It turns out you don’t need to resort to expensive weed killer – experts reveal an easy cardboard hack that will see weeds vanish and allow your garden to thrive
There are few things more frustrating than discovering a weed infestation in your garden – but experts urge us not to resort to chemical weed killers. Instead, all you need to get rid of these pesky plants is a sheet of cardboard.
Dandelions, bindweed, nettles, couch grass and prickly milk thistle are all weeds commonly found in the UK. While they’re not necessarily an eyesore, these invasive plants have a habit of growing out of control and can make even the most curated garden appear messy and untamed. Worse still, weeds such as nettles can give you a nasty sting if you’re not careful.
Plus, weeds can cause serious problems in your garden. They compete with other plants for water and nutrients, which can lead to them withering away and even dying.
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They also make a prime spot for pests and diseases to fester. These can result in your plants dying off or, if you’re growing crops, reduce their yield.
Of course, it can be tempting to turn to chemical weed killers once you notice them taking over your garden. However, these can damage both your soil and surrounding wildlife.
Improper use can lead to the chemicals seeping into your soil, which in turn will damage surrounding plants, leading to stunted growth and even death. It also can harm insects and pollinators who feed on plants.
Troublingly, many weed killers also contain glyphosate, which has been found to be carcinogenic. At low concentrations it can lead to organ damage. In higher amounts, it can cause various types of cancer.
Green Energy UK write: “Chemicals like pesticides and herbicides often harm pollinators, amphibians and soil life, and in a wild garden, natural predators will help to keep things in balance.”
Instead they offer a better solution. They added: “If some weeds do pop up in places you’d rather they didn’t, try hand-pulling or smothering them with cardboard or mulch instead of reaching for harmful weed killers.”
Smothering weeds with cardboard can be an effective herbicide, as the material blocks out sunlight. This prevents the weeds from growing and reproducing.
It also stops new weeds from poking up through the soil. You should also throw mulch on top of the cardboard, as this will allow you to plant new seeds on top.
Plus, as cardboard decomposes, it enriches the soil with carbon, making it even better for your plants. Cardboard will decompose within anything from a few weeks to several years.