Don’t throw away the cooking water from your potatoes!

In summer, weeds sprout from every paving joint, even the narrowest. Natural remedies help keep unwanted plants at bay.

Weeds truly seem indestructible. It often takes only a few days from the sprouted leaf to the adult plant – and then it is difficult to get rid of it. Weeds that grow between paving stones or sidewalk slabs are particularly difficult to eliminate. Fortunately, there are effective remedies that help fight weeds naturally.

1. Water from potatoes, rice or pasta causes weeds to penetrate the joints

Potato, rice and pasta waters are excellent home remedies for getting weeds out of joints. The starch residues contained in these cooking waters act as a natural herbicide on weeds, because they block the so-called stomata (pores in the lower epidermis of plants). Simply pour hot water after boiling over the affected joints and the weeds will be repelled after a few applications.

2. Nettle manure

Nettle manure is a powerful and ecological way to eliminate weeds. Gather 1 kg of nettles and place them in a bucket containing 10 liters of water. Let the mixture ferment for about two weeks, until it gives off a strong odor. Dilute the manure with water (1/10) and pour it over the joints of the weeds. The acid it contains damages plants so much that they die. Nettle manure has also often proven itself as a home remedy against aphids.

Weeds grow in paver joints. Home remedies help eliminate weeds without harming the environment.

3. Baking soda

Baking soda is another proven home remedy for weeds. Simply dissolve about two or three sachets of baking powder in five liters of water and pour it over the affected joints. Baking soda kills the weed and prevents it from growing back. However, this requires using it more often.

• Why should vinegar and salt be avoided?

Although vinegar and salt are often recommended as home remedies for weed control, they should be avoided. Vinegar can acidify the soil and damage surrounding plants. Salt, on the other hand, can permanently damage the soil and prevent plants from growing. These two substances can also be found in the environment and cause ecological problems. If used on paved paths such as driveways, high fines may even be imposed. It is therefore advisable to resort to more sustainable alternatives, such as the above-mentioned home remedies, to effectively remove weeds from joints.