Bulbs Flower Basics Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens Flower Garden Garden Furniture Garden Gnomes Garden Seeds Garden Sheds Garden Statues Garden Tools & Supplies Gardening Basics Green & Organic Groundcovers & Vines Growing Annuals Growing Basil Growing Beans Growing Berries Growing Blueberries Growing Cactus Growing Corn Growing Cotton Growing Edibles Growing Flowers Growing Garlic Growing Grapes Growing Grass Growing Herbs Growing Jasmine Growing Mint Growing Mushrooms Orchids Growing Peanuts Growing Perennials Growing Plants Growing Rosemary Growing Roses Growing Strawberries Growing Sunflowers Growing Thyme Growing Tomatoes Growing Tulips Growing Vegetables Herb Basics Herb Garden Indoor Growing Landscaping Basics Landscaping Patios Landscaping Plants Landscaping Shrubs Landscaping Trees Landscaping Walks & Pathways Lawn Basics Lawn Maintenance Lawn Mowers Lawn Ornaments Lawn Planting Lawn Tools Outdoor Growing Overall Landscape Planning Pests, Weeds & Problems Plant Basics Rock Garden Rose Garden Shrubs Soil Specialty Gardens Trees Vegetable Garden Yard Maintenance

Can Borax Kill Plants?

How to Start Lemon Seeds Indoors - watch on youtube
Can Borax Kill Plants?

Can Borax Kill Plants?. Borax is a chemical compound with the formula Na2B4O7, also known as sodium borate or sodium pyroborate. Among its other uses, borax can act as a herbicide to kill certain undesirable plants in your garden.

Borax is a chemical compound with the formula Na2B4O7, also known as sodium borate or sodium pyroborate. Among its other uses, borax can act as a herbicide to kill certain undesirable plants in your garden.
Function
Borax contains boron, which in trace quantities is an essential nutrient for plants. When levels in the soil climb too high, however, boron becomes toxic and can kill plants instead. Symptoms include yellow and brown spots near the edge of leaves, wilting stems and plant death.
Amount
The amount of borax to apply depends on the area and the kinds of weeds you're trying to control. The University of Minnesota Extension and the Iowa State University Extension both recommend mixing 10 oz. of borax in 4 oz. of water then diluting this solution in 2 1/2 gallons of water. The resulting mixture is enough to treat 1,000 square feet.
Warning
It's extremely important not to overapply borax. Not only can the borax kill other desirable plants like turf grass, but the excess boron may accumulate and linger in the soil for a long time, creating a "hot spot" where other plants cannot grow.

Check out these related posts