Patio expert shares 'magic' hack to get rid of weeds in minutes - and it's free

Garden enthusiasts constantly seek effective ways to eliminate pesky weeds without harming their cherished green spaces or the local wildlife.

Simon Wardle, a patio expert from Armstrong Cheshire, warns against the use of white vinegar for weed control, highlighting its potential to damage stone surfaces and harm the environment: "This is not always advisable, as the acid can damage the surface of the stones, particularly limestone or concrete pavers, as well as being harmful to wildlife and plants."

For those who love a cuppa, Simon recommends an ingenious yet simple solution: pouring boiling water over the weeds. He assures that this method is the "perfect solution" for removing unwanted growth on your patio, regardless of the age of the weeds, and it's completely free, reports the Mirror.

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He explained: "This targeted method not only means your patio will end up weed-free, but it ensures there's no damage to your patio, or the environment, as there is no leftover residue left around. You should start to see results in minutes as the boiling water breaks down the weed - with full results in hours."

Just fill your kettle, bring it to a boil, and you're ready to go, the Express explains. Carefully carry your closed kettle to the patio and get as close to the weeds as possible, using the spout to aim directly and slowly soak the weed thoroughly

Simon advised gardeners to "wait for the magic to happen" as results can be seen "in minutes". It's important to repeat this process at the first sign of any new weeds.

The reason this method is so effective is that the boiling water "scalds the weeds by killing the leaves", which are essential for gathering light and maintaining the strength of the weeds. The expert also noted that the hot water can penetrate cracks, helping to dislodge and weaken the taproot.

While this technique works wonders on patio, driveway, and gravel weeds, there are two places where you should never use boiling water.

Simon warned against using boiling water on lawn weeds as it "will kill" them. The high temperature can strip away protective layers on the leaves and may even harm their roots with repeated use.

Gardeners should also refrain from applying boiling water to weeds near other garden plants, as it can damage parts of those plants it touches, particularly if they are still young.