Kill gravel weeds with garden remedy that 'does the trick' in just two uses
A gardener has revealed the cheap and effective home remedy she swears by to keep path weeds at bay all year.
Weeds are a nuisance for all gardeners whether they grow in green lawns or around paving and gravel. According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), hard surfaces such as paths and patio can become a breeding ground for unwanted growth, despite being chosen as a low-maintenance alternative to turf.
Cracks between paving stones and less worn edges of paths are particularly susceptible to weeds as a result of different weather conditions due to the moist soil that lurks beneath the surface.
Harsh chemicals seem like the obvious choice when nearby plants aren't an issue for path weeds but one gardener has found a remarkable alternative.
Sharing her wisdom on the Facebook Page 'Creative Gardening', Anna Fariello showed a picture of her weed-free garden path. Though it looked like a place she had spent hours in to keep pristine, she credited her success to something else.
Anna claimed that she de-weeds her garden path just "two to three times a year", using vinegar.
Anna explained: "I do have to pull an occasional weed, but for the most part, the regular applications of vinegar does the trick."
She noted that instead of using "high potency vinegar" like white spirit, she uses "regular household vinegar" instead.
According to the gardener, the best method of application is to take a gallon-sized watering can (around four litres), fill it with one-quart vinegar, a squirt of dish soap and then fill the rest up with water.
Though it may be tempting to try this gardening tip immediately, Anna warned that it's best applied to a completely dry pathway.
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She continued: "I wait until it’s been dry for several days. Then walk along the path “watering” the path."
In the image shared by Anna on the Facebook page, she showed a sizeable section of the path that's lined with grass, flowers and trees. But she explained that the actual pathway is around "three times the length".
Even so, she uses just "three gallons of vinegar" to treat the gravelled sections of the garden, which totals "a little over $10". In the UK, three gallons is equivalent to around 11.4 litres.
Amazon sells white vinegar in 20-litre quantities (four five-litre bottles) for £13.99. Alternatively, buy vinegar by the bottle for just 62p per litre at Sainsbury's.
As for how often Anna uses this non-chemical week-killing method, she suggested a seasonal approach: "I do it once in the early spring again in the fall, and sometimes, a third time in the summer", she said.
Fellow gardening enthusiasts supported Anna's method, with one person sharing: "Yep. We do the same. Granted you have to do it a couple times a year... but way less work than weeding or high-priced toxic weedkillers."
A second person wrote: "I add a cup of salt to a gallon of vinegar and two tablespoons of dish soap. Kills weeds and grass. Non-toxic! Love."
Another chimed: "I use vinegar on my walks and for weeds too. I use the 30 percent strength and works great. Full strength, in a spray bottle."
