With the weather set to improve again later this week, many of us will be planning BBQs and garden parties, to make the most of the summer sun.
With that in mind, many homeowners will be looking to ensure their garden is in tip-top condition, including getting rid of any weeds poking through the slats of your patio slabs.
You may be tempted to opt for a traditional weed-killer, however, this can be expensive, and can be dangerous to pets.
Gardening expert Bob, revealed that the best method to use to kill off weeds is boiling water.
Posting to the National Gardening Associated, he said: “A safe way to kill weeds is ti pout boiling water on them.
“It will literally burn them, and there will be no toxins left behind”.
All you need to do is fill your kettle with water, boil it and then pour the water over the weeds.
Boiling water is a great natural alternative to weed killer, that won’t harm humans or animals.
It will also not cause any damage to your patio slabs, which can occur when vinegar is used to kill weeds, as the acidity can cause the paving to erode.
It is also a practically free method of killing weeds and only costs the price of boiling a kettle (about 3p).
When pouring boiling water on the weeds, make sure to keep the water away from any plants you want to keep, as the water will kill these as well.
Bob said: “If there are any plants close by, you could cut the top and bottom out of a tin can or plastic bottle, place that collar around the weed, and then pour.
“This should keep the water from running to nearby plants. Be careful if using a collar – I would recommend gloves or a hot pot holder in case it needs to be supported.”
As soon as you pour boiling water on the weeds, they should begin to wilt.
This is because the extreme heat of the water will dehydrate the weed’s root system.
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.
Make sure to be extra careful when carrying out this method, as you could easily burn yourself with the boiling water.
Within a few hours, the weeds should have withered away and died.
Since the boiling water attacks the root system, the weeds shouldn’t return.
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