Summer is now here which means many people will want to relax in their gardens rather than having to spend time pulling up weeds.
Weeds are a constant nuisance on pathways but it is important to get rid of them as soon as possible as they can attract pests to gardens and also compete with plants for natural resources such as sunlight, water and nutrients.
Luckily, Alan Titchmarsh has now revealed he has a simple way to kill weeds without having to use harsh chemicals or useless methods.
It is very popular online to recommend vinegar to kill weeds but it tends to only be effective on young weeds as it cannot target the deep roots in the soil.
Speaking on the Gardeners’ World Magazine podcast, Alan has shared that the best way to kill weeds naturally and target the root is to pour boiling hot water from the kettle on them.
Alan said: “On gravel paths, a bit of boiling water works a bit of magic.”
All you need to do is boil the kettle and then carefully carry the closed kettle to the patio weeds, and then pour the water onto the weeds as close as you can to aim properly.
Drench the weed completely and the hot temperature will destroy the weed leaves instantly so they cannot photosynthesise and continue to grow in your garden.
However, it will take two or three tries to completely remove these pesky plants as the boiling water method will eventually break down the weed and kill the root, which will stop it from regrowing.
Weeds will likely look shrivelled and damaged only after a few hours of using boiling water on them on the first try but continue to pour water on them to make sure they do not come back.
This boiling water weed-killing method should only be used on patios, pathways and driveways as it will target the roots of any plants it comes in contact with, which includes lawn grass and flowers.
To kill weeds in your garden it is best to pull them up, but according to Alan, this does not need to be a backbreaking task as he recommends using a Dutch hoe to make it easier.
Alan said: “It makes it easier to keep down annual weeds simply by skimming a hoe between the rows. The important thing to do is skim, not dig.”
For smaller weeds that tend to get into the nooks and crannies of flowerbeds, Alan recommends a hand fork or simply pulling them up by hand once you spot them in the garden.
The best way to deal with lawn weeds is to simply “just keep mowing” according to Alan, as having a regular lawn maintenance schedule will stop these pesky plants from sprouting in the first place.
Trying out Alan’s weed-killing advice is a quick and easy way to remove weeds so you can spend more time enjoying your garden this summer.