How To: Remove Weeds From The Garden
Weeds in our garden can be a nuisance! Whether it’s a lawn full of dandelions or thistles, or a path covered in chickweed, they can look unsightly and cause issues for the plants you are trying to grow. Similarly, nettles can leave you with a nasty sting and Japanese knotweed can cause structural damage to your home. Check out our tips on removing weeds – and stopping them from coming back.
Remove Weeds at the Root
One of the best ways to stop pesky weeds from reappearing is to get to the “root of the problem” – quite literally. Using a garden fork or hand trowel you can easily lever most weeds out of the soil. Make sure you have removed all of the roots to prevent regrowth in a couple of weeks. If you are overrun by weeds it may be worth investing in a specialist weed-pulling tool. These tools push into the soil around the plant and then claw around it. You can then easily pull up the weed, root and all. There are some species that are difficult to remove such as couch grass and Japanese knotweed – you will generally need more aggressive methods to remove these completely.
Use Mulch to Restrict Weed Growth
Using mulch is one of the easiest ways to restrict weed growth once the area is cleared as it is a layer of materials added to the top layer of soil. This method is usually done in flower beds or in vegetable patches to promote better growth for those flowers or veggies.
Biodegradable mulches include garden compost, processed bark, straw, rotted manure and wood chippings. These materials all suppress weed growth whilst adding valuable nutrients to the soil. Since these materials break down over time they will need to be replaced as and when they stop being effective.
Keep On Top of Lawncare & Mowing
Keeping on top of your lawn care and maintenance is another way of reducing the number of weeds popping up on your lawn. Cutting down the weeds as they grow means their seeds can’t settle – just be sure to use a basket on your mower rather than leaving the clippings on the grass. Once you are on top of the problem and your grass is weed-free you can think about removing the basket and letting the clippings act as a natural fertiliser for your grass.
Natural Homemade Weedkillers
Rather than resorting to chemical weedkillers, it may be worth attempting a few home remedies first. If you have weeds growing between the gaps of block paving you can try pouring boiling water onto them. This causes instant shock which kills the weed and any seeds which may be hiding in the gaps.
Baking soda is also a great way to treat weeds. Simply wet the plants first and sprinkle the baking soda over the leaves; repeat in 4-6 weeks if required. This is a good tactic if you wish to target weeds lurking in flower beds or ones growing in gaps between paving.
Lastly, vinegar is an easy way to destroy weeds. The acidic nature of vinegar works a treat; just pour it into a spray bottle and spritz it onto the weeds. You can also purchase horticultural vinegar which is stronger due to it having more acetic acid, but be careful as they can be corrosive to the skin.
Regardless of which method you have used to remove those weeds, it is important to make sure you have disposed of them properly. Collect them all in a wheelbarrow or large tub and dispose of them with other garden or green waste. Don’t add them to your compost as you could end up adding seeds back into your garden!
If you’re having problems with weeds in your garden space or you’d like ideas on how to remove more stubborn plants, speak with us at Holt Garden Centre. We will be happy to recommend some tools or products which may help you.
