Hey everyone! ? I've just moved into a new house and it's pretty clear that the previous owners neglected the garden. I've managed to clear out some of the weeds from the stones and flags, but the real challenge is the grass area, which is mostly overrun with weeds and nettles. I'm not exactly an expert in gardening and I know that using weed killer isn't the best solution. What's the best way to get rid of these pesky plants without having to dig up each one and wrecking my yard? Thanks in advance for any advice!
5 Answers
Grab your mower and strimmer! Most weeds, particularly nettles, struggle to survive if you keep cutting them back. They’ll exhaust their resources and stop coming back while the grass continues to thrive.
One approach is to cut the nettles down to the ground and keep an eye out for new growth. If they reappear, just pull up the new shoots, trying to get the roots too. For other weeds, hand-pulling works well, especially for deep-rooted ones like dandelions—just be careful! If you find weeds between paving stones, there are special tools to help with that. Mulching can also help prevent them from coming back. It’s hard work, but it can be pretty satisfying!
Strimming the nettles each time they grow back can really help weaken them, and pulling up some roots when you can is a good idea too since their roots are shallow. For other types of weeds, hand-weeding with a trowel or hoe works fine without needing to disturb too much soil. Just make sure to replace the soil afterward. If you have woody plants, use secateurs. Remember, fixing the garden takes time, so don’t expect instant results!
By the way, did you know nettle leaves can actually be used to make fertilizer? You just need to soak them in a bucket of water. They’re also edible once cooked to remove the sting!
Regular mowing can be super effective against weeds. Grasses grow from the base, so if you keep mowing, it will eventually weaken the weeds like nettles which grow from the top. Just keep at it and your grass area should improve over time!