Are you looking for an alternative solution to your weed problem? If so, you have probably come across several suggestions, perhaps one of them being gasoline. While it is predominantly a fuel source, it has been used by many people as an alternative weed control mechanism for several years.
However, the question you need to ask yourself before using it is whether it works. Below, we take a look at how gasoline affects plants and whether or not you can use it to kill weeds.
Will gas kill weeds?
What does gasoline do to plants in general? It is a toxic chemical substance that harms any plants it comes into contact with. The part of the plant it affects most is the foliage, where it burns the leaves once it comes into contact with them.
On top of that, gasoline hinders the photosynthesis process that occurs in the leaves, due to its oily nature. This, combined with the burning of the foliage, makes it an excellent weed control agent.
How to use gasoline to control weeds?
There are two ideal methods of weed control by the use of gasoline. These are:
- Spraying on plant leaves
- Mixing with herbicides
Spraying it on the foliage of weed plants
Gasoline is harmful to all types of plants. It can also poison the soil, making it unsuitable for growing other beneficial plants.
Therefore, you must apply it carefully to avoid harming other plants. The best way to do it is to spray gasoline directly to the foliage of the weed plants using a sprayer.
On top of that, you should do it during a dry day (not rainy or excessively windy) to avoid harming other plants or poisoning the soil. You should also avoid watering the sprayed area for a day or two; this helps to prevent a runoff.
It is also important to note that diesel has the same effect as gasoline on plants. Therefore, you can use either gas or diesel for weeds.
Mixing it with herbicides and spraying weeds
Another excellent method is to mix it with herbicides. This gives you the benefit of two weed killers. On top of that, gasoline helps the herbicide to stick on the foliage longer, thus increasing its absorption.
As a result, it is absorbed more efficiently into the stem and roots. On the other hand, the gas-herbicide mixture remains on the leaves, destroying them.
Gasoline and diesel mixtures for weeds are thus preferred by some people, as opposed to mixing herbicides with water. They are also cost-effective than spraying gasoline or diesel alone.
How long does it take for gasoline to kill weeds?
Gasoline and diesel are fast-acting agents due to their toxic nature, which is harmful to plants. When applied the right way, they can burn off the foliage in a few days. Consequently, this will end up killing the weed plants in a matter of weeks.
When this happens, you should then carefully collect the dead plants and dispose of them away from your garden. This will prevent the poisoning of the soil by the remaining gasoline.
However, you should note that gas or diesel alone cannot be absorbed by stems and roots. Therefore, weed plants that have vigorous roots could potentially survive and grow new foliage. However, adding herbicides could help to completely kill the weeds off.
Conclusion
Killing weeds with diesel fuel or gasoline is a viable and effective solution. However, before using them, you should understand that they could potentially harm other plants, or even damage your soil. Therefore, you should use them with care and consideration.

IW’s Chief Editor and a lover of green spaces.