That headline is misleading.
No household spray or natural mixture can reliably burn weeds in one day and ensure they never grow again. Here’s why:
- Vinegar, salt, or boiling water can scorch the leaves quickly—sometimes within 24 hours—but they often don’t kill the roots, so many weeds regrow.
- Salt can damage the soil, making it difficult for desirable plants to grow for a long time. It’s generally not recommended for garden beds.
- Commercial herbicides may kill weeds more effectively, but even they don’t guarantee weeds “never grow again.” New weeds can sprout from seeds already in the soil or blow in from elsewhere.
If your goal is long-term weed control:
- Pull or dig out perennial weeds, including as much of the root as possible.
- Apply 2–4 inches (5–10 cm) of mulch to suppress new weeds.
- Remove weeds before they produce seeds.
- For stubborn infestations, use an appropriate herbicide according to the label, if you choose that approach.
A more accurate headline would be:
“This can make weeds wilt within a day—but preventing them from coming back requires removing the roots and stopping new seeds from germinating.”
