Gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh has urged fellow gardeners to avoid chemical weedkillers and adopt his ‘win-win’ natural methods that will make your plants thrive
Weedkiller’s not the way to go, Alan says(Image: Dave Benett, Sam Simpson/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Boodles)
Leading gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh emphasises that the present moment offers ideal conditions for tackling weeds in your garden: “The weeds are young. The soil is moist and so the roots will come out more easily.”
He expresses his reservations about chemical weedkillers, noting they can contain harmful substances that pose risks to human wellbeing whilst also damaging the crucial micro-organisms essential for maintaining healthy soil. Furthermore, excessive use of such products can lead to waterway contamination.
Rather than relying on chemicals, Alan advocates for traditional manual labour in the garden. His preferred tools include spades and forks, particularly the narrower varieties designed specifically for border work.
He also suggests that a Dutch hoe proves invaluable for the task.
In a recent video on his Gardening with Alan Titchmarsh channel, the horticultural authority explains that whilst he typically maintains control over weeds in his garden, occasional invasions still occur from common garden nuisances such as Convolvulus, or bindweed, “which will suddenly appear clambering up a tall thing like a delphinium.”
Wood chips can look attractive, as they starve out the weeds [stock photo](Image: Getty)
He continues: “Other common pains are ground elder, which has foliage that looks a bit like the elder tree,” adding, “It’s quite low. It only grows about a foot high, but it has really thick roots, and you do need to get them out.”
However, Alan stresses that whilst removing unwanted plants from flowerbeds is sometimes unavoidable, “prevention is better than cure.”
Gardening expert Alan emphasises the importance of maintaining pristine garden beds during this season: “If you’ve got clean soil in a bed or border at this time of year,” Alan says, “it’s nice to be able to keep it that way. Having got all your perennial weeds out, or made sure that they haven’t come up.”
His recommendation is to apply mulch to the soil surface. Mulch serves as an organic protective layer, typically between 11⁄2 and two inches in depth.
Chipped bark is one effective option, which Alan notes not only blocks sunlight from reaching unwanted seedlings but also enhances the visual appeal of your garden. Simply distribute a substantial layer across your flower beds, ensuring space around the plants you wish to nurture, resulting in attractive, weed-free borders.
Convolvulus can be quite appealing, in the right setting(Image: Getty)
Alan explains the multiple benefits: “Plants are shown off well by the mulch. Weeds are being kept down. Moisture is being kept in. Win-win-win!”.
For those particularly concerned about weed invasion, an extra precaution involves laying specialised weed-suppressing membrane first, creating openings for your desired plants to flourish, then securing it properly before adding the chipped bark layer on top.
Alan also highlights the importance of checking containers: “Winter’s also a good time to de-weed your pots and containers,” he says.
“Even the smallest weeds are stealing water and nutrients from your plants and in time could overpower them. Get them out now before they drop their seeds, multiply, and damage your existing plants.”
Alan’s “by hand” weeding philosophy applies to paths and patios as well, using a patio knife to dig down between pavers: “Now, I know it seems labor intensive,” he says, “but it’s what we call gardening.”
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