Weeds can be a major problem for any garden, no matter how big or how small. No matter how hard you try, they always seem to spring back up when you’re not looking. There are many different ways of killing weeds, this article will describe some of them to help you hopefully eradicate them for good.

• Vinegar – Spraying vinegar on some weeds will kill them but will not penetrate deep into the roots, it is best to apply the vinegar with a spray on a dry day.

• Salt – Salt will also go some way to killing weeds but can also damage the soil, preventing growth of other plants in the future.

• Block out the sun – By preventing sunlight from getting to bare soil that you may have prepared for planting will prevent weeds from growing, but this is less of a way of killing weeds and more of a makeshift measure as seeds will lie dormant until the cover is removed and some only need a very small amount of sunlight before they start to germinate.

• Mulch – By mulching open areas of soil you will prevent seeds from germinating. Mulch can be made from many different materials like grass cuttings, hay, shredded plants, shredded newspaper, bark chippings and pebbles. If you are applying a mulch it is best to place quite a thick layer (8-10cm) over the area.

• Fire! – Killing weeds by using a blow-torch can be quite effective and very satisfying! But also very dangerous and is not recommended!

• Hard work! – One the most effective ways of killing weeds is by getting down on your hands and knees and getting stuck in! Before you start weeding, cut back all the tall weeds and remove them (using gloves if they are nettles or have thorns!) then dig down into the soil and remove as much of the root base as possible. Even the tiniest remnants of root can re-grow. A little weeding, often, can make a big difference but you will not be able to stop seeds getting into the soil and re-growing next season.

All of the above options are an effective way of killing weeds and can be done fairly easily (apart from the blow-torch!). Those options are ideal if you do not wish to use chemicals in your garden.

If you are happy to use chemical based products in your garden then a weed killer is your best option. Killing weeds with a weed killer will not only destroy the parts of the plant you can see but also penetrate deep into the roots and stop the weed from re-growing.