My gravel weeds were driving me insane – a three part solution killed them off, and it only cost £1
A GARDENING fan has shared a simple hack for ridding your garden gravel of pesky weeds.
Weeds can pop up anywhere, and can be especially annoying in the summertime, when warm weather causes them to grow quicker.
You may be tempted to use weed killer to get rid of the weeds, however, this can be expensive and can be dangerous to pets.
Taking to TikTok, Ian Grossman revealed a “chemical free” solution that will kill your patio weeds in no time.
To make the solution, Ian advised using white, vinegar, salt and washing up liquid.
The gardening fan said that he likes to put the mixture into a large pump sprayer, but you can just use an old cleaning spray bottle.
If you do want to use a pump sprayer, you can pick one up from B&Q for around £12.
After loading up the sprayer with his concoction, Ian sprayed it all over his gravel weeds.
However, he warned against getting the mixture anywhere near plants you don’t want to get rid of, as this will kill then as well.
Salt is a great natural alternative to toxic weed killer.
It works by increasing the levels on ions in the soil and increasing osmotic pressure, which means the weeds will be unable to absorb water and will dry out.
White vinegar works in a similar way, as the acidity of it breaks down cell walls and removes moisture from weeds.
Washing up liquid does not work on its own to kill weeds but improves the effectiveness of the formula by holding the salt and the vinegar on the weeds.
All three of these ingredients are super cheap, so you should be able to make the mixture for around £1.
Ian’s video, posted under the username @realestate_atx, has likely left many people impressed, as it has racked up over 65,000 views on the video sharing platform.
TikTok users raced to the video’s comments section to share their thoughts on the hack.
July gardening jobs
The Sun's Gardening Editor Veronica Lorraine, has shared the tasks you need to tackle this July in your garden.
1. Prune Wisteria
You should only prune back Wisteria twice a year – and July – or mid summer – is one of those times. After flowering cut back long side shoots to around seven buds.five or six leaves.
2. Pinch out tomatoes
Your tomatoes should be really picking up – so pinch out all the side shoots without flowers – and remove all the leaves that are shading the tomatoes – this will give them maximum light and energy.
3. Keep weeding
Hand weeding and hoeing the surface of the soil will keep your weeds under check.
4. Feed Dahlias
To keep Dahlias flowering until Autumn, you must keep feeding them weekly with a liquid fertliser high in potassium – which encourages blooms.
5. Keep deadheading plants
Keep up with deadheading your bedding plants and perennials – so they keep coming back for the season. With roses make sure you’re deadheading back to a set of five leaves, giving you the best chance of them flowering again.
6. Check on your pond
If you’re lucky enough to have a pond – make sure it’s clear of algae, which can really bloom when the sun beats down.
7. Feed your lawn
Whether that’s with a liquid feed or granules. If you’ve chosen granules try to get them down before the rain comes, so they soak into the soil.
8. Tend to strawberry plants
Cut the leaves off strawberry plants after you’ve picked them – leaving the crown untouched – which should help with next years fruit.
9. Sow extra seeds
July weather is a great time to sow seeds as the warm soil and sunshine is great for germination. Try carrots, winter broccoli and other brassicas.
10. Move young plants into soil
Get any young plants you’ve got left in the greenhouse – like courgettes – into the soil.
One person said: “Thanks for the tip”.
A second person said: “My son made this for us and it works”.
A third person said: “This works well.
“I did this down my driveway last year and it did a good job for the whole season.”
A fourth added: “This works amazingly”.
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