Spring seems to have arrived overnight, and with it comes the explosion of green as everything wakes up from its winter nap. First up? Time to fend off the weeds. . . and please don’t reach for that toxic stuff. It’s nasty for you, your yard, and everything around it. Instead, try this safer and super effective recipe.

A targeted weed killer is a great way to get a handle on those weeds that popped up since you last looked. Seriously, they weren’t there yesterday and now it’s an overgrown jungle. This simple spray helps to wilt the plants and makes them easy to pull out and remove. As a huge bonus, you don’t have to worry about keeping pets or small kids away from the area until it’s no longer a Round-Up hazmat zone. Wait for a good day of dry weather to be sure the mix can sit on the plant for a bit without getting rinsed off.

What You Need:

• 1 gallon pump sprayer ($20)
• 1 gallon distilled white vinegar
• 1 cup Epsom Salt
• 1 tbsp dish soap

Mix the ingredients together thoroughly and soak the leaves and body of the weeds with an even application. Let the spray sit on the weeds until they are good and dead, then pull them out and tune up the area with a bit of mulch. I’ve found about 6 hours to 1 day is good enough for most, but a second application might be needed for the stubborn ones.

Keep in mind, that this spray is not selective. It will kill anything green you apply it to so protect the plants you want to keep. This also means that a weed killer like this shouldn’t be used on your lawn. Go for some standard spring weed and feed mix to tackle the crabgrass and dandelions.

If you’re weary on the fact this spray is not selective, check out ManMade’s guide to weed removal without any chemicals. We’ll lay out multiple ways for you to remove weeds, whether it’s through some sort of spray or the easiest way to do it the old-fashioned way.

Now that you have that yard all tuned up, let’s build something to enjoy on it. Take a look at this project to make a great lawn game in an afternoon.