White vinegar and salt need one other item to kill gravel weeds 'for good'

Homeowners battling the invasion of on their gravel drives have found a saviour in the form of a homemade concoction, as shared by . The common culprits range from grassy nuisances like henbit and purslane to the stubborn broadleaf or dandelion, all of which seem quite content to make a home amongst the decorative stones.

The good news is that there's no need to resort to store-bought weed killers laden with harsh chemicals, as gardeners reveal the power of white vinegar and salt. One curious gardener sought advice on how to deploy these kitchen staples against the unwanted green guests, asking for some guidance.

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Carley Meadow enquired: "Hi, I've got white vinegar and salt. How do you apply them to weeds on a gravel driveway? Are they mixed together?"

To ensure the effectiveness of white vinegar and salt on those pesky gravel weeds, aficionados stress the importance of adding washing up liquid to the mix, reports .

Jennifer Hill advised: "You must add washing-up liquid to it for the salt and vinegar to stick to the weeds."

Echoing this sentiment, Mike Turner suggested: "Mix the vinegar and salt with dish soap as that's what helps them grab onto the weeds and kill them for good."

Anne Rodgers also chimed in, saying: "Salt, vinegar and washing up liquid. They say the soap clings to the weeds, kills them quicker."

For those ready to whip up their own batch of weed assassin, Peter Laing provided precise proportions: "One gallon of white vinegar, one cup of salt and one tablespoon of dish soap.

"Spray directly onto weeds. This is for areas such as gravel drives and patio paths only as it poisons the soil."

As with any new treatment, gardeners might want to test it first. Before applying the soap solution to a large area, test it on a small area to ensure it doesn't cause any unintended damage.

This homemade weed killer recipe works best on a dry sunny day and should be applied at midday, or just before, when the sun is at its peak.

Before you start, give the weed a shake to remove any insects on the plant to avoid harming them. For small weeds and younger dandelions spray the solution directly onto the leaves.

For larger, more well-established weeds, spray the leaves and also pour a good amount of the solution onto the plant. Gardeners should notice the weeds beginning to wilt within an hour.