Weeds can be a nightmare to get rid of, but one gardening expert has shared the ‘easiest’ way to kill them off naturally without using harmful chemicals or expensive products
Pulling up weeds from patios or driveways only for them to spring back after a few weeks can be frustrating, but this could be due to a common gardening error.
Melissa J Will, also known as the Empress of Dirt, is an organic gardening guru who prides herself on sharing advice based on “science-based facts instead of folklore. She explained that many natural weed killers such as vinegar, salt and baking soda may be commonly suggested online but they only kill the leaves of weeds.
They do not harm the plant’s roots which is why pesky weeds always seem to grow back. Melissa pointed out that many natural weed killers such as vinegar, salt and baking soda are often recommended online, but they only kill the leaves of weeds.
They don’t damage the plant’s roots, which is why annoying weeds always seem to grow back. Melissa said: “These get shared like candy and, as you’ll see, either do not actually work and/or are harmful to the environment and waste money. A weed is not really gone unless the roots have been entirely removed.”
Why many natural solutions fail
Vinegar alone is not effective in killing weeds. While the stuff you put on your chips is acidic, it is not potent enough to target the roots while stronger variations are extremely toxic.
Melissa commented: “The industrial strength is a horrifically dangerous acid and completely inappropriate for any home applications. Sorry vinegar, you’re not for the garden.”
Salt is highly effective at killing weeds, but it will kill all greenery it comes into contact with and affect the soil surrounding your stonework. There is a risk of the salt landing on the soil once it rains and destroying nearby plants, flowerbeds or lawns.
Melissa exclaimed: “Stop what you’re doing and go delete everything you have re-pinned on Pinterest that suggests using salt in the garden!”
She continued: “We’ve already established that vinegar will not kill the roots of plants, unless it’s industrial strength, which is totally inappropriate for home applications, and baking soda-which adds excess sodium-is not going to change this.”
While mixing these ingredients can sometimes act as a natural weed killer, there’s always a danger of harming your beloved garden and it’s not the most reliable method for permanently getting rid of weeds.
The top trick for waving goodbye to weeds is by giving them a steam bath, reports the Express. A steamer’s high heat zaps them dead, including their roots.
Melissa advised: “Steaming is the easiest and longest lasting. If you have weeds growing in your brick patio or driveway, a home steam cleaning machine offers an easy way to kill them at the roots without harmful chemicals.”
This technique is perfect for smaller spots like sidewalks, driveways, patios, and masonry. It’s a hit with farmers, especially those who prefer organic methods.
All you need is a steamer, gloves, and perhaps a knife for those tricky spots. For best results, steam and yank weeds post-rainfall when the soil is damp and roots come out easier.
Melissa shared her gardening insights, emphasizing “There are no shortcuts for weeding between bricks or pavers without causing collateral damage to the eco-system.”
She also dished out some valuable advice for any would-be gardener: “To remove the weeds by hand, be sure the soil is damp, use the right tools, get comfortable knee pads and good tunes to listen to, be patient so you get the roots out, take breaks to place curses on the inventor of the brick driveway.”
For those dedicated to keeping their pathways pristine, Melissa suggests investing in polymeric jointing sand from Amazon, which can help keep pesky weeds at bay.
