Home Life & Style Gardener’s ‘shock’ method kills patio weeds in just one day – and...

Gardener’s ‘shock’ method kills patio weeds in just one day – and they won’t return


Weeds pop up wherever there is space, including on the lawn, in flower beds and on patios and driveways.

Whilst they can be a real pain for many gardeners, getting rid of them doesn’t always have to result in reaching for chemicals.

Hannah Rowson, a gardening expert at J.Parker’s, has two simple tricks to deal with the issue, and they’re both natural.

She said: “You can kill off weeds by pouring boiled water from your kettle over them.

“Be careful not to splash your toes of course. The hot water will shock the plant, killing weeds within a day or two.”

This method works really well for patio and driveway weeds but is not so suitable for flower beds and lawns.

This is because boiling water will instantly kill anything it touches due to the heat, so it is important to be careful.

If you are unsure about using boiling water, Hannah recommended using white vinegar as an alternative.

Hannah explained: “Vinegar is full of acetic acid, which is a natural bacteria killer. It’s a great way of killing back any unwanted weeds that aren’t surrounded by wanted plants.

“Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and spritz them fully, getting as close to the roots as you can.

“Regular vinegar also does the trick, helping you to get rid of weeds permanently. You can also try using lemon juice, as it contains citric acid which can cause weeds to shrivel.

“Like any plant, weeds can be annual or perennial. Annual weeds are easier to get rid of, as they last just one year or season.

“They might spring up quickly, but they can be removed just as quickly too. Perennial weeds are trickier, as they’ll return year after year.

“They have deeper roots than their annual counterparts and if they’re not removed, they’ll just come back to mock you.”

Common weeds to look out for include dandelions, couch grass, chickweed and prickly milk thistle.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here