Gardeners battling weeds that sprout between gravel stones are being urged to ditch vinegar and salt in favour of a simpler kitchen staple: boiling water. The scalding treatment, shared by Instagram user @carolina.mccaauley, destroys the plants so they cannot muster the energy to continue sprouting, switching off the roots and ensuring the persistent invaders do not return.
Captioning the clip, Carolina said: "This all-natural solution 100 percent works to remove weeds fast."
How the boiling water method works
All you need to do is fill up a kettle, carry it to your patio and pour a liberal amount of water onto the weeds. Be sure to pour slowly and avoid using this technique near other plants or grass, as the extreme temperature can destroy any greenery in your garden.
One drawback to using boiling water is you will need to repeat the treatment until the tap root eventually gives up. It may require three or four applications to eliminate the weed permanently. Each time it regrows, treat it once more. It will return less and less vigorously over time until it does not reappear at all.
What gardeners say about the trick
After a few days, should you notice any new weeds beginning to emerge, continue to repeatedly douse them with boiling water and eventually the root will die off completely. The weeds will turn brown when they are dead.
Fellow gardening enthusiasts were quick to share their views on this handy tip. @daniel07894 wrote: "Boiling water works a charm. Even helps to get rid of ants." @mo_yep commented: "This is a great solution for unwanted weeds when you have outdoor animals. Works great!"
@gunbarul_3 said: "Boiling water works better than the other home remedies. It starts to work in 30 seconds." @niteshadow1 claimed: "Been doing this for years! It's non-toxic and deadly on weeds." @belenschilli noted: "If you put hot water on them, they will die."
