Agapanthus, popularly known as the Lily of the Nile, is a weed plant with blue, purple, or white flowers.
Most households prefer not to get rid of the weed because of its beautiful appearance on lawns and gardens. On the other hand, gardeners may want to eliminate it because of its invasiveness or to make way for new plants.
Getting rid of agapanthus is easy with the help of vinegar, which is a multipurpose liquid at home.
Vinegar is also a better alternative to using chemical herbicides because it is less harsh to the environment and safer to use.
Here are tips on how to use vinegar to kill Agapanthus at home.
How to make vinegar weed killer
Aside from being an effective house cleaning disinfectant and stain remover, it is also great for killing weeds.
There are many types of vinegar in stores, and it is important to use the right one to kill the weeds in your garden.
The best vinegar for controlling weed is the regular white vinegar, which consists of 5% vinegar and 95% water.
The only drawback of using vinegar as a weed killer is that it is effective on small, annual weeds in the early stages of maturity. Furthermore, it requires more application to work best and eliminate all the weeds.
You can increase its effectiveness by adding 16 tablespoons of table salt and a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid for every gallon of white vinegar.
Mix them in a large spray bottle and stir the solution instead of shaking it to avoid forming bubbles.
There are certain drawbacks to using vinegar to kill weeds. They include:
- Vinegar can be hazardous when used in high concentrations.
- The mixture kills the top part of the weeds, which means you still have to uproot the roots to eradicate them.
- Using the mixture repeatedly can cause environmental damage and affect the soil’s condition, making it hard to grow other plants.
- Household vinegar is ineffective on mature, tall grass, weed, and perennials. The best way to get rid of tough perennial weeds is horticultural vinegar, a 20% vinegar solution.
NOTE: You need to drench the weeds’ roots in the solution during fall to eradicate them effectively.
Will Vinegar kill grass permanently?
The effects of vinegar depend on whether you want to get rid of the grass.
When it makes contact with grass, vinegar contains acid that burns its blades but does not kill it completely. However, if used continuously, the grass dries up and dies eventually.
How to use a vinegar solution on agapanthus
Concrete cracks on sidewalks, mulch, driveways, and gravel paths are the safest and most preferred places to apply or spray vinegar to kill Agapanthus roots.
This is because it is easy to spray vinegar on the weeds in these areas without getting it on your plants.
Ideal temperature
It would be best to spray it when the weather is sunny with temperatures of at least 70°F, as the chemicals will be effective when the weeds are actively photosynthesizing.
Safety precautions
Like other weed killers and chemical herbicides, you must follow safety precautions when using vinegar in high concentrations.
It is harmful and may burn your skin and damage your eyes on contact.
It’s best to spray Agapanthus while wearing gloves and goggles and keeping a distance between the spray and your face.
Application procedure
Spray or apply the solution using a paintbrush on the leaves to ensure the acetic acid dries or burns them out.
Vinegar works within 24 hours when used correctly, and unlike most herbicides, it is safe for children and pets after application.
Once you’ve sprayed or applied the vinegar, wait two weeks to spray it again.
Alternative ways of killing agapanthus
If using vinegar is not effective, there are three other methods you can try to get rid of Agapanthus:
1. Digging them up
Digging up Lily of the Nile with a spade works effectively on a small coverage. Next, dispose of the weeds after leaving them in the sun to dry and cover mulch on the areas that they covered.
Ensure that you dig out all the roots and rhizomes, as they are notorious for growing again from these parts. If you don’t dig all of them out, you’ll see the purple-flowered weed sprouting again after a few days.
2. Mowing Agapanthus
Another way to kill Agapanthus naturally is by mowing them, especially if they grow in a large area. The method is easier it requires less time and manpower.
Use a string trimmer and mow the plants down to the ground.
Repeat the procedure regularly to prevent the weed from growing again. The roots will lack foliage, starve, and eventually die within a few weeks.
3. Using herbicides
Getting rid of herbs manually requires a lot of time and energy –resources that many people don’t have. In this case, you can use herbicides as they kill weeds in a shorter span than vinegar.
Herbicides should be the last solution to opt for if mowing, digging, or vinegar does not work on Agapanthus.
They can also be used on large portions of Lily of the Nile, especially gardens. The preferred herbicide for Agapanthus is glyphosate, which kills it effectively within two weeks.
Carla is a student pursuing a B.S in Agricultural Systems Technology. With a passion for landscaping for over 4 years, Carla loves plants. She has previously contributed to several other sites in the space before joining InsightWeeds.