Now that we’re in the thick of autumn, avid gardeners are looking for new ways to keep on top of their gardening with minimal effort. According to Better Homes and Gardens, boiling water is an alternative you may have never considered when it comes to spraying weeds in cracks.
The heat of the water acts as the perfect antidote to a garden with ever-growing weeds; as soon as it comes into contact with them, it is able to kill quickly. Although it’s worth noting that not every plant will shrivel up after being scalded by a kettle.
While weeds tend to wilt immediately as the plant has been sent into thermal shock and its cells rupture, not all plants will have the same effect. When you pour boiling water onto your patio, you’re essentially cooking the weed alive and dehydrating it until it dies.
According to Jenny Chem, these are the types of weeds most susceptible to dying after being hit with boiling water:
Chelsea McKinley, a plant health care specialist at the United States Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C explained: “Boiling water works best on smaller plants, seedlings, and immature plants. Anything with a deep taproot or an extensive root system is going to be difficult to control with heat”, The Sun reports.
Although, it’s best not to aimlessly splash hot water across a garden bed you don’t like. McKinley advised that she wouldn’t use boiling water in a larger bed of plants but simply stick to weeds between the rows of a vegetable garden.
While boiling water kills weeds, it can sometimes do more harm than good, as it’s non-discriminatory and can therefore hurt the plants you were hoping to flourish. For lasting results, there’s a method you can follow that is both practical and safe.
Jenny Chem explained: “We’ve also seen gardeners in the UK report success using boiling water to kill weeds along fence lines. In general, though, this method should be saved for small, isolated patches of weeds. It’s just not practical (or safe) for larger areas, especially if there is desired vegetation. “
To ensure the safest application, there are a few things that you should consider, as, after all, boiling water can burn and scald you, even from the smallest splash. It’s advised that you wear protective gloves and shoes when pouring from a kettle onto the ground, as well as pour closer to the targeted area and not from a great height to avoid any splashing onto yourself.
Another well-thought step in the process, if you’re able to, Jenny Chem suggests: “Try and get your hands on a camping stove, or if you have a BBQ with a burner on it, use that. Transporting the boiling water from inside your home to outdoors is the most difficult, time-consuming part of this process.”
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