Hopefully, if you’ve given them enough water, the recent heatwave has helped your plants thrive.
But creating good conditions for plants also creates the conditions for ones you don’t want – the weeds.
Harsh chemical weed killers are best avoided – they can kill other plants and can be dangerous for pets.
So how can you keep your garden looking neat and tidy, or just get rid of those pesky leaves that poke out between the bricks on your balcony.
According to Freddie Blackett, CEO and Co-Founder of Patch, the best way to stop weeds is preventing them growing in the first place.
He explains: ‘Even the greatest grower in the world will have to do battle with weeds. No matter how careful you are they will always try to sneak into beds, pots, even little gaps between paving slabs. Weeds are annoying, but they’re not that hard to keep under control, if you take the right steps.
‘The best way to keep weeds away is to not give them a chance to grow in the first place. Before you even put your new plant in its planter, make sure the planter is really clean. If you’re reusing planters, there’s a risk they could have some weed seeds lurking in them.
‘Use hot soapy water to give your planter a thorough clean before putting any new plants in it (make sure to rinse it fully). For a really deep clean you could use a diluted bleach solution, but if you plan to do that make sure to test it on a small, inconspicuous spot first, to make sure it won’t stain your planter.’
Once you have planted your flowers and shrubs, you can stop weeds by covering the exposed soil in the pot using mulch, made up of bits of wood and other garden waste.
Freddie explains: ‘Mulch will keep the soil cool and prevent light getting to it, making it much harder for any invading weeds to germinate. Replace the mulch every year. Alternatively, you could achieve the same result by covering the soil with pebbles or shells, if you fancy something more decorative. You just want something that will block the light but let the plant breathe.’
But if it’s too late for prevention you’re already in a jungle of weeds, there are still things you can do.
Freddie adds: ‘When you see one poking its unwanted head out, stop it in its tracks. Just take a quick glance over your planters every week or so and pull up any little young weeds. You want to get rid of them before they get big and drop seed, because then you’ll be dealing with a whole family of invaders.
‘Of course, weeds don’t just infest planters and pots. They also tend to find their way into any small crack, in pathways, decking or balconies. These ones should be shown no mercy. One solution is to pour boiling water on any you see, which should kill them off. We don’t suggest that for balconies as you never know who might be innocently sitting on the balcony beneath yours.
‘You can also use a salt solution, poured into the cracks wherever you see weeds. It will make the ground completely inhospitable to plants, so be very careful not to pour the salty water near any soil where you will actually want to grow anything.’
MORE: How to keep house plants alive during a heatwave
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