Nature friendly weedkiller for lawn?!

Hi everyone,
Hoping for some recommendations! My lawn has always had the odd weed - dock, plantain, dandelions. I don’t mind them and can hand weed easily enough if I need to but this year I have been over-run by what I think is creeping buttercup. I usually prefer to steer clear of any chemicals in the garden but at this rate I think the grass will be entirely choked out by the buttercup. Can anyone recommend any organic/nature friendly product which would kill off the weeds but not harm the insect population or birds?
Thanks!
Claire.

 

Best weedkiller for lawns is a high nitrogen feed, the sprinkler, and the mower. Make the grass strong, mow it regularly, and the weeds won't get a look in.

 

That’s interesting, thanks! Certainly worth a try!

 

It depends what you are trying to control weed wise. If your not worried about dead spots vinegar can work well or an organically registered herbicide called perlagonic acid ( I’m in Australia so not sure if you can get that there). The other option is straight sugar or molasses.

 

Gives me a thought, I wonder if there is a spot weeder that uses steam in a similar way to a wallpaper stripper.
You would just need an attachment type nozzle.

 

I was thinking more of maybe a bell like upturned funnel.
I feel a patent coming on.

 

Amazon.com : DynaSteam DS2000-WGS Multipurpose Steam Weeder for Outdoor Gardens Trigger Start, One Size, Gray/Black/Green : Patio, Lawn & Garden

 

Oh well that's my first million gone down the pan.
Someone always steals my ideas.

 

Apparently steam weed killers are widely used in Sweden.

 

You can try sugar (white) or spot treat with vinegar. Am I allowed to post links?

 

Is vinegar really a nature friendly weedkiller?

 

In that acetic acid occurs naturally and is readily broken down in the environment yes.
Personally I've never been convinced about effectiveness, most domestic vinegar is less than 10% acetic acid, it would be easily washed off and is not systemic so dandelions and such like will bounce back.
Bristol council switched to acetic acid for pavement weed control, from glyphosate, some residents complained about the smell.

 

I've read a number of studies about glyphosate, but I've not come across any similar studies about vinegar.

The reason I'm skeptical about its eco impact is because I think just by virtue of its acidity and it's ability to pickle things and the fact it was historically used as a disinfectant, I wonder what it does to bugs that come into contact with it. I also wonder if the smell has any impact on insects abilities to find food, particularly pollinating insects which I believe pick up on the very delicate scent of nectar and fragrant essential oils that tend to evaporate from plants. I'm sure the effects are small, but I do wonder, with lack of evidence, which has the bigger eco impact out of natural vinegar and the nasty chemicals.