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IF weeds are taking over your patio and you’re on a mission to get rid of them, and for good, then you’ve come to the right place.
Gardeners are often inundated with various cleaning and gardening hacks that promise to banish weeds, but according to a paving pro, there are two common tips that you should avoid at all costs.
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It turns out that using salt and acidic white vinegar, two of the most popular cupboard ingredients used on weeds, are not as effective as some may think.
Instead, Cass Heaphy, the Digital Director at Paving Direct, has shared the most effective ways to rid your paving of pesky weeds.
And thanks to Cass’ advice, a 65p buy from Tesco will do the trick – and is the ‘simplest and safest’ method yet.
When it comes to removing weeds from block paving on a driveway, he suggested “pulling anything that will come up by hand”.
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For stubborn weeds that “cannot be easily pulled up”, he advised using a weeding tool or a scraper.
He further advised: “You should be able to scrape between the blocks with this tool to dislodge the weeds.
“You can also use a hand-held burner to speed things up.”
However, he warned gardening enthusiasts against using salt or white vinegar, as he explained: “Do not use salt to kill weeds as this can damage paving.
“Not only can salt damage paving, but it can also harm soil health and prevent future growth if used on weeds in other areas of the garden.”
The same warning applies to white vinegar which can inadvertently kill plants if sprayed onto them while attempting to eliminate weeds.
But for those looking for an inexpensive yet effective solution, Cass claimed that baking soda or boiling water could be the answer.
According to Cass, baking soda is deemed the “simplest and safest way to soften up and kill weeds”.
What is a weed? And why are they important?
Simply put, a weed is a plant that grows in an area or space you don’t want it to.
Rebecca Miller, Fabulous’ Associate Editor, and keen gardener, explains why gardeners need to become friends with weeds.
“From nettles, buttercups, docks and dandelions – there are so many wonderful plants that are called weeds. And yet, as soon as the weather warms up, and we spend more time in outside, we want to pluck, pull and kill as many of them as possible, to make our gardens look perfect and pristine.
“Weeds are essential to our ecosystem – many are pollinators, providing food to bees, bats, beetles, butterflies, moths and wasps. And without weeds, these animals wouldn’t survive past early Spring.
“Weeds also give back to nature – when they die and decay, their roots break down, feed microorganisms and insects, and make pathways and tunnels for worms. Bountiful life below means plentiful life above.
“Weeds are also brilliant indicators of soil health – which is important if you want to grow anything in your outdoor space. When microorganisms and insects break down weeds, they release essential nutrients into the soil that plants soak up. They also store nitrogen and carbon dioxide in the ground, creating cleaner air and removing greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere, mitigating the climate crisis.
“So before you pull out every weed in your garden, why not give a few of them a chance to grow and bloom, and see what enters your garden to enjoy the flowers…”
To use baking soda on weeds, all you need to do is simply sprinkle it over the patio slabs and then sweep it into the gaps between them.
Once you’ve done this, you can then pour some boiling water down the gaps too.
How to repair broken patio slabs
THE paving specialists at Simply Paving told Fabulous how you can repair broken patio slabs, without the faff.
The experts advised: “If you have a loose paving slab, then it’s unlikely it can be lifted straight by hand. Instead, you will probably need a hammer and chisel to prise the paver free of your patio.
“To remove loose paving slabs without damaging your flagstones, carefully chip away at the mortar around the paving slab with the plugging chisel and rubber mallet until the slab comes completely loose.
“Then, slide the spade into the gap left by the mortar and prise the paver free of the patio.
“As you lift it up, place a short piece of timber underneath the spade to act as a lever, making it easier for you while protecting the slab underneath.
“When the paver starts to give, place the cylindrical wood underneath it and roll the slab out of the patio.”
If you give this trick a try, it’s important to pour the water close to the weeds to avoid damaging any nearby plants.
When used correctly, the combination of baking soda and water not only kills the roots but also makes them easier to uproot.
The experts at Paving Direct explained that this process can be repeated every month, and will mean “you’ll easily be able to stop grass or weeds growing between slabs”.
If you fancy giving this trick a try, you can nab baking soda for just 65p from Tesco – making this hack incredibly cost-effective.
