Alan Titchmarsh’s ‘magic’ and eco-friendly method of eradicating garden weeds

Summer has arrived and with it comes the desire to enjoy clean gardens without the hassle of weeding. Weeds are not only an eyesore on the roads; they can also attract unwanted pests and compete with your plants for essential resources like sunlight, water and nutrients.

Gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh has now shared a simple method to get rid of weeds naturally, without resorting to harsh chemicals or ineffective techniques. While vinegar is often touted online as a weed killer, it generally only works on young weeds and fails to reach the deeper roots, the Express reports.

On the Gardeners’ World Magazine podcast, Alan revealed that pouring boiling water from a kettle directly onto weeds is an effective way to fight them at the root. He said: Alan explained: “On gravel tracks, a little boiling water does a little magic.”

READ MORE: Drivers aged 65 and over will have to pay £656 to keep their car on the road

Alan’s step-by-step guide starts simply by boiling the kettle. From here, carry it safely to the affected area and pour the water over the weeds, aiming as close as possible to hit the target. Intense heat will immediately kill the leaves of weeds, preventing them from photosynthesizing and continuing to grow in your garden.

However, be prepared to repeat the process two or three times, as the boiling water technique will gradually break down the weed and eventually kill the root, ensuring that it will not return unwanted. The weeds will probably look shriveled and damaged after only a few hours of using boiling water on the first try, but keep pouring water over them to make sure they don’t come back.

This method of killing weeds with boiling water should only be used on patios, paths and walkways as it will target the roots of any plants it comes in contact with, including lawn grass and flowers. To kill weeds in your garden it’s best to pull them up, but according to Alan this doesn’t have to be a difficult task as he recommends using a Dutch hoe to make things easier.

Alan said: “It’s easier to keep annual weeds down simply by removing a hoe between the rows. The important thing to do is remove, not dig.”

For smaller weeds that tend to get into the corners of flower beds, Alan recommends a hand fork or simply pulling them out by hand once you spot them in the garden. The best way to deal with lawn weeds is to simply “keep mowing” according to Alan, as a regular lawn maintenance program will stop these pesky plants from sprouting in the first place.

Now we bring you the latest updates on WhatsApp first