Coconut Oil: Killing Weeds in the Garden the Organic Way

You heard that right: coconut oil may be used as a gentle yet potent weed killer in your garden.

Are you looking for a cheap, poison-free, and safe weed killer to bust those annoying weeds in your garden? The ever-versatile coconut oil is the answer.

READ: Coconut Waste Could be Used for Cheaper Biodiesel and Bioethanol Production

Benefits of Coconut Oil

Coconut oil contains many fatty acids: caprylic acid, pelargonic acids, and nonanoic acid, which works well as a weed killer.

The fatty acids inhibit the ability of the weed to photosynthesize and eliminate waste through transpiration.

Moreover, coconut oil has sodium lauryl sulfate, which works as a surfactant, allowing the coconut oil to stick to the weed after application.

The good news is, unlike the commercial herbicides available in the market, coconut oil does not cause harm to the soil, is not a threat to water supply, and is neither a danger to the air that we breathe.

On the other hand, commercial herbicide like herbicides containing glyphosate has been linked to cancer development after many years of use.

How does coconut oil work as a herbicide?

Commercial systemic herbicides get absorbed by the plant, thus killing the weed from the inside.

On the one hand, coconut oil kills the weed differently: It coats the target weed's outer skin. The weed then reacts with the waxy outer membrane and then dissolves it, preventing it from retaining moisture. Eventually, the weed withers and then dies.

Preparing a Coconut Oil Herbicide

Preparing a coconut oil herbicide is easy. All you need is, of course, coconut oil and cheap vegetable oil. Here are the steps:

1. Measure equal parts of vegetable oil and coconut oil

2. Pour these oils in a saucepan on low heat. Apply heat until the oil is liquefied.

3. Remove the saucepan from heat.

4. Whisk the vegetable oil and coconut oil until the mixture appears uniform.

5. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle. Let it cool.

6. After cooling, the oils are expected to separate. Shake the bottle well before spraying the solution to the weed. Viola! You have an organic weed killer.

Heads Up When Spraying the Weed Killer

Spray the coconut solution into the weed until all the weeds are thoroughly drenched with the coconut oil herbicide. The coconut oil solution must be applied daily for at least two weeks or until the weeds wilt, depending on how "tough" the weeds are.

When the weeds wilt, the application may be stopped. Pull the weeds out, including the roots, as soon as it is wilted.

The spot where the weeds grew must be sprayed two or three times with the coconut oil solution to eliminate root fragments that may cause its regrowth.