5 essentials people with weed-free gardens always have handy – the simple, time-saving secrets to keep them under control
These must-haves make weed maintenance so much easier
I know all too well that keeping on top of weeds can be a never-ending battle, especially at this time of year when warm temperatures and regular rainfall create the perfect conditions for plants to thrive and some of the unwanted ones too.
Over the years, through maintaining my own garden and writing about gardening for a living, I've noticed that the tidiest gardens tend to have the same things in common.
So if you're wondering how to get rid of weeds naturally or looking for ways to kill them off, these are the five things I believe every weed-free garden has, from the right weeding tools to clever planting tricks that leave little room for unwanted growth.
1. The right weeding tools
Not all weeds are created equal, so gardeners can't rely on a one-size-fits-all approach to weeding flower beds, patios, and lawns.
From long-rooted dandelions to sprawling ground ivy, having the right weeding tool for the job makes removing weeds far easier and helps prevent them from returning.
Hand forks like Kent & Stowe's, £8.95 at Amazon, daisy grubbers like Spear & Jackson's tool, £8.56 at Amazon, stand-up weed pullers (you'll not need to bend with this weed puller, £25.99 from Amazon) and stirrup hoes (this stirrup hoe and cultivator, £19.99 at Amazon, gets my vote) all have their place, depending on where the weeds are growing and how established they are.
My mum and I swear by a root slayer. It's perfect for digging out trickier weeds with particularly stubborn roots in beds and lawns.
This long-handled tool lets you uproot the weeds without having to bend over or kneel down, and the handy foot pedal gives you enough purchase to grab weeds right by the root.
Technically a trowel, the Hori-Hori knife is handy for weeding, bulb planting and transplanting and even sharp enough to use for cutting too.
Gardena's hand Weeder is best suited to loosening and aerating soil in the garden, beds, and flower boxes and helps removes weeds with it.
I love this lightweight cordless cultivator because it's a lightweight, battery-powered garden tool with rotating tines that quickly break up the surface and dislodge shallow-rooted weeds.
Our gardens editor, Sophie, found the long-handled Newman and Cole weed brush comfortable to use and quickly removes weeds between paving blocks.
2. A pressure washer
Weeds don't just appear in borders. Patio joints, paving, and driveways are some of the biggest problem areas, and a pressure washer is often the secret weapon to have close to hand, not just to blast away patio and pathway grime but to target weeds too.
Used regularly, a pressure washer can blast away young weeds, moss and debris before they become more established, and helps keep hard landscaping looking spotless throughout the growing season. I've got the Nilfisk Excellent 160-10 PA pressure washer, £310 at Amazon, which works wonders on all surfaces.
Our best pressure washer is so easy to use and delivers great results. It comes with a detergent and a car kit.
The best cordless pressure washer in our guide means there's no outdoor plug or tap needed for use. It's unbelievably lightweight and easy to use, but may not be as powerful as mains-powered models.
I really rate this Nilfisk pressure washer for its cleaning power and multipurpose gun and lance. Its 10m flexible hose is perfect for harder-to-reach areas, and it's quite compact for easy storage.
3. Plants that fill every gap
One of the easiest ways to reduce weeds is to leave weeds with nowhere to grow! Gardeners with tidy, low-maintenance borders often use ground cover plants and densely planted schemes to shade the soil surface, making it so much harder for weeds to take hold.
Plants such as hardy geraniums (I've got Geranium endressii, from £14.99 at Thompson & Morgan in my garden), creeping phlox and ajuga (Ajuga reptans 'Catlin's giant', from £7.99 at Crocus is a beauty) naturally suppress weed growth by blocking sunlight from reaching weed sprouts.
4. Mulched borders
Mulch is one of the hardest-working materials in any garden, and its ability to suppress weed growth is high on the list of benefits. A layer of bark, compost or well-rotted manure helps suppress weed germination, retain moisture and improve soil health all at the same time.
It's a simple job that can make a dramatic difference to the amount of weeding required throughout the season, and one I am fully on board with. At the minute I'm laying down RocketGro's Magic Mulch, £18.99 from Amazon, in my planters and have also been laying bark in wider areas as it's more budget-friendly, like Westland's chipped bark, £13.40 from Amazon.
5. Gravel and membrane where it matters
For paths, seating areas and other non-planted spaces, gravel paired with a quality landscape membrane can significantly reduce weed growth.
While gravel is often associated with paths, I've found it's just as useful in certain borders and is particularly effective around drought-tolerant plants like lavender, rosemary and salvias, where gravel helps improve drainage.
A layer of gravel laid over landscaping membrane (I've used newspaper and cardboard in the past) can help suppress weeds, retain moisture and give planting schemes a neat, finished look. While the odd weed may still appear from wind-blown seeds landing on the surface, this combination helps stop persistent weeds from emerging from below, making them easier to remove.
While weeds will always find a way to appear from time to time (ahem, herb robert), these are the five essentials I think make the biggest difference in the battle against them.
Whether you're tackling weedy borders or trying to clear patios and paths, a combination of smart tools and planting will keep those weeds in check.
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