WEED IT OUT
Whilst we're big believers in the idea that weeds are just flowers we've not got to know yet, you have to admit that there are some instances where you'd rather be without them.
Whilst effective, shop-bought weedkillers are generally filled with chemicals and other herbicides that will kill your weeds, but also a lot of your other plants, pollinators and the other creatures that call your garden home.
To make matters worse, the chemicals can drain into the soil, and over time can contaminate the ground water, damaging your garden and all the flora and fauna in and around it.
Luckily, there's plenty of ways of keeping on top of the weeds without any of the nasty stuff, using stuff you probably already have around the house:
1. Boiling water. Best if you've got a patio or some gravel with some weeds coming up through the cracks. Pop the kettle on and immediately pour the boiling water onto weedy patches, taking care not to get it on nearby plants you want to keep (or yourself).
2. Salt water. Make it very salty - go for about 1:4 ratio of salt to water, completely dissolved and pour onto the weeds you want gone. Use this method with caution - salty soil will likely stop growth in that patch for some time, so only use on areas you definitely don't want to plant on (patios, gravel and the like).
3. Lemon juice. Squeeze yourself lemons (or you can use the ready-squeezed stuff) and apply to the leaves of the offending plants. Say it again with us, be careful to only get it on the ones you're wanting to get rid of.
4. Baking soda and vinegar. Pretty sure this is the answer to every DIY home remedy for keeping things spick and span, its use knows no bounds! Mix 1 part baking soda to 2 parts vinegar (distilled works best) into a spray bottle and apply directly onto your weedy foliage. A bit sticky, but that's what the flowers are for. You can add a little lemon juice for some extra kick. You know the drill by now, don't spray it on things you want to keep.
5. Your hands! Undoubtedly a slower option, but really the only way to be sure you don't inadvertently spray or boil anything you didn't mean to! Get down a dirty and pick em out - daunting to start with but extremely satisfying once you're done. Employ a trowel or hand fork for assistance.