I have had some success with a mixture of vinegar, epsom salt, & dish detergent as an herbicide spray. Glyphosate/Roundup is what I am avoiding. There are various other less-toxic chemicals & mixtures sold but most are expensive to cover a large area(approx 10k sq ft lot).
Recently thought about using dilluted sulfuric acid(from the auto parts store) but am suspicious(superstitous) it’ll have lead from recycling(???).
Or heavy canola oil application.
(My chemistry knowledge is relatively low, so apologies in advance. )
From memory the mix is:
1gal vinegar
2cups eps salt
1 cup dish soap
It’s effective in my expereince, but not on all weeds. I notice an increase in worm casts following it’s use… weird.
The other option available to me is a propane torch but that is hazardous in a different way.
Iv use a similar weed-be-gone tonic but using 1 cup of epsom salt with one cup of normal table salt I take a cup of two of hot vinegar and dissolve both salts in this then add it to the rest of the vinegar and put it in handheld pump sprayer and spray away! Most plants are dead by the next day spray early mornings or towards sundown.
The torch is great for paved areas(in the joints) and going genocidal on a weed but if i don’t have a hose ready or after a rain & I go ino the 'bush…we might have issues hehe
Smothering is great for long term; I’ve used thick newspaper layered with horse-stall mulch to great effect. It’s the only thing that stifles nutsedge(still makes it through a bit) and pulling the weeds that do re-appear tends to be very easy since they’ve rooted in wood shavings mostly.
The action of the epsom/vinegar/soap is something like a huge overdose of magnesium with an acid(making them minerals work?), the soap is a 'sticker and an asphyxiant(is that even a word? if not, it’s cool with me).
I’d use the mulching exclusively if possible but obtaining it in the volume I need is like a 2 year project going on for another 2 since I have to borrow a pickup. It’s pine & cedar(i think) which isn’t the best-- apparently cedar oil isn’t great for microbes but it breaks down & becomes crack for fungi & will last a decade.
Maybe if I just plant millions of Agent Orange plants…
I have managed to practically eradicate my entire yard of mallow weeds, the old fashioned way. I pulled those mf’s out by hand. Now I’m digging up dandelion. It’s overwhelming, but I just go at it 1 sq ft at a time. Been too nervous about using salt or vinegar as I have too many things still under the dirt waiting to sprout. Don’t want to kill whatever roots or bulbs are underneath those damn weeds.
You have experience similar to mine.
Flaming is best used twice over a 3-4 week span on freshly tilled soil.
This first flaming about 2 weeks after tilling takes down the freshly sprouted weeds,
The 2nd a week or so later takes down the seeds that the first flaming sprouted.
Some weeds and trees need heat to release their seed coats.
Doesn’t help much with weeds that sprout from runners though, quack grass being my particular demon.
Cedar saw dust also attracts ants and termites of all things.
Can’t beat newspaper for weed block imo, barely lasts a season unfortunately.
Avoid any glossy color prints though.
I have to try that recipe, thanks!
EDIT
Forgot to add, depending on the size you need, assembling a compost pile over a weedy bed takes a season or two but will kill even deep rooted plants like comfrey.
Yes sir. In fact that’s killed a small portion of the nutsedge for me in one area. It wasn’t by intention but a season of compost leachate, pressure, etc. decomposed the “nuts” or corms/seeds to empty husks. Before that I had seen the sedge joyfully grow up through compost!
)
but that is hazardous in a different way. 
It’s pine & cedar(i think) which isn’t the best-- apparently cedar oil isn’t great for microbes but it breaks down & becomes crack for 
fungi & will last a decade.
Yes sir. In fact that’s killed a small portion of the nutsedge for me in one area. It wasn’t by intention but a season of compost leachate, pressure, etc. decomposed the “nuts” or corms/seeds to empty husks. Before that I had seen the sedge joyfully grow up through compost! 
