Weeds are irritating plants that persistently return regardless of your efforts to eliminate them. Poorly installed patios and paving frequently result in significant weed growth emerging through the cracks. Nevertheless, even with proper installation, soil and seeds can work their way into the gaps between paving slabs, potentially causing some weed growth over time.
With this in mind, Hannah Rowson, gardening expert at J. Parker’s, the UK’s leading retailer of garden plants and bulbs, has shared her guidance on “permanently” eliminating weeds from gardens and patios, even during the colder months. Regarding weeding, it’s essential to identify which type of weed you’re tackling. Hannah explained: “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. 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.”
Hannah suggested using an app or online resource to help determine the type of weed you’re confronting.
One method to “kill off weeds” is by drenching them with boiling water from your kettle. The expert noted that this “shocks the plant, killing it within a day or two”.
Whilst this technique proves highly effective for troublesome patio weeds, Hannah urges gardeners to exercise care when applying it to flower beds, cautioning 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”.
Given the cold temperatures at this time of year, boiling water is not the most effective method to use now.
For those seeking a more permanent remedy, the gardening expert backs using vinegar. Hannah has identified white vinegar as a “fantastic, natural alternative to weed killer”, emphasising its pet-safe and economical advantages.
She explained: “Vinegar is full of acetic acid, which is a natural bacteria killer. It’s a great way of killing back any unwanted weeds all year round that are siloed and aren’t surrounded by wanted plants in a day.”
To combat those persistent intruders, fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and apply liberally, targeting as close to the roots as you can manage. Even ordinary vinegar can prove remarkably effective, helping you to “get rid of weeds permanently”.
She also suggested: “You can also try using lemon juice, as it contains citric acid, which can cause weeds to shrivel.”
For those persistent weeds appearing in lawns, Hannah recommends that the “best approach” is to simply cut them back. She advised: “Nipping it in the bud is the best approach to tackling weeds in your garden lawn.
“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.”
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