Staff Reports
Natural weed control in New Mexico requires tackling invasive species such as the Russian thistle (tumbleweed) and bindweed while navigating drought conditions and alkaline soils.
Safe, non-chemical approaches include hand-pulling, laying thick organic mulches, or using natural contact herbicides (e.g., acetic acid or citrus oils).
HOMEMADE ORGANIC WEED KILLER
A highly effective, non-toxic DIY recipe popularized by gardening experts tested in agricultural regions includes white vinegar, salt, and liquid dish soap.
1 gallon of white vinegar (household 5% is standard, but you can use horticultural vinegar up to 20-30% for hardier weeds)
1 cup of salt (regular table salt or Epsom salts work well)
1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap (such as Dawn, which acts as a surfactant to help the mixture stick to the weed leaves)
Strictly target the weeds. Vinegar and salt act as non-selective herbicides and will damage any desirable plants they touch.
Time it correctly. Apply on hot, sunny, and calm days. The heat and sunlight accelerate the breakdown of the plant’s cell walls, helping the vinegar dehydrate the weed within hours.
Avoid rain runoff. Because New Mexico soils can be alkaline, applying salt-heavy mixtures near other plants requires caution. Do not use salt mixtures directly before a heavy storm to prevent salt from washing into surrounding landscapes and contaminating the soil.
If you prefer not to mix your own solution, the New Mexico State University Extension Service notes that retail alternatives containing naturally derived herbicidal soaps, fatty acids, and plant-derived oils (such as clove or mint) are highly effective.
HOW TO REMOVE SPECIFIC WEEDS
Goatheads are low-growing, mat-forming weeds famous for their painful, tire-popping stickers.
Below, find three methods for how to remove them:
The Taproot Pull: Wear thick, leather gardening gloves and pull them straight up from the center taproot. This is easier when the soil is slightly damp.
The Carpet Trick: If stickers have already fallen onto the ground, press a scrap piece of old carpet or a foam block onto the dirt. The burrs will stick to it, allowing you to lift them away easily.
The Spray: Use the horticultural vinegar (20-30% acetic acid) mixture. Standard 5% kitchen vinegar is rarely strong enough to penetrate a goathead’s tough, waxy leaves. Spray directly on the center crown on a hot, sunny afternoon.
Tumbleweeds are rounded, bushy weeds that break off at the stem when dry to roll and scatter thousands of seeds.
Below, find three methods for how to remove them:
Early slicing: Cut the plant off at or just below the soil surface using a sharp hoe while it is still young, green, and soft. Once it grows large, it becomes prickly and difficult to manage.
The Spray: Tumbleweeds are highly resilient. Spray young green plants with a citrus oil or d-limonene commercial herbicide, or the high-strength horticultural vinegar mixture.
Bagging: Never let pulled tumbleweeds sit in a pile. Bag them immediately in heavy-duty trash bags so they don’t dry out, break loose, and spread seeds across your property.
CRUCIAL TREATMENT RULES FOR BOTH WEEDS
Act Before Flowering: Both weeds must be destroyed before they produce yellow flowers or burrs. Once they seed, natural sprays will kill the plant but leave the seeds viable for years.
Flame Weeding: For gravel driveways or dirt areas away from dry brush, a propane weed torch is highly effective. It instantly boils the water inside the young plants and sterilizes any shallow seeds on the soil surface. Always be careful with flames!
Disposal: Don’t compost either weed. Always place them into a sealed trash bag to prevent re-infestation.
