Walnut leaves. Our grandmothers used them to control weeds

Walnut leaves are among the traditional garden waste that accumulates every fall. Many of us struggle with what to do with these leaves, which are quite bulky. The main debate centers on whether these leaves belong in the compost or not. Most often, these leaves are placed in organic waste and hauled to landfills. Burning them is definitely not recommended these days. In the past, it was a common practice; smoke rose from many gardens. However, walnut leaves can also be used in other ways. Our ancestors already used them. How? To eliminate weeds growing between pavers.

How do walnut leaves help control weeds?

Walnut leaves contain a valuable substance called juglone. It is this substance that helps fight weeds. All you need to do is simply extract it from the walnut leaves. No, there’s no need to crush the walnut leaves between the paving stones. It’s more than enough to prepare a sort of walnut tea from them in a very simple way. However, you’ll also need 2 liters of distilled white vinegar. The combination of these two substances can literally work wonders on weeds.

Photo: Radek Stepan

How to make a weed killer from walnut leaves

It’s very simple. First, prepare an infusion from walnut leaves. Collect a few walnut leaves and simmer them in water just as you would when making regular tea. Nothing complicated. Let this tea cool, then strain it. In a large container, mix the infusion with 2 liters of distilled white vinegar. Ideally, add a few drops of dish soap to the mixture. Then pour the solution into a spray bottle.

Tip: What to do with walnut leaves? There are plenty of ideas.

Proper use of the homemade solution

Apply the mixture to the pavers on a sunny day, ideally when there’s no wind. It must be applied directly to the weeds growing in the pavers. Be very careful not to spray the surrounding plants and grass, as the solution will affect them as well. Let the solution sit on the pavers for at least 30 minutes. The vinegar kills the weeds, and the juglone should prevent them from growing back in the joints. After the 30 minutes, scrub the pavers with a brush to remove the dead plant debris.

Sources: Author, Meta https://www.aazdravi.cz/nase-babicky-si-z-plevelu-nic-nedelaly-dokazaly-se-ho-totiz-nadobro-zbavit-jednoduchym-figlem-s-mydlem/, https://www.dumazahrada.cz/clanek/plevel-dlazba-sul-soda-ocet-kartac.html

Preview photo: Chat Day