Summer is beginning to wind down, and many plants are starting to lose their vigour, yet weeds are doing quite the opposite, as they tend to thrive at this time of year. By late August, you will start to see lots of green, leafy weeds popping up, but despite their small size, they can be difficult to remove because they have strong root systems.
Many common types of weeds, like dandelions, can grow out their roots before you see their foliage, so even if you waste an afternoon clawing at the leaves, they will likely grow back in just a few weeks. Patio weeds can be particularly stubborn, as the gap between slabs is usually warm and wet enough for them to grow really long roots, which means most natural remedies are too weak to do anything. No one wants to cover their garden in harsh chemicals that could harm wildlife, but luckily, Sophie Webb, creator of What Sophie Does, has revealed a simple way to get rid of patio weeds with just one item that everyone has sitting in their kitchen.
Boiling water will cook the weed foliage as well as its root system (Image: Getty)
Sophie said: “Boiling water is one of the simplest, cheapest and most effective ways to get rid of weeds growing through the cracks in your pavement or paths.
“Just pour it directly onto the weeds and the heat destroys the plant right down to the root with no harsh chemicals, no expensive products, and no harm to the environment. Perfect for driveways, patio edges and garden paths.”
It might seem too easy, but weeds will break down at temperatures around 100°C, so filling a kettle and pouring the hot water over them is usually enough to kill them.
Boiling hot water will cook the enzymes in the weed so they can no longer function.
Using a kettle to kill weeds takes just 10 minutes of effort, and best of all, you do not have to spend any money at all, so there is no risk of trying it out yourself to see if it works.
All you need to do is pour the hot water slowly onto a weed and then wait (Image: Katherine McPhillips )
There are some downsides to using boiling water, though: it can take a day or two to completely kill a weed, so you might need to be a little patient.
If you have a really deep-rooted weed on your patio, it will require much more boiling water, so you may need to repeat this treatment a few times to get rid of it completely.
However, boiling water remains one of the most effective ways to kill patio weeds, so you do not need to use a chemical product or something unlikely to work, like vinegar, baking soda, or salt.
How to kill off patio weeds using just a kettle
All you need to do is fill the kettle, wait for it to boil, and then carefully carry it outside to the patio.
Take extra care when handling the boiling water, as this is the riskiest part of the treatment. Make sure your route is clear of any obstacles and keep children and pets well away before picking up the kettle.
When the weed is dead you just need to sweep it up and throw it in the bin (Image: Getty)
Once you reach the weeds, position yourself securely and carefully pour boiling water directly over them.
Pour slowly to minimise splashing, and be careful not to get the water on yourself or nearby plants, as boiling water can harm or kill almost any plant it comes into contact with.
You should notice the weeds beginning to droop within a few minutes. After several hours, they should appear wilted and brown; however, particularly stubborn or deep-rooted weeds may take longer to die completely.
Once the weeds have died back, simply sweep away the remnants with a broom and dispose of them. Your patio will look much tidier with very little effort and without the need for a chemical weed killer.