As temperatures rise, many households look forward to spending time in their gardens. However, weeds sprouting between patio slabs can be an unwelcome sight. Fortunately, a simple household staple costing as little as 30p can help control these persistent plants.
Salt as a Natural Weedkiller
According to Andy McLaughlin of RF Paving, salt can be used to dry out weeds, ultimately killing them. He cautions that excessive salt application may harm paving slabs or other materials if used too frequently. The best approach, he advises, is to create a diluted spray by combining one cup of salt with three parts water. This method helps safeguard both paving and surrounding soil.
Speaking to Martha Stewart, McLaughlin said: "The frequent use of salt, especially on natural stone, can weaken the structural integrity of the paving, as well as cause discoloration and even erosion."
Cost-Effective Solution
A 1.5kg bag of cooking salt retails for just £1.90 at Tesco, working out at roughly 30p per 250g cup for each spray batch. According to Gardeners' World magazine, salt solutions offer a "cheap and easy" method for eliminating weeds from outdoor spaces. However, the publication notes that salt can modify soil pH levels, so it should be used with caution.
The guidance states: "Salt (sodium chloride) can be very harmful to plants if applied in high enough doses, as it dehydrates them. Salt is not good for the garden, however, as it will also kill other plants and will ultimately affect the pH of the soil. For this reason, use on paving and paths only and make sure that the solution does not leach into nearby soil."
Application Tips
Gardeners' World advises using ordinary household table salt rather than rock, sea, or Epsom salts. The salt must be dissolved in water to work as a weedkiller, and the strength can be increased if needed.
Meanwhile, gardening specialist Ryan Walts suggests baking soda as another household alternative for weed control. He noted that baking soda is particularly effective for eliminating small weeds growing between paving slabs and in gaps or fissures. He explained: "Baking soda works to kill plants due to the salt content. The salt dries out the plant, making it difficult for that plant to uptake moisture, resulting in death."
According to Ryan, baking soda can be applied directly onto weeds or mixed into a spray solution. The optimal time for application is during dry weather with minimal wind.
