9 most effective ways to kill weeds naturally

When you've spent hours cutting, trimming, and planting to ensure your yard looks beautiful and relaxing, the sight of weeds cropping up is enough to make you crazy. If you're having a hard time getting rid of these pesky yard design killers, check out a few of the best ways to take them out for good.

Let us know if you've used any of these tactics for clearing out the unwelcome guests from your garden.

Baking soda is a safe option that will keep weeds out of the cracks in your sidewalks and patio surfaces without introducing toxins to the environment. Simply sprinkle a few handfuls onto the sidewalk and sweep it into the cracks, according to Reader's Digest.

2. Salt 'em

Boil two parts water with one part salt. Pour the mixture directly on weeds. You can also sprinkle salt on weeds in your sidewalk and spray a bit of water on top.

Alcohol can be dehydrating (which may explain why you're really thirsty after downing one too many). This dehydration effect works great for snuffing out weeds. Combine 1 ounce of vodka with 2 cups of water and a little dish soap. Mix it in a spray bottle and douse weeds liberally. Hit the weeds in the middle of the day when the sun is high for the best effect.

Crisp your weeds into submission by mixing 1 cup of salt with 1 gallon of vinegar, a bit of dish soap and some citrus oil. Spray the mixture on the weeds.

You can make it much harder for weeds to grow by spreading a bit of cornmeal. Cornmeal makes it harder for weed seeds to reproduce. It doesn't actually kill anything, but it's a good preventative measure.

It doesn't sound humane, but weeds cropping up and ruining your beautiful garden get what's coming to them. To nix weeds naturally, layer the desired area with at least four sheets of newspaper. The paper keeps sunlight from feeding pesky weeds. Weigh the newspaper down with a layer of mulch.

Oddly, one of the best ways to keep weeds at bay is to keep your lawn fertilized. Thick, healthy grass takes up tons of space on the ground and blocks weeds from sprouting, according to This Old House. Just be careful: Too much fertilizer (even the natural kind) can kill your grass.

It's not fun, but it's effective. The best way to kill weeds and stop them from taking over your yard is to do it by hand. You'll want to catch the weeds in their infancy. Use a sharp tool and yank the entire weed (root included). Reseed the area with grass as soon as you pull the weed to encourage grass growth and block out weeds.

It's safe. It's simple. It works. Just pour a pan of boiling water over a weed and watch it wither and die.