What is citric acid
Citric acid, which has to be declared as E330 for food, is an industrially manufactured product. It is added to fruit juices but also to confectionery or jam. Liquid or crystalline citric acid is used to decalcify household appliances.
also read
- Kill weeds with herbicides
- Destroying weeds with cola - does it work?
- Does road salt help against weeds and is it allowed to use it?
Frequently recommended home remedies for weeds
Citric acid, as its name suggests, contains a lot of acid. Dissolved in water and sprayed on weeds, the agent reliably perishes the plants.
Nevertheless, you should refrain from using it, because like vinegar and salt, the application of citric acid is by no means ecologically sensible, but can cause great damage.
The Plant Protection Act prohibits its use
Citric acid has a negative effect on the pH of the soil. Soil organisms can no longer survive in the resulting acidic environment. As a result, the formation of humus is inhibited. In addition, acidic soil can absorb fewer nutrients and pollutants and the entire soil structure is destroyed.
The use of citric acid is even prohibited by law on paved surfaces. If you use the product on green spaces, you will find yourself in a difficult legal situation and may face high fines.
Environmentally friendly alternatives
There are many ways to remove weeds that are significantly more environmentally friendly than citric acid:
- Mechanical weeding with a weeding cutter, goat foot or pendulum hoe.
- You can put an end to individual weeds on paved surfaces with hot water.
- Wild plants growing in the cracks of pavement slabs can be tackled with a joint scraper, a flame scarfing device or a high-pressure cleaner (€ 89.00 at Amazon *).
- Weed fleece (€ 28.90 at Amazon *) or newspaper as a weed barrier in the beds ensure that the planted areas remain weed-free.
Tips
If you get annoyed about lawn weeds, it pays to invest a little time in lawn care. With regular mowing and the occasional application of fertilizer, the green forms such a dense scar that wild herbs can no longer settle.
