WEED 'EM OUT
My patio was covered in weeds and grass but a £2 B&M buy worked a treat at getting rid of them – & they didn’t grow back
Scroll down to find out how to identify a weed vs a plant
THE recent warm, wet weather has been ideal for weeds to grow.
Whether you’re struggling to get rid of dandelions in your lawn, or grass between patio slabs or paving, one gardener swears by a B&M buy to get rid of them.
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Christina Louise took to the Facebook Group to ask for help.
She posted an image of her back garden - including her patio which had weeds and grass popping up between the slabs.
She asked: “Any ideas how to quickly easily get rid of the grass etc in between slabs please?”
Christina received several comments from other gardeners with lots of suggestions.
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But the most common was to physically remove the weeds - or use a nifty tool.
Liam Cotton replied: “Dig them out then put weed killer down and mix up some ready mix and put them between the slabs and point it in it will stop it coming back.”
Kirsteen Vaughan said: “Totally agree works a treat did it with ours.”
Lynn Williams shared a link to a weed scraper and commented: “One of these then dry cement in the gaps and then a light water carefully.”
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Craig Coghill replied to Lynn seconding her suggestion: “These are fantastic.”
Paul Tritton shared a different link to a weed scraper and wrote: “You can get these fairly cheap.
“Clear as much debris as possible, ideally to the bottom of the flags, then brush in some concrete powder or post mix.”
A weed scraper is a brilliant tool for removing weeds and moss from in between paving slabs.
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It has a long sharp edge which gets between the cracks, to cut weeds, whilst the hook removes the roots and any debris.
It needs to be used with precision, as the sharp edged can scrape or mark slabs if used without care.
You can buy weed scrapers from several home stores and online - including Amazon.
B&M stock a variety; it’s Rolson Groove Knife is only £2 and is said to be “the perfect tool for weeding in-between patios and slabs, with a lightweight and robust construction and easy grip handle”.
Or the Rolson Weed Brush is also “ideal for general garden maintenance”.
Priced at £4, it is said to help “keep nasty weeds at bay” with its “hard-wearing bristle brush and spike”.
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Other methods to get rid of weeds include: using white vinegar, salt, chemical weed killer or boiling water.
Once you've removed all the weeds from between your patio slabs, it's a good idea to give them a scrub.
Give the slabs a quick sweep to remove any dirt or debris.
Then, if you have a pressure washer, plug it in and get washing.
Alternatively, try a hard brush with some soapy water to lift any grime from the slabs.
Then, once dry, use polymeric jointing sand to seal the gaps in patio slabs.
This sand is a great weed preventative, all you need to do is sweep the powdered sealant between the gaps in your patio and lightly spray with water to let the sealant bond.
Top tip! Stay off your patio for 12-24 hours to let the sealant settle. And apply the sealant every other season.
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What is a weed? And why are they important?
Simply put, a weed is a plant that grows in an area or space you don't want it to.
Rebecca Miller, Fabulous' Associate Editor, and keen gardener, explains why gardeners need to become friends with weeds.
"From nettles, buttercups, docks and dandelions - there are so many wonderful plants that are called weeds. And yet, as soon as the weather warms up, and we spend more time in outside, we want to pluck, pull and kill as many of them as possible, to make our gardens look perfect and pristine.
"Weeds are essential to our ecosystem - many are pollinators, providing food to bees, bats, beetles, butterflies, moths and wasps. And without weeds, these animals wouldn't survive past early Spring.
"Weeds also give back to nature - when they die and decay, their roots break down, feed microorganisms and insects, and make pathways and tunnels for worms. Bountiful life below means plentiful life above.
"Weeds are also brilliant indicators of soil health - which is important if you want to grow anything in your outdoor space. When microorganisms and insects break down weeds, they release essential nutrients into the soil that plants soak up. They also store nitrogen and carbon dioxide in the ground, creating cleaner air and removing greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere, mitigating the climate crisis.
"So before you pull out every weed in your garden, why not give a few of them a chance to grow and bloom, and see what enters your garden to enjoy the flowers..."
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