- A wide variety of weed killers are available to homeowners for the control of lawn weeds and garden weeds. These compounds contain chemicals such as 2, 4-D that not only are toxic when ingested by animals but also can cause long-term health effects such as cancer, according to a "Baltimore Sun" article by Mike Klingaman. Use chemical herbicides only for extensive weed control, and allow at least 48 hours for the chemicals to dry before allowing animals or children onto the area.
- To avoid the problem of poisoning from animals eating grass and plants that were treated with chemical weed-killers, simply boil a large amount of water and pour onto the weeds individually. This method has been used for generations to kill weeds without adding toxic chemicals to the environment. Pour the water on as limited an area as possible, because the hot water will remove the protective coating on whatever plants it touches, causing it to deteriorate and die.
- Common household vinegar has been used as a weed killer for hundreds of years. Vinegar is a mild solution of acetic acid, which burns the protective, waxy coating on plants, causing them to dry out and die. Vinegar is sprayed or poured on weeds, taking care to keep the solution on the weed growth and not on other plants in the area. In two to three days, the weeds become brown and die. Vinegar is safe to use on lawn areas where animals sleep and play.
- Corn gluten meal is a byproduct of the corn processing industry. It is a nontoxic material that is spread on lawn areas as a preemergent herbicide to prevent weeds from germinating. It is applied in a powder or palletized form in early spring and later summer to deter weed germination and growth and is effective for five to six weeks. Corn gluten meal does not hurt animals when ingested. In fact, it is often used in commercially processed pet foods, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Corn gluten meal can be expensive to use for weed killing on large areas.
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