White vinegar, a staple costing just 39p, can be used for more than cleaning kettles and windows. According to Mark Dwelly, Head Gardener at Audley Stanbridge Earls, the household ingredient is a useful tool for targeted garden tasks such as spot-weeding, cleaning tools, and freshening hard surfaces.
To kill weeds, mix one litre of water with white vinegar and a tablespoon of washing-up liquid. Apply directly onto weeds during hot, sunny weather for best results, as the acetic acid destroys and dehydrates them within 24 hours. Dwelly cautioned that vinegar should be treated as a precision tool and not sprayed carelessly in flower beds.
White vinegar can also deter pests like ants and cats. Soak cloths in vinegar and place them around the garden. For ants, apply on a dry, sunny day to disrupt their trails. The expert noted it is not a miracle cure but a useful helper.
For cleaning patios, mix vinegar and water in a 1:1 ratio. Apply, leave for 30 to 60 minutes, scrub with a stiff brush, and rinse. However, check that your patio material can withstand vinegar, as some may be damaged.
Gardening tools can be maintained by mixing equal parts vinegar and water to remove rust, which helps minimise soil-borne diseases. Additionally, white vinegar can acidify soil for plants like azaleas, blue hydrangeas, and blueberries by adding two tablespoons per litre of water, applied to the soil not the plants.
