Natural Ways To Tackle Weeds

Tried-and-tested solutions to keep plant bullies at bay

- Helena Cartwright

Keep a small area of weeds to help wildlife. Bees, butterflies and other pollinators rely on ground ivy, dandelions, daisies and clover for shelter, food and nesting.

Nothing is more annoying than weeds, especially when they pop up in your garden’s prized border. Regular hoeing will prevent them gaining a foothold, ideally on dry, sunny days with little wind, so seeds don’t spread and weeds shrivel on the surface. But if they’ve already taken hold, here are a few chemical-free ways to deal with them.

Mulching

Use bark chips to smother weeds. It will also make them easier to pull out if they do appear. Add to a depth of about 10cm, and leave a gap around plant stems to avoid rotting, and top up throughout the year.

Hand weeding