Orange oil is cheap here in Florida. Industrial strength vinegar is not so cheap. But the two combined make an effective “burn down” herbicide that is cost competitive with other more toxic synthetic vegicides.

Orange Oil 1 quart = 0.25 gallon

12% Ascetic Acid (Vinegar) 16 quarts = 4 gallons

Pure Water 11 quarts = 2.75 gallons

Total Volume = 28 quarts = 7 gallons per acre.

Burn down herbicides work by dissolving the waxy coating on cell walls. The cells leak water and die by dehydration.

Note: Burn down herbicides are not translocated; they will not move through a plant and do not kill roots. Perennial weeds with deep tap roots may require multiple applications.

Orange oil and vinegar herbicide works well on grasses and broadleaf weeds. For best results use fine mist nozzles and spray on a calm, sunny day. Herbicide may be used with roller-crimpers to kill mulch crops prior to no-till planting grains or vegetables.

To kill cover crops by crimping or mowing, the plants must be in their reproductive growth phase = 100% flowering or early seed filling. Sometimes it is not practical to wait this long if seasons or rotations are short. Where time is limited, it makes sense to use herbicides AND mowing or crimping to terminate mulch crops. This ensures a 100% kill rate for plants still in their vegetative growth phase.

It is good practice to use organic herbicides whenever practical. Synthetic vegicides are often more costly and have toxic side effects.

Related Publications: Organic Herbicides.

Other Articles of Interest: “Can Sunnhemp Outgrow Morning Glory?”; Crops Among the Weeds; Living Mulches for Weed Control; Managing Weeds as Cover Crops; Planting Maize with Living Mulches; Trash Farming; Weed Seed Meal Fertilizer; Wildcrafted Potatoes.

Would You Like to Know More? For more information on biological agriculture and weed control, please visit: http://www.worldagriculturesolutions.com — or — send your questions to: Eric Koperek, Editor, World Agriculture Solutions, 413 Cedar Drive, Moon Township, Pennsylvania 15108 United States of America — or — send an e-mail to: worldagriculturesolutions@gmail.com.

About the Author: Mr. Koperek is a plant breeder who farms in Pennsylvania in summer and Florida over winter. (Growing 2 generations yearly speeds development of new crop varieties).

Index Terms: Cover Crops; Herbicides; Mulch-in-Place; Orange = Citrus sinensis; Orange Oil; Vegicides; Vinegar = Ascetic Acid; Weed Control; Weed Killers.

Original Publication Date: June 2023 Venus, Florida.