Straight Clorox bleach has a reputation for killing everything from bacteria on up. This includes plants of all kinds including grass and weeds. As Clorox bleach is so cheap and easy to find in nearly every household or neighborhood grocery store, could it make a cost-effective impromptu weed killer? Will it kill grass, weeds, and other problem plants? Can you stop the harmful effects of bleach if you spill some on your lawn? No matter which situation you’re in, you can find the answers you need in the article below.
Will Clorox Kill Grass?
Yes, Clorox will kill grass no matter what type of grass you’re talking about. Clorox bleach can kill weeds and grass permanently. However, the caveat is that you need to use straight, undiluted classic Clorox bleach. Outdoor bleach and other specialty Clorox products are of an entirely different product type and may not even contain “true” bleach or sodium hypochlorite.
What Will Clorox Do to Your Lawn?
Bleach, or sodium hypochlorite, whether Clorox or another brand, will all have the same effects. Clorox bleach will burn plants when applied directly. Bleach is high in chlorine, something plants find beneficial in microdoses but that can quickly overwhelm a plant’s system in the doses found in household bleach. When overwhelmed, that plant will no longer absorb or process nutrients efficiently, starving the plant.
Clorox is also highly corrosive due to its high pH of about 12.5. A pH this high makes it almost impossible for plant seeds to germinate or for plants to grow normally. The good thing about Clorox bleach is that it breaks down quickly in soil and doesn’t tend to alter the pH of the soil by much.
However, Clorox bleach essentially breaks down into salt and water. As we all know, salt kills plants and prevents plant growth. While not an issue if the bleach is only used annually as normal rainfall will dilute the sodium content of the soil and effectively wash it away, bleach used too often will allow sodium to build up in the soil and may kill your lawn or prevent plant growth in certain spots.
Will Diluted Clorox Kill Grass?
Diluted Clorox is much safer for use on grass. Bleach is often used in the power washing process to rid the siding on houses of mold, mildew, and moss. Due to the dilution, the bleach is neutralized much faster and the concentration of chlorine and alkalinity is reduced so much that it becomes nearly harmless to grass and other plants found around the house.
Will Clorox Kill Grass and Weeds?
Yes, Clorox will kill grass, weeds, and even trees in high enough doses. However, Clorox is best used as a spot herbicide, sprayed directly on plant leaves and allowed to dry on a sunny day. This will allow the alkalinity and the chlorine to break down the supply chain within the plant, killing it within about a day. Do not use bleach too often in the same spot, as it may build up in the soil and prevent any plant life from establishing or thriving.
Will Clorox Kill Grass of Any Type?
As straight Clorox bleach can be so deadly to all types of plant life, you may be wondering if there are any exceptions. Below are several types of problem grasses and how they will respond to an application of straight bleach.
Will Clorox Kill Bermuda Grass?
Yes, Clorox will kill Bermuda grass. Just like most other plant types, Bermuda grass is susceptible to being burnt by straight bleach. This will kill the plant that the bleach is applied to, but not surrounding plants.
Will Clorox Kill Crabgrass?
Yes, Clorox will kill Crabgrass. If applied directly, bleach will kill crabgrass, but as crabgrass is good at compartmentalizing, you may not be able to kill the entire plant with a single application.
Will Clorox Kill Johnsongrass?
Yes, Clorox will kill Johnsongrass. If undiluted Clorox is applied to as much surface area of the Johnsongrass plant as it can be, it is possible that the entire plant will be killed and any adjoining Johnsongrass plants will be damaged.
What Does Clorox Do to Lawn Soil?
Clorox breaks down to salt and water in the soil in as little as 2 days. While this is not a problem if Clorox bleach is only used as a spot-treatment type herbicide, it can cause undesired levels of sodium buildup if used too often or over too wide an area.
Clorox Bleach Has No Place on Your Lawn
While a small amount of bleach in a large amount of water, such as a pressure-washing solution may easily be diluted to the point where its effects are hard to notice, bleach is still harmful to any plant it touches. Bleach tends to stay in the soil and can build up to levels that prevent any type of plant growth, not just grass. If you are determined to use Clorox as an herbicide, use it sparingly and keep water on hand just in case of any spills or to rinse overspray off of plants you don’t mean to target.
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