7 things people with weed-free gardens always have

I know all too well that keeping on top of weeds can be a never-ending battle, especially at this time of year when warm temperatures and regular rainfall create the perfect conditions for plants to thrive and some of the unwanted ones too.

Over the years, through maintaining my own garden and writing about gardening for a living, I’ve noticed that the tidiest gardens tend to have the same things in common.

So if you’re wondering how to get rid of weeds naturally or looking for ways to kill them off, these are the five things I believe every weed-free garden has, from the right weeding tools to clever planting tricks that leave little room for unwanted growth.

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1. The right weeding tools

Not all weeds are created equal, so gardeners can’t rely on a one-size-fits-all approach to weeding flower beds, patios, and lawns.

From long-rooted dandelions to sprawling ground ivy, having the right weeding tool for the job makes removing weeds far easier and helps prevent them from returning.

Hand forks like Kent & Stowe’s, £8.95 at Amazon, daisy grubbers like Spear & Jackson’s tool, £8.56 at Amazon, stand-up weed pullers (you’ll not need to bend with this weed puller, £25.99 from Amazon) and stirrup hoes (this stirrup hoe and cultivator, £19.99 at Amazon, gets my vote) all have their place, depending on where the weeds are growing and how established they are.

2. A pressure washer

Weeds don’t just appear in borders. Patio joints, paving, and driveways are some of the biggest problem areas, and a pressure washer is often the secret weapon to have close to hand, not just to blast away patio and pathway grime but to target weeds too.

Used regularly, a pressure washer can blast away young weeds, moss and debris before they become more established, and helps keep hard landscaping looking spotless throughout the growing season. I’ve got the Nilfisk Excellent 160-10 PA pressure washer, £310 at Amazon, which works wonders on all surfaces.

3. Plants that fill every gap

One of the easiest ways to reduce weeds is to leave weeds with nowhere to grow! Gardeners with tidy, low-maintenance borders often use ground cover plants and densely planted schemes to shade the soil surface, making it so much harder for weeds to take hold.

Plants such as hardy geraniums (I’ve got Geranium endressii, from £14.99 at Thompson & Morgan in my garden), creeping phlox and ajuga (Ajuga reptans ‘Catlin’s giant’, from £7.99 at Crocus is a beauty) naturally suppress weed growth by blocking sunlight from reaching weed sprouts.

4. Mulched borders

Mulch is one of the hardest-working materials in any garden, and its ability to suppress weed growth is high on the list of benefits. A layer of bark, compost or well-rotted manure helps suppress weed germination, retain moisture and improve soil health all at the same time.

It’s a simple job that can make a dramatic difference to the amount of weeding required throughout the season, and one I am fully on board with. At the minute I’m laying down RocketGro’s Magic Mulch, £18.99 from Amazon, in my planters and have also been laying bark in wider areas as it’s more budget-friendly, like Westland’s chipped bark, £13.40 from Amazon.

5. Gravel and membrane where it matters

For paths, seating areas and other non-planted spaces, gravel paired with a quality landscape membrane can significantly reduce weed growth.

While gravel is often associated with paths, I’ve found it’s just as useful in certain borders and is particularly effective around drought-tolerant plants like lavender, rosemary and salvias, where gravel helps improve drainage.

A layer of gravel laid over landscaping membrane (I’ve used newspaper and cardboard in the past) can help suppress weeds, retain moisture and give planting schemes a neat, finished look. While the odd weed may still appear from wind-blown seeds landing on the surface, this combination helps stop persistent weeds from emerging from below, making them easier to remove.

While weeds will always find a way to appear from time to time (ahem, herb robert), these are the five essentials I think make the biggest difference in the battle against them.

Whether you’re tackling weedy borders or trying to clear patios and paths, a combination of smart tools and planting will keep those weeds in check.