Weed control can be hard to maintain in any garden. But the good news is there are some simple home remedies that can not only get rid of weeds but, in some cases, also prevent them coming back. Win-win!
Boiling water
If you have stubborn weeds in an isolated area like a driveway or paving, a kettle of boiling water will kill them (and pretty much anything else) straight away. Beware, don’t stand downstream from where you are pouring!
Lemons, salt and vinegar
Everyday kitchen goods can really come in handy in the garden. A mix of salt and vinegar in a spray bottle will kill any weeds you spray it with. Used selectively and carefully you can kill off weeds in amongst your plants without leaving behind any harmful chemicals. Rub a lemon along an area where small weeds are growing between brickwork and say goodbye to those sneaky little so-and-sos for good.
Paper trail
When planting on an exposed garden bet with an abundance of weeds, simply plant as would normally and then arrange sheets of newspapers over the weeds and around your newly planted blooms so that the entire garden bed is covered. Cover with mulch and you’re done. Not only will the newspaper kill the weeds but it will break down without a trace.
Borax and detergent
The most favoured home weed killer amongst experts though is this handy mix that will get rid of unwanted weeds in your garden. Mix a litre of vinegar, half a cup of Borax and a teaspoon or two of dishwashing detergent into a spray bottle. The detergent acts as an emulsifier helping the vinegar and borax be absorbed into the weed. As always, be careful with other plants you don’t wish to harm, make sure your spray bottle can shoot with a steady stream to zap the weeds.
Elbow grease
The simplest method for dealing with weeds is getting down and pulling them out by hand, it can be back-breaking work but worth it if you’re capable. Wait till after a rain storm when the soil is soft, this will make hand weeding much easier.
