The 70p buy that kills weeds instantly but will damage the rest of your garden & your patio slabs – what to use instead

WEEDS are the ultimate gatecrashers in the garden.

And it won’t be long until every gardener is looking for new ways to get rid of them.

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Martin Stewart, Ryobi‘s National Trainer, spoke exclusively to Fabulous about the best ways to get rid of weeds and why using bleach is the worst thing you could do.

He said: “Weeds are uninvited, relentless, and determined to take over your garden.

“Some of the worst weed offenders include dandelions, whose deep roots make them frustratingly persistent, and bindweed, a fast-growing vine that wraps itself around plants and suffocates them.

“Ground elder spreads aggressively underground, making it hard to control, while nettles sting and quickly take over if left unchecked.

“Couch grass is another invasive menace, competing fiercely with flowers and vegetables, while chickweed multiplies at an alarming rate.

“Each one poses its own challenge, but with the right approach, they can all be managed effectively.”

The expert added: “The best method depends on the type of weeds and where they’re growing, but the top attacks against undesirable greenery we’d recommend are…”

Bleach

Pros: Cheap and highly effective on patios and driveways

Cons: Bleach is toxic to all living things and will damage the soil.

It should never be used in garden beds as it can make your soil too alkaline to grow plants. When bleach breaks down in your soil, it leaves behind salt, which is harmful to plants.

If you have weeds between patio slabs, and choose to use bleach to kill them, it can also damage the stones.

Bleach also has strong fumes and can be bad for the environment and your health.

Manual removal & scraping

Pros: Eco-friendly and effective for surface weeds.

Cons: Can be time-consuming and labour-intenstive.

Tip: patio cleaner tools make quick work of this task while using minimal energy!

Weed killers (herbicides) 

Pros: Fast-acting weed work within a few days, and are great for stubborn weeds like bindweed. 

Cons: Weed killers can be harmful to surrounding plants and even wildlife. Users should be extra careful to avoid this risk. 

Flame weeding

Pros: A quick, chemical-free option for patios and paths. It’s a safe method if you have pets and children as it doesn’t leave chemical residue behind.

Cons: Isn’t great for deep-rooted weeds and comes with a fire risk.

White vinegar

Pros: Cheap and natural – this cupboard essential is great for tackling small weeds in cracks.

Cons: While visible parts of the weed will be sorted, white vinegar won’t kill roots so isn’t a long-term solution.