Chemical solutions take the backache and hard work out of weeding. They are also much more efficient at getting rid of weeds. They don’t work forever, nature’s far too clever for that, but for longer periods of time than other options.

Weedkillers are specially formulated for specific weeding tasks. When skilfully selected to match the job in hand and used with care, chemical solutions will give you the control you need.

Contact weedkillers

Contact weedkillers work on contact with the leaves of the plant. They start to work as soon as they are applied to the plant. After as little as 10 minutes some treatments are impervious to rain. They are fast-acting. Leaves turn yellow then brown. It’s all over in a few days. New plants can be planted or seeds sown straight after the initial application has dried on the weed leaves.

Weedol 2 is a good example.

Systemic weedkillers

Systemic weedkillers kill from the inside out. Penetration through the leaves takes some time and effectiveness can be reduced if it rains within 6 hours of application. Once absorbed they travel throughout the plant, down to the very tips of the roots. A job this thorough takes time. The weeds in question should be left undisturbed for a week. Initial effects are normally evident within 7 to 10 days and complete weed control in 3 to 4 weeks.

Weedol Gun! Rootkill Plus and Roundup Ready To Use Fast Action Formula and are good examples.

Roundup Gel is a new way of controlling weeds, especially in awkward places or where there are wanted plants growing very close by.

Residual weedkillers

Residual weedkillers work by creating a barrier in the soil to prevent weed seeds germinating. They are held in the soil surface for several months.

Pathclear Gun! Weedkiller is a good example.

Selective lawn weedkillers

Selective lawn weedkillers are very clever as they work on the broad-leaved weeds but not on the grass around them. They also work very differently from other types of weedkiller. They actually stimulate growth, but it’s a rate of growth that can’t be sustained. The weed can’t get enough energy and it literally ‘grows itself to death’. They take some time to work – possibly up to 4 to 6 weeks – slower when it is cold, quicker in good growing conditions, warm, moist soil and when weeds are growing actively. One application can last for a whole season.

Verdone Extra Concentrate is a good example.

Hand weeding

Grasp the weed as close to the ground as possible and steadily pull it out (roots and all). This is fine for the odd one or two weeds, but back-breaking if the weeds are rampant. It is ineffective with deep rooted or rhizome type weeds.

Find out more about hand weeding.

Digging or forking out

Even more strenuous than hand weeding and care must be taken to remove every bit of the offending plant and roots without damaging the plants to be kept. Any bits of roots left will grow into new plants.

Hoeing off

‘Topping’ the weeds with the hoe blade just below the soil surface avoids some of the backache, and the weeds have to be picked up if you want the garden to look tidy. Hoeing the roots of perennial weeds often increases the problem and brings the seeds of annual weeds back to the surface. Less effective in wet weather, hoeing perennial weeds often increases the problem. Hoeing is best done on a warm day or a windy day, so the hoed weeds die quickly.