Killing weeds can be as easy as smothering them with one item we all have in our homes. Whether you’ve got a garden that you’d like to keep pristine, or a patio that you don’t want foliage growing out of, weeds are the bane of every homeowner’s existence – and they’re usually a nightmare to get rid of.
Weeds are naturally built for survival, and that makes killing them a lot harder than you might think. They have deep root systems and can re-grow from tiny fragments, so just pulling them up often doesn’t do the trick unless you manage to get every piece of root out of the ground. They also have waxy leaves that block chemical sprays, and massive seed banks that can lie dormant in the soil for years, making you want to tear your hair out every single spring.
But according to one homeowner on social media, there is something you can do to remove weeds in just a few hours. All you need is two things almost everyone has in their home – water and a kettle.
In a video on Instagram, the person referred to boiling water as the “most underrated weed killer”, proving that it killed the weeds along their patio within eight hours. To try the trick for yourself, simply boil a full kettle of water and take it out into your garden, pouring it directly onto the problem weeds.
A full kettle uses about 7p worth of energy to boil, meaning you can eliminate your weed problem for just a few pennies – and it could cost you even less if you don’t have many weeds to clear and can get away with only boiling a half-full kettle. The homeowner wrote in their post: “I was today years old when I learned that boiling water kills weeds. Seems so obvious after the fact… Suggested use on weeds between bricks or in cracks of concrete – it’ll kill just about anything you pour it on.”
Boiling water is effective on weeds as it melts away the waxy protective layer on the leaves and scorches the foliage, causing the plant to dry out and perish. If you find the weeds don’t die with just boiling water, you can use weed killer sprays after the water has dried, as they’ll no longer have the protective layer that repels the chemical sprays.
However, this method should never be used on flowerbeds, pots, or anywhere you have plants you wish to preserve. Boiling water shows no mercy, and applying it to a flowerbed will destroy your deliberately planted greenery alongside the weeds.
Manual removal
- Pull by hand: Uproot weeds, ensuring you remove the entire root system, especially for perennial weeds.
- Hoeing: Use a hoe to sever weeds at the soil surface. Best done when the soil is dry.
Mulching
- Organic mulch: Apply a two to four-inch layer of wood chips, straw, or leaves around plants to block sunlight.
- Landscape fabric: Place fabric under mulch for extra protection.
Chemical control
- Selective herbicides: Target specific types of weeds (e.g., broadleaf or grassy).
- Non-selective herbicides: Kill all vegetation. Use carefully to avoid harming desired plants.
- Pre-emergent herbicides: Prevent weed seeds from germinating.
Natural solutions
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- Boiling water: Pour directly onto weeds in cracks or driveways.
- Vinegar: Household vinegar can burn young weeds. Stronger horticultural vinegar is more effective, but use caution.
- Salt: Use sparingly, only in areas where you don’t want anything to grow, as salt can harm soil health.