Weeds, the bane of gardeners everywhere, just don’t seem to give up, popping back no matter how many times you try to get rid of them.
If your patio wasn’t laid down quite right, you might find yourself fighting a losing battle against weeds muscling in through the cracks. But even a well-installed patio isn’t immune – soil and seeds can sneak into the gaps between slabs, leading to unwanted green guests over time.
With that in mind, Hannah Rowson, gardening guru at J. Parker’s has dished out her top tips for giving weeds the boot from your garden and patio for good. When it comes to tackling these pesky plants, knowing your enemy is half the battle, says Hannah.
“Like any plant, weeds can be annual or perennial. Annual weeds are easier to get rid of, as they only last one year or season. They might pop up quickly, but they can be removed just as swiftly too,” she notes.
Hannah adds: “Perennial weeds are more challenging, as they’ll come back year after year. They have deeper roots than their annual counterparts and if they’re not removed, they’ll simply return to taunt you.”
She suggests whipping out an app or hitting the web to pinpoint exactly what kind of weed you’re up against, reports the Express. One tip for nixing weeds is to scald them with boiling water straight from your kettle. Hannah said that this method, “shocks the plant, killing it within a day or two”.
While this is a nifty trick for nuisance patio weeds, Hannah sounds a note of caution about using it among flower beds. She points out that, “using boiled water is much easier to do for patio weeds, but exercise caution when trying this in the garden, as the boiling water can damage neighbouring plants in a border display”.
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For those looking for a more lasting weed-warrior, she advocates for vinegar. According to her, white vinegar stands as a “fantastic, natural alternative to weed killer” and brings the bonus of being pet-friendly and light on the wallet.
She explains: “Vinegar is full of acetic acid, which is a natural bacteria killer. It’s a great way of killing back any unwanted weeds that are siloed and aren’t surrounded by wanted plants in a day.”
To get down to the root of the problem with persistent intruders, she recommends filling a spray bottle with white vinegar for a targeted attack, ensuring you aim as close to the roots as possible. Even your average kitchen vinegar can be a game-changer, helping you to, “get rid of weeds permanently”.
Moreover, Hannah throws in another citrusy tip: “You can also try using lemon juice, as it contains citric acid which can cause weeds to shrivel.” For those uninvited guests sprouting in your green lawns, Hannah advises against complicated measures, suggesting “the best approach” is simply to cut them off.
She recommends: “Nipping it in the bud is the best approach to tackling weeds in your garden lawn.” Hannah imparts one final piece of wisdom for lawn lovers: “Frequently mowing your lawn is one of the best ways of keeping weeds at bay. This helps to weaken them, and also stops them from setting seed, which in turn, stops them from reappearing.”
