If you're like many people who like their yard to look beautiful, weeds are something you are very familiar with. However, you may not be aware of any natural, nontoxic ways to deal with them, so that you don't have to worry when your children or pets play in the yard. Here are some ideas to help.

Boil Some Water

One of the easiest things you can do to kill weeds in your yard is to use boiled water to kill them. Boil some water in a kettle, and pour it onto weeds. The extreme temperature of the water will kill them.

It is important to note that boiling water doesn't discriminate between weeds, grass or other plants. Therefore, be sure not to touch any other plants with the boiled water; that way, you can preserve those while killing the weeds.

Try Baking Soda

Sodium bicarbonate, more commonly referred to as baking soda, can be used to handle weeds that sprout up through cracks in your cement walkway or path. Simply sweep or pour a bit of baking soda into the crack where the weeds are growing, and the sodium in the baking soda will affect the soil structure and the ability of the weeds to absorb water, causing them to wither and die.

Use Alcohol

Vodka, gin and other spirits may be effective in stunting the growth of plant leaves and stems, so pouring a little diluted alcohol directly onto your weeds might stop them from growing any further. Vodka in particular may disrupt the coating on leaves that prevents them from blocking out the sun and they dry up as a result.

Use a Shower Curtain

Sometimes, you can handle weeds by ignoring them completely. If you're working in an area where you plan to put down mulch or wood chips, an easy way to make sure that weeds don't poke through is to use a plastic shower curtain. Simply arrange the shower curtain flat on top of the soil, and put down your wood chips or mulch. Without sun and water, the weeds are likely to die underneath the shower curtain.

Now that you have some ideas about how to handle garden weeds, use the information above to see what works best for you. You may also consider getting in touch with local landscapers for more ideas about how you can keep your garden free from weeds throughout the year. 

To learn more, contact a company like Snyder's Weed Control.