With so much sunny weather recently, many of us have dragged a deck chair into the garden to bask in the rays, but a patio overrun with weeds can really spoil the view. Patios can quickly become covered in weeds in late spring, as the warm temperature, with the odd very rainy day, will create the perfect conditions for these pesky plants to grow. 

However, you do not need to waste time scrubbing your deck or spend loads of money on chemical solutions, as the best way to kill weeds is in your kitchen. Simon Akeroyd, a gardener and writer, has shared that his favourite natural method is to simply use boiling water from a kettle, as it prevents weeds from growing back. 

In a video online, Simon said: “Many of the vinegars and other liquids suggested by many gardeners on social media do not get to the root of the problem. 

“Literally. They might destroy the leaves, but usually the root below survives and sends up new shoots.

“Boiling water usually kills off the entire weed. If it does manage to come back again, it will be much weaker, and a quick second or third dose with boiling water will finish it off.”

It is very common for people online to suggest using white vinegar to kill weeds, but it is not absorbent enough to travel down to the roots to kill the weed permanently. 

However, pouring boiling water onto the weeds can deeply penetrate the surface to reach the roots, and the intense heat will kill the whole plant, preventing it from growing back.

This is a natural way to kill weeds without having to use chemicals in the garden, and it requires only a few minutes of effort, so you do not have to waste an afternoon pulling up pesky weeds. 

How to remove patio weeds and stop them growing back

Boil the kettle and carry it to your patio, but make sure to be careful not to trip or drop it. 

Once you are ready to kill the weeds, hold the kettle close to the plant and begin to slowly pour the water

Try to hold the kettle at arm’s length to prevent any of the hot water from splashing onto you. 

Also, boiling water will greatly stress or even damage normal plants, so try to prevent it from splashing onto your lawn or any potted plants nearby. 

Within a day, the weeds should turn brown and begin to wilt away, so all you have to do is throw away the decaying foliage. 

However, if the weed is particularly strong and has deep roots, you may need to repeat this process every day for a few days to completely get rid of it and prevent it from returning.