Read more: Brits urged to learn ‘little-known’ gardening rules or risk £26k in fines
This is because they can be visually unappealing whilst also competing with plants you actually wish to cultivate.
Alan insisted: “The best time to get on top of them is now. I don’t like using weedkillers. I am an organic gardener and I have been for 40 years. Any kind of chemical herbicide is out.”
Certain weeds possess thick, extensive roots, so ensure you dig thoroughly around the plant to remove them entirely, too. Annual weeds that sprout, bloom and seed once a year should be eradicated before they have the chance to flower.
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Prevention is also crucial. If your soil is clean and weed-free, you can cover it with mulch.
Alan said: “Mulch is an organic blanket. Generally speaking, one and a half and two inches thick.”
Weeds can even infiltrate pots and containers. Now is an opportune time to remove them as they can siphon off water and nutrients intended for the plants.
Alan advised: “Get them out now before they drop their seeds and multiply and damage your existing plants.”
Gravel paths can also harbour weeds, so utilise a Dutch hoe to sever the weeds from their roots by skimming over the surface. Alan explained: “The more root you can expose to the sun, the quicker they will die.”
