Weeds, just like moss, can be a big problem in gardens as they can get into the cracks and crevices of your patio slabs, making them difficult to remove.
Sometimes the fight against weeds can seem futile. Gardeners might spend all afternoon on their knees ridding paths and patios of them only for them to reappear almost instantly.
However, one woman claims patio weeds are “easy” to remove with her method – and it uses one natural ingredient.
While many often steer towards white vinegar to remove patio weeds, there is another kitchen staple gardeners can use and it’s less likely to cause damage to plants and lawns.
Instagram user @thatmamarealtor, also known as Jessica Nakamura, recommends using baking soda for the job.
She demonstrated her method in a video on Instagram, which Jessica captioned: “This is an easy way to permanently get rid of the weeds between your patio stones.”
She started the video by saying: “If you need a simple way to get rid of the weeds between your patio try using baking soda.”
In the video, Jessica sprinkles the area of her patio where weeds are taking over with baking soda and using a broom to distribute the powder throughout the cracks.
The next step is to wet it with your garden hose. After “24 hours,” Jessica claimed that the weeds would be dead and could be pulled out “so easily” and “won’t grow back.”
For those skeptical about using baking soda on their patio weeds, Jessica took to the comments section one month later to share whether or not the weeds had grown back and if the baking soda had affected her lawn beside the patio.
She said: “One month later, patio is still weed-free and grass is still green.”
Also called sodium bicarbonate, baking soda is so effective at eliminating weeds thanks to its high salt content.
When exposed to an overload of salt, weeds cannot survive, leaving the plant to become dehydrated and unable to re-grow.
Once the foliage has died off above ground, the weed should be easy to remove from its root – making it even harder for the plant to return to your garden.
Although an increased level of salt in the soil also poses a problem for non-weed plants in the vicinity, the problem is easily corrected with a simple flush of water or heavy rainfall which can wash away the remnants of the baking soda.