Paving expert on why you should never use white vinegar to kill weeds – the ‘free solution’ that won’t damage your slabs
A PAVING expert has revealed why you shouldn't use white vinegar to get rid of your patio weeds.
Weeds that poke up between the slabs of your patio can be incredibly frustrating, and a popular method used to get rid of them, is white vinegar.
White vinegar is acidic, and the acid breaks down the cell walls of weeds, causing them to die off.
It is also super cheap, and you can pick up a bottle from B&M for 79p.
However, the expert revealed that you should not use vinegar if you have well kept patio slabs.
With some slabs, especially those which are made of limestone or concrete, the acidity of the vinegar could cause some serious damage.
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Not only this but vinegar may cause gastrointestinal upset to pets to lick it off the slabs.
Paving specialists Harpenden Block Paving shared an alternative method to kill your weeds, that will not harm pets or your patio.
They said: "A good way to kill weeds and prevent germination is to boil your kettle and pour the water between your patio slabs."
The experts warned that you may have to give the technique a few tries "until you have doused all pesky weeds".
They added: "Be careful when pouring the boiling water, pour from a short height and pour directly onto the weeds."
Gardener's World confirmed that boiling water is a great method of killing weeds.
It said: "It's a particularly useful technique on paths and paving where you don't have to worry about nearby plants being affected".
It is also completely free, aside from the small cost of the water, and boiling your kettle.
Another weed-killing alternative is to use lemon juice.
How To Make Your Small Garden Look Bigger
Garden design expert Fiona Jenkins from MyJobQuote.co.uk has created a guide on how to make your small garden look larger.
Add shelves - for additional storage and place to hold more plants.
Use foldaway furniture - to take up less space when not in use.
Add privacy - with fencing, trellis, brick walls or hedging.
Add a water feature - to make your garden seem like a natural retreat.
Go bright - when choosing plants, opt for bold colours to make the space pop.
Use large planters - to get more plants in less space.
Plant vertically - add plants upwards to make your garden seem fuller, and therefore, bigger.
Use blue flowers at the edges - blue flowers and plants recede into the distance and make the garden appear bigger.
Grow tall plants - it's better to think big when it comes to a small garden.
Keep clutter a minimum - as it can give the illusion of less space than there actually is.
Lemon juice contains citric acid, which causes weeds to shrivel up and die.
However, a fair amount of lemon juice is needed.
According to Gardener's World, you would need to use around five lemons to kill your weeds.
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