I’m a gardening expert – this £2.75 household staple will get rid of weeds from patios or paths – and works every time
THE warmer weather will see many of us heading into our gardens and outside spaces, but it will also mean lots of us will need to deal with weed infestations.
After the wet winter we’ve had, many patios, gravel paths and driveways have become overgrown with unsightly plants that you’ll want to get rid of.
But before you rush out and splash a load of cash on costly specialist weed-killer products, there’s a simple trick you might want to try.
This hack involves you using a household staple you probably have in the cupboard under your sink, according to Sam Marlow, gardening expert from Garden Buildings Direct.
He told The Sun: “If you’re on a budget, there’s a cheap way to keep weeds at bay. If you want to remove persistent unwanted plants from paths or patios, try using washing powder. It’s a super easy way to banish weeds once and for all.”
You can pick up a 1.15kg box of washing powder from Asda for £2.75.
Sam said: “Most products contain boron, which is added for its stain removal and bleaching properties. This substance effectively kills the weeds from the root upwards.”
It does this by breaking down natural oil coatings.
Sam added: “As this exposes the weeds, it increases their vulnerability to pathogens, causing them to wither away.”
If you do want to try this hack, the key is to use it in ‘powder’ form. Do not attempt weed removal with liquid detergent or pods.
Sam said: “You should start by sprinkling washing powder all over the area affected by weeds. You then need to pour boiling water over the same area to ensure the boron soaks into the roots.”
Once you’ve applied the powder, the weeds should start to wither away.
“After a week or so, you will be able to sweep away the leftover leaves,” said the gardening supremo. “You should then find your patio or drive is looking cleaner than ever.”
If you find the weeds are not fully dried out after a week of exposure to the washing powder, leave them for a little longer.
“After another three to five days, check back to ensure the weeds are fully killed off before brushing away any remaining debris,” said Sam. “If you want to ensure the weeds don’t grow back any time soon, be sure to pull up their roots as well. While the soil will be toxic, some deep-rooted weeds can be stubborn, and will grow back – even if the tops are damaged.”
By opting for this DIY weedkiller, you can avoid the harsh chemicals that come in commercial products.
Sam said: “Washing powder is less harmful than shop-bought chemical versions and works every time.”
But the green-fingered whizz adds that washing powder does come with a big warning.
“You need to be very careful when applying it to select areas of weeds, as due to the boron, it will kill most plant life that it touches,” he said. “It’s advisable to use this method on low plant life areas – such as in between the gaps of a patio or block paving.”
While strong chemical weedkillers can be harmful to patio surfaces, this isn’t a concern with washing powder as it’s a more gentle option.
Sam said: “Washing powder is perfect for this, as it will not cause damage, and won’t stain the areas you apply it to.”
While you’re at it, you may also be able to use washing powder to remove moss from in between paving.
What you don’t want to do, due to its toxicity, is use it in areas where there are lots of plants you want to keep alive. You don’t want to accidentally kill the grass and flowers that make your garden a haven, such as those in borders.
Another important consideration is to make sure you always use washing powder in moderation.
“It may cause boron toxicity in the soil, depending on how much is used – and the size of the garden plot it’s used on,” said Sam. “Think ahead before adding it, as it may be hard to grow anything in future, if the soil is too heavily concentrated in boron.”
May gardening jobs
The Sun's Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine, has shared the tasks you need to crack on with in May.
GARDEN growth can go from nought to ninety in May, depending on the weather. The last UK frosts are generally seen at the beginning of the month, so all of a sudden there’s so much more to do and grow.
Plant out dahlia tubers
It’s a joy to finally plant out your dahlia tubers. Remember how big they can get – and space accordingly – anything up to half a metre apart.
It’s a good idea to put your support stakes in now instead of trying to work around them.
And make sure you include lots of well rotted manure or decent compost to feed it and then mulch to keep it moist and suppress weeds. They generally start blooming in July.
Final feed to Spring flowers
You can give a cheeky feed to all your remaining tulips and daffodils.
Although the majority of bulbs aren’t guaranteed to come back year after year any more, as long as you’ve left them to die back naturally there’s a good chance they’ll have stored enough energy to come back again. Tomato feed is fine.
Tie up climbers
Your clematis, honeysuckle and rambling roses should be well on their way by now – try to use plastic free string to tie them back into their support, or tuck them round each other to make sure they don’t sprout off in crazy directions.
Feed the lawn
It’s not too late to give your lawn a good feed.
Whether you use granular or liquid, it can give it a good boost to see it through the harsher summer months.
While mowing, don’t go too low with your cut length yet and never take more than a third off the grass height.
Get creative
It’s also time to get creative with hanging baskets and pots.
Trailing pelargoniums, which a lot of people call geraniums, and Begonias are a good, low cost way of getting lovely returning blooms throughout the summer in your baskets.
And pots can be planted with spring bulbs.
Don’t forget the greenhouse!
Give your greenhouse a good tidy and clean the glass inside and out.
The improved light will help plants grow quicker inside and tidying is good for the soul.
You can just use a household white wine vinegar and water solution – or even neat if you’re feeling spendy – which gives a really good shine.
Keep children and pets away from the area, too, while you’re putting the powder down.
Using washing powder to get rid of weeds isn’t Sam’s only clever garden hack using household staples.
With the warm and damp climate of early summer creating the ideal environment for ants, aphids and other pests, you may be looking for ways to protect your plants.
Before you rush to the shops, Sam has a solution which won’t burn a hole in your wallet. This involves you scouring your shelves for cinnamon.
He said: “Sprinkling cinnamon around the base of plants can deter ants, as they dislike the strong scent.
This, in turn, can help protect plants from aphids.”
Ants can ‘farm’ aphids, and the two have a symbiotic relationship; aphids feed the ants, and in return, ants offer aphids protection. Cinnamon can help rid your garden of both pests.
WHAT DO SHOPS SELL?
At The Range, a 1-litre spray bottle of ‘ultimate bug killer’ will set you back just under £5. In Sainsbury’s, you can buy a 33g pot of cinnamon for £1.
Not only is this a decent saving, but it will also save your garden from the potentially harmful chemicals found in shop-bought products.
Slugs can be another big problem at this time of year, but Sam has a solution for these pests, too.
All you need is a can or bottle of beer.
“Sink a shallow dish or jar filled with beer into the ground near the plants that are plagued by slugs,” said the gardening whizz. “Slugs are attracted to the beer, crawl in, and drown.”
At Robert Dyas, you can find a 400g pot of ‘slug and snail killer’ pellets for £5.79. Beer can work out a lot cheaper.
At Tesco you can find 500ml bottles of beer from just £1. At Sainsbury’s a 12-pack of 330ml bottles of Heineken premium lager is priced at £12.
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