. That’s why follow-up applications and improving lawn health are crucial for long-term control.

Preventing Dollarweed From Returning

Killing the existing weeds is only half the battle. To stop dollarweed from comming back, you need to make your lawn less inviting to it.

Improve Drainage: Aerate your lawn annually to reduce soil compaction. This allows water to drain better instead of creating puddles.
Adjust Watering: Water your lawn deeply but less frequently. This encourages grass roots to grow deep, while dollarweed prefers constant surface moisture.
Mow Higher: Set your mower blade to 3-4 inches. Taller grass shades the soil, making it harder for dollarweed seeds and runners to establish.
Fertilize Appropriately: A healthy, thick lawn is the best defense. Use a balanced fertilizer to promote strong grass growth that crowds out weeds.

FAQ: Your Baking Soda and Dollarweed Questions

Will baking soda kill dollarweed roots?
Baking soda primarily kills the foliage it touches. It can weaken the plant, but the deep roots and tubers may survive. Repeated applications are needed to exhaust the root system as new leaves try to grow.

How long does it take for baking soda to kill weeds?
You will usually see wilting and browning within 24 hours. The weed is often completely dead to the ground in 2-3 days, depending on the size and weather conditions.

Is baking soda better than vinegar for killing dollarweed?
Both are contact herbicides. Vinegar (horticultural grade) acts faster but is non-selective and can harm soil biology. Baking soda is slightly more selective and gentler on soil, but may require more applications. They can be used in combination for a stronger effect.

Can I mix baking soda with water to spray on dollarweed?
It’s not recommended. A wet spray doesn’t stick to the leaves as well as a dry powder, which needs to coat the foliage to work effectively. A paste can be used for individual weeds but is more tedious.

Will baking soda hurt my soil?
Used occasionally as a spot treatment, the impact on overall soil pH is negligible. However, heavy, repeated use in garden beds could make the soil more alkaline over time, which affects nutrient availability.

What if the dollarweed grows back?
This is common due to its persistent roots. Simply reapply the baking soda to the new growth as soon as you see it. Consistency, combined with better lawn care practices, will eventually reduce or eliminate the problem.

Final Thoughts on This Natural Method

Using baking soda to kill dollarweed is a useful trick for any gardener’s toolkit. It’s a safe, accessible, and inexpensive first line of defense against this common invader. Remember, it works best on small patches and when used as part of a broader lawn care strategy.

For the best success, apply it correctly on a sunny day and be prepared for a follow-up treatment. By also improving your lawn’s drainage and health, you address the root cause of the problem. This one-two punch gives you a natural path to a cleaner, greener yard without reaching for harsh chemicals right away.