Weeds can be a real pain, but if you’re sick of pulling them up, there’s a much easier way to get rid of them than using salt or vinegar, according to a gardening expert
Weeds can be an absolute nightmare now that summer is drawing to a close, but if you’re fed up with pulling them up, there’s a much simpler method to eliminate them.
Numerous gardeners who can’t be fussed with weeds simply resort to chemical killers, but this can ruin your soil and render your garden toxic to birds and other local wildlife. Plenty of people also suggest natural alternatives like vinegar or salt, and while they can prove effective, they only work on young weeds, and there’s also the risk of them damaging your patio stones.
Instead, Simon Akeroyd, a gardener who has written over 30 gardening books, has revealed that the answer is actually far simpler, as boiling water from your kettle can eliminate weeds rapidly.
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Simon explained: “Boiling water is a solution! Use it to destroy weeds growing up through the cracks in your patio. Many of the vinegars and other liquids suggested by many gardeners on social media do not get to the root of the problem. Literally.
“They might destroy the leaves but usually the root below survives and sends up new shoots.”
Vinegar and salt can eliminate weed foliage, but they frequently cannot reach the plant’s root, which means it will always regrow unless it’s a fresh, much more vulnerable weed, reports the Express.
Boiling water may appear too straightforward, but the extremely hot temperature will shock the entire plant to destroy it, including the root, so there’s less likelihood it will regrow.
So, how do you use boiling water to eliminate patio weeds? All you need to do is fill a kettle to the top, boil it, and then carry it out into the garden.
However, the biggest obstacle when using boiling water is that there is a risk of it burning you. Before boiling the water, clear a path from the kitchen to the garden. Then, walk slowly and pour at arm’s length to prevent any water from splashing on you.
It is also important to pour slowly to avoid any splash back on any plants or grass nearby, as the boiling water will harm any plant it comes in contact with.
In a few hours, the weed should start turning brown and drying out. Hopefully, it kills the weed on the first try, but depending on how deep the weed roots are, you may need to finish it off a second or third time.
However, this is such a quick and easy method that having to do it a few times should not be a bother, and should completely clean your patio so you can start autumn without worrying about weeding.