When most people hear the word citric acid, they think of delicious, sour citrus fruits and therefore assume that this product is of natural origin and therefore environmentally friendly. In the following article we look at the effect of citric acid on plants and why this product is not as unproblematic for the ecosystem as one might think.
Is citric acid effective against weeds and environmentally friendly?
Citric acid can successfully kill weeds, but it has a negative effect on the pH of the soil and the ecosystem. Therefore, the use of citric acid as a weed killer is not recommended and there are more environmentally friendly alternatives such as mechanical weeding or hot water treatments.
What is citric acid
Citric acid, which must be declared as E330 in foods, is an industrially produced product. It is added to fruit juices but also confectionery or jam. Liquid or crystalline citric acid is used to descale household appliances.
Frequently recommended home remedy for weeds
Citric acid, as its name suggests, contains a lot of acid. Dissolved in water and sprayed on weeds, the product reliably causes the plants to die.
However, you should refrain from using it, because like vinegar and s alt, applying citric acid is in no way ecologically sensible and can cause great damage.
The Plant Protection Act prohibits its use
Citric acid has a negative effect on the pH value of the soil. Soil organisms can no longer survive in the resulting acidic environment. As a result, humus formation 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 spread the product on green areas, you will find yourself in a difficult legal situation and may have to expect high pen alties.
Environmentally friendly alternatives
There are many ways to remove weeds that are significantly more environmentally friendly than citric acid:
- Mechanical weeding with weed cutter (€8.00 on Amazon), goat's foot or pendulum hoe.
- You can kill individual weed plants on paved surfaces with hot water.
- You can tackle wild plants growing in the cracks of paving slabs with a joint scraper, a flame burner or a high-pressure cleaner.
- Weed fleece or newspaper as a weed barrier in the beds ensure that the planted areas remain weed-free.
Tip
If you are annoyed by lawn weeds, it is worth investing a little time in lawn care. Through regular mowing and occasional fertilizer applications, the greenery forms such a dense scar that wild herbs can no longer colonize.
