There’s nothing worse than the emergence, or worse, the invasion of weeds in your garden. They pop out of nowhere only to rapidly take over your turf, crowding out your other plants in the process. Hence, it’s no surprise that we’re always looking for ways to eliminate them. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of solutions. And Jeyes Fluid is supposedly just one of them. But how effective is it? Let’s find out…
So will Jeyes Fluid kill weeds? Jeyes Fluid is an immensely strong solution and one that is more than capable of killing weeds of all varieties. However, its high chemical ingredient list means that using it with care is crucial. It also means that it’s not the most eco-friendly solution and could damage/kill other nearby plants if not used with caution.
For these reasons, it’s certainly worth being aware of exactly how you need to use it and all of your options when it comes to other potential weed-removal solutions.
So read on to explore all you need to know about the ability of Jeyes Fluid to kill weeds, alongside a bunch of alternative approaches that you may fancy instead.
How To Safely Use Jeyes Fluid To Kill Weeds
Protect Yourself
When handling chemicals, self-protection is non-negotiable.
If Jeyes Fluid comes into contact with your skin, you’re guaranteed irritation.
If it comes into contact with your eyes or even mouth, the damage will be much more severe.
Thus, handling it with care means wearing suitable attire. I recommend gloves, long sleeves, and long trousers.
A pair of safety glasses and a facemask wouldn’t go amiss too!
Dilution Is Key
Jeyes Fluid is meant to be diluted with water.
Its very packaging details the exact proportions, so are sure to follow the helpfully laid out instructions.
And don’t worry!
The dilution process doesn’t make it any less effective. Rather, reducing the concentration of chemicals you’ll be handling makes it a much safer process overall.
Plus, Jeyes Fluid is entirely effective when combined with water, so you’ll prevent unnecessary wastage too. A little certainly goes a long way!
Spray Rather Than Pour
Rather than pouring the Jeyes Fluid onto the weeds, it’s best to spray it.
Use a spray bottle to do so, and ensure that the nozzle setting is one of a streamlined spray as opposed to a mist.
Only then can you be as accurate as possible whilst applying the fluid to the weeds.
You’ll be able to aim well and avoid surrounding plants and wildlife.
This is important because, as with most chemical solutions, Jeyes Fluid is non-discriminatory.
It will happily harm anything it comes into contact with, be it plants, animals, or even humans.
Avoid Using In Bad Weather
Finally, don’t forget to check the weather forecast before you start spraying.
The best type of day to apply Jeyes Fluid to weeds is one that is calm and still.
More turbulent conditions, such as that of wind and rain, can impact your accuracy significantly.
In such conditions, the fluid is likely to drift away from the weeds and may even come straight back onto you. Don’t risk it!
How Long Does Jeyes Fluid Take To Kill Weeds?
It could take a day, a week, or several weeks for Jeyes Fluid to kill weeds.
Here, there is no real right answer. Rather, there are so many varieties of weeds, and they each have different levels of durability.
Therefore, naturally, some will take longer to kill than others.
Whilst Jeyes Fluid is likely to burn right through a delicate weed upon application; it will take longer for it to kill a more sturdy one.
Is Jeyes Fluid The Best Way To Remove Weeds?
Jeyes Fluid may be effective, but many gardeners are in agreement that there are far better ways to go about tackling those pesky weeds.
The chemical nature of Jeyes Fluid means that it’s not exactly an environmentally friendly solution, and why use something that could harm your garden, as well as any animals or even children who come into contact with it?
Things To Know When Using Jeyes Fluid To Kill Weeds
Be Patient
As previously mentioned, different weeds will require different levels of attention.
Some may die as soon as the Jeyes is applied, whereas others may require additional sprays over the course of a few weeks.
It’s a process, and you’ll need to be patient enough to follow through until you get your desired results.
Be Mindful of Surrounding Plants
Jeyes Fluid believes in equality.
It will harm everything it touches.
Whilst this can be beneficial if you’re dealing with generous clumps of weeds, it becomes trickier when your weeds are surrounded by plants that you would rather stay healthy and out of harm’s way.
The truth is that even when you spray the solution, you can’t guarantee 100 percent accuracy.
There’s a margin for error, and for your beloved plants, that margin may prove to be fatal.
Stay Safe
I can’t emphasize the importance of safety enough.
Do not allow the Jeyes Fluid to touch any part of your body.
To stay safe, cover up entirely when you’re handling it, and avoid spraying in adverse weather conditions.
Other Ways To Kill Weeds
If you’ve concluded that Jeyes Fluid isn’t right for you and your garden, below lies a list of alternative approaches to kill weeds.
They’re all effective in their own right, so go ahead and take your pick!
Herbicides
Store-bought herbicides are great!
Namely the organic ones that don’t pose a risk to the environment and are truly sustainable.
They’re easy to find, fairly affordable, and best of all, they exist in a preventative form too.
Rather than dealing with weeds that are already in existence, pre-emergent herbicides allow you to avoid their emergence altogether.
You’ll keep your garden perfectly clean and retain control. What could be better?
Vinegar
Vinegar, our very versatile friend, is a fantastic weed killer too.
When mixed with water and dish soap in a spray bottle, it can do wonders.
Simply spray the weeds with the vinegar solution, and soon enough, they’ll die.
It usually only takes a few days, but you can always respray if it seems to be taking longer.
By Hand
Rather than cutting your weeds with a lawnmower and risking their imminent regrowth, I recommend digging them out.
To aid you, there are several weed-pulling tools on the market.
They work by pulling out the weeds from their roots so you can be sure that they won’t return any time soon.
You’ll be left with peace of mind and a sense of accomplishment from a hands-on job well done.
Mulch Away!
Mulching protects your soil from the elements, allowing it to retain moisture and exist as the perfect home for your beloved plants.
The cherry on top? It can also prevent the growth of weeds.
If the layer of mulch is sufficiently thick, it will prevent any weeds from getting the light that they need to survive, let alone thrive.
Resultantly, the lack of sunlight will cause them to die and simultaneously become smothered by the mulch too. It’s a win-win situation all-round!
Other uses for Jeyes Fluid you may want to consider:
