My 16p trick will rid your garden of weeds – it’s a complete no-brainer and two more household staples will help

WITH the first signs of spring finally in the air, we can start turning our attention to our outside spaces.

A well-maintained garden or patio can be a real haven to relax in or the perfect place to host family and friends.

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But after the winter we’ve had, many gardens have been left overgrown with weeds.

The unrelenting wet weather of the past few months has been extremely damaging to Brits’ gardens.

If your outside space is looking more like a jungle than a place to chill out right now, fear not.

You don’t need to rush out and spend money on costly weed-killer products – one gardening expert has come up with a cheap and easy way to keep these pesky plants at bay.

Fiona Jenkins, from MyJobQuote.co.uk, told The Sun: “With minimal effort, you can kill weeds with lemon. Simply cut the fruit in half and then squeeze the juice over the weed.”

At Sainsbury’s, you can pick up a five-pack of lemons for £1.50, meaning each one costs around 30p, while at Asda, a four-pack of Just Essentials own-brand lemons costs 65p. This means each one costs just 16p.

Ms Jenkins said: “The citric acid in the lemon should kill the unwanted plant within a few days.

“This method is especially effective when there is strong sun shining on the weeds. The lemon juice can be used as it is, there is no need to dilute it.”

She added that lemons can be a much better alternative to shop-bought products, many of which can contain harmful chemicals.

Plus, lemons can be purchased a lot more cheaply than weed-killer.

“Using a home-made alternative is a bit of a no-brainer,” she said.

Using lemons isn’t the only way to keep your garden looking lovely, according to the gardening whizz.

“Some weeds you can just pull out by hand,” Ms Jenkins said.

“Removing the root is the most important thing. Pull carefully at the base of the weed to ensure you’ve pulled it out completely.

“If you are pulling up nettles, remember to always wear gloves.”

Alternatively, if there’s a few tougher plants where you’re struggling to pull up the roots yourself, you might want to invest in a cheap ‘weed-puller’ tool.

On eBay, you can pick up one of these devices for less than a tenner.

Ms Jenkins said: “Without too much effort – or expense – you can turn your garden into a space that is easy to care for.”

She added that there is another clever trick for eradicating weeds which get a lot of sunlight.

“That involves vodka,” she said.

“You need to create a mixture of one-part vodka and two-parts water.

“Then, add a couple of drops of liquid dish soap to the solution, and put this in a spray bottle for easier application.”

At Tesco, you can buy a 35cl bottle of vodka for less than £7. You can get a bamboo spray bottle from Dunelm for £2.

“Once you’ve made your vodka-based solution, spray it directly onto the weed and this will dry the weed out and kill it off,” said Ms Jenkins.

“Just be sure to avoid spraying it on the surrounding grass or plants as it will dry out your grass and make it look quite unappealing.”

While you’re at it, it’s worth taking a little salt out into the garden with you, she said.

“Salt can be quite effective at killing weeds. Simply sprinkle some liberally over the weed and leave it there. This should kill off the weed within a few days.”

This isn’t the only clever use for this household staple.

“Salt is also great for deterring insects and slugs,” added Ms Jenkins.

“Be careful not to sprinkle the salt on the surrounding lawn or plants as this could kill off some of the grass or plants.”

Another super simple way to help rid your garden of dreaded weeds is by using boiling water to burn the plants.

“Take some water from the kettle and pour it directly on the unwanted plant,” said Ms Jenkins.

“This will cause it to burn up. But avoid getting the boiling water on the surrounding areas of grass or plants, or it could cause some damage to plants you want to keep.”

If you’re set on using a shop-bought weed-killer, be sure to opt for an eco-friendly product.

“Many weed killers can be quite toxic and dangerous,” warned Ms Jenkins.

“However, there are now many eco-friendly options available to buy.”

The key is to check the label carefully before you make your purchase.

Gardening tips and hacks

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk