We all know weeds can be a major nuisance, especially in the garden. They can grow out of control, choke out other plants and be an eyesore. If you are like me, you want to get rid of weeds in your lawn and garden as fast as possible. Have you ever seen weeds growing in your lawn or garden and wondered if there was a natural, non-herbicide way to get rid of them?
You may have heard people say that pouring boiling water on the weed will kill it. But is this true? Read on for more information about how to use boiling water to kill weeds and re-establish a healthy and thriving garden!
Does Boiling Water Kill Weeds?
Pouring boiling water on the weed and ground surface will kill any living thing below the surface. This can be done with a heat-proof watering can or hose if available or by pouring from a pot onto the weed.
A kettle is the best option if you have it, because kettles often have a smaller opening so you can pour the boiling water in a more controlled and precise manner.
All you have to do with this method is: Bring the water to a boil, transfer it to a pourable container, and pour it over the weeds you want to eliminate. It’s that easy! Because it’s just water, you don’t need to skimp on the amount you use. Don’t overdo it and water-log the weeds, but also you can be generous with it, as you can always just boil more if you run out.
It is recommended that you pour boiling water onto weed patches every week or two depending on how fast they grow. Also, be sure to wear closed-toed shoes, long trousers, and thick, long sleeves when working with boiling water, because any contact with skin can cause irritation, scalds, and even sever burns.
How Does Boiling Water Work to Kill Weeds?
The heat from the boiling water will kill the weed by collapsing its cellular structure. Boiling water kills weeds by destroying cells that control their growth and leaves them dead.
Boiling water will kill the surface area of the weed, which is why it needs to be poured directly on top of weeds that are at least 3 inches tall. However, it may not reach all the way down to the root of a weed, especially if that root is many inches underground. Repeated treatments are the most effective way to make sure you’ve killed the whole weed.
However, boiling water will also kill the good plants you have in your garden. For this reason, some people will only use this method to eliminate weed that are not around other plants, like those growing through cracks in the sidewalk or driveway.
The best way to use boiling water against weeds is by layering newspapers around your weed problem before pouring hot boiled water onto them. Also, be sure to be slow and precise when pouring. This way, you will only kill what you are aiming to kill.
You can also disinfect the soil using boiling water. To use boiling water to sterilize seeds, or just clean up soil of parasites or underground weeds, boil the water for a few minutes, and after let it get back down to room temperature. Then simply pour the water gently over the affected soil prior to planting.
Should I Use Salt?
Salt is an effective weed killer. Using salt can also prevent weeds from absorbing important nutrients like potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium and zinc- all essential for healthy plant life!
Applications of salt cause the leaves of the weed are dehydrated and deprived of moisture, which halts the process of photosynthesis. The roots are also restricted in their moisture intake. These effects will both cause the weed to wither and die.
Thus, salt is effective at killing weeds and undesirable plants. Use a 2 to 1 ratio of boiling water to salt if you want to add salt to your current treatments.
However, salt is not selective – it negatively affects the roots and leaves of any plant it comes into contact with, so you have to be very careful when using it. Saltwater in the soil potentially limits root growth and formation, for both weeds and healthy plants. Therefore, after using it to remove the weeds in your garden, be sure to fertilize the soil before replanting any healthy plants or grass in those areas.
Could There Be Any Negative Side Effects?
Is it safe to pour boiling water onto weeds? The answer is yes and no. Yes because boiling water will kill any plant that touches it, but no because your soil could become sterile as a result of this technique, and other plants could die as well.
Be careful not to pour too much hot water at one time because this could burn plants not necessarily in the area that you want to clear. If you do too much damage to the surrounding soil or vegetation, this could lead an unhealthy lawn and to more weeds growing where they weren’t before!
Additionally, do not use too much boiling water at once, as that can cause holes or small puddles and will make your yard’s surface uneven. You should using hot tap water that has been sitting in your pipes for more than a few minutes because it could carry the contaminants from the pipe into your yard soil.
So while using boiling water on weeds can be an effective technique, it is not one that should be used on its own. For example, spraying vinegar on weeds is also an effective and all-natural herbicide solution.
In Conclusion
Weeds are a problem in many parts of the world. They may be a nuisance to you or your neighbors, and they can also take over your garden and yard. If you’re having problems with weeds in any part of your yard, don’t worry! There are many ways to get rid of them.
One of the most common and organic options to eliminating weeds is boiling water. In this post, we’ve explored how boiling water works to kill weeds. If you think this would be an applicable method for your environment, then by all means give it a try!