A simple hack could leave your garden weed-free in weeks thanks to old newspapers and all without the need for any damaging chemicals to be applied to your flower beds
If you have a garden then you’ll know that the summer months can cause an absolute nightmare when it comes to weeds. But now a new viral hack has given green-fingered flower lovers new hope for being free of weeds thanks to one simple trick. The incredible trick requires nothing more than some old newspaper and will have your flowerbeds blooming free of unwanted intruders for months.
The eco-friendly trick also banishes the need for any use of harsh weed killers instead taking a far simpler approach that won’t disturb natural wildlife and insects. The method involves taking layers of damp newspaper and placing it anywhere you have an issue with weeds in your garden.
You then add some soil over the top of the layers of paper to hide it and let it get to work at killing the weeds. It works by starving anything beneath it of light or nutrients. The newspaper will also gradually break down and become mulch, eventually creating a new layer of soil.
Evie Lane, a Gardening Expert at Primrose told RealHomes: “There’s little more painful than picking out weeds that have come through your decking for hours, only for them to return within a few weeks. Adding a layer of damp newspaper on top of your soil acts as a weed suppressant and prevents seeds from germinating in the soil, or taking root above the soil.”
Evie also claimed that the mulch will become extremely beneficial to the soil and garden in the winter months. The damp newspaper will help to keep moisture locked into the ground when temperatures drop and keep it loose and prevent it from drying out too quickly in the future.
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The simplicity of the trick coupled with the fact the method requires no pesticides makes it a top choice for ridding your garden of weeds. Other natural methods for killing off unwanted growth includes using a simple solution of white vinegar with some washing up liquid and salt mixed in.
The combined solution is then added to a spray bottle and when applied to the leaves of the weeds will cause them to wither and die. However, meticulous application is needed so as not to kill any precious plants nearby in the process.
The method requires four cups of vinegar to half a cup of salt and two teaspoons of washing up liquid or multiples thereof. It can also be painted on to the leaves using a brush for a more precise application.
