An everyday household item can offer a ‘cheap and easy’ method of banishing weeds from your garden when mixed with water, but experts say it should be used sparringly
Experts say a household ingredient can be used to banish weeds(Image: Angela Patrone)
With temperatures rising, many households will be eagerly anticipating quality time spent in their gardens. But one unwelcome sight that’s likely to put a dampener on things is weeds sprouting up between patio slabs.
Fortunately, these persistent plants can be controlled using a simple household staple costing as little as 30p. According to Andy McLaughlin of RF Paving, salt can be deployed to help “dry out” the weeds, ultimately killing them off.
He does caution, however, that excessive salt application can harm paving slabs or other materials if used too frequently. The best approach, he advises, is to create a solution.
Andy recommends preparing a diluted spray by combining one cup of salt with three parts water. This method, he explains, will help safeguard both your paving and surrounding soil.
Speaking to Martha Stewart, he said: “The frequent use of salt, especially on natural stone, can weaken the structural integrity of the paving, as well as cause discoloration and even erosion.”, reports the Liverpool Echo.
You no longer have to remove the weeds by hand, as this simple hack makes it easier than ever (stock image)(Image: Getty Images)
It’s positive news for gardeners, with a 1.5kg bag of cooking salt retailing for just £1.90 at Tesco. This works out at roughly 30p per 250g cup for each spray batch.
According to Gardeners’ World magazine, salt solutions offer a “cheap and easy” method for eliminating weeds from your outdoor space. The publication does note, however, that salt can modify your soil’s pH levels – something worth considering before application.
The guidance states: “Salt (sodium chloride) can be very harmful to plants if applied in high enough doses, as it dehydrates them. Salt is not good for the garden, however, as it will also kill other plants and will ultimately affect the pH of the soil.
“For this reason, use on paving and paths only and make sure that the solution does not leach into nearby soil. To work as a weedkiller, the salt must be dissolved in water. You can increase the strength of the solution if you need to.”
Do not use table salt(Image: Synergee via Getty Images)
Gardeners’ World advises that anyone preparing a salt-based weedkiller should steer clear of rock, sea or Epsom salts. Instead, it recommends ordinary household table salt for tackling unwanted plants.
Meanwhile, gardening specialist Ryan Walts suggests baking soda as another household alternative for weed control. He noted that it proves particularly effective for eliminating small weeds growing between paving slabs and in any gaps or fissures.
He explained: “Baking soda works to kill plants due to the salt content in the baking soda. The salt dries out the plant, making it difficult for that plant to uptake moisture, resulting in death.”
According to Ryan, the baking soda should be applied straight onto the weeds or mixed into a spray solution. The optimal time for application is during dry weather with “minimal wind,” he added.
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