Latest news with #weeding
The Sun
14-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
The £4.50 B&Q gadget gardeners are loving for removing stubborn dandelions in lawns & it works on all stubborn weeds
GARDENERS are raving over a B&Q weeding gadget that users say "takes the hard work out of weeding". The Magnusson Weeder features a carbon steel head designed to make uprooting pesky weeds as easy as possible. 3 3 This sleek little tool can be bought from B&Q for just £4.50. It's the sort of gadget that will no doubt come in handy as avid gardeners look to spruce up their lawns and patios this summer. The retailer's website says: "This weeder is designed to make getting rid of deep-rooted weeds easier, the hand size with ergonomic handle means it's comfortable and quick to deweed small beds and borders." With the summer months now upon us, gardeners across the country will be dusting off their outdoor tools to make their outdoors spaces barbecue-ready. Numerous shoppers have taken to B&Q's comments sections to praise the gadget's reliability. One said: "I bought this weeding tool for this year's dandelion season and it has proved to be a terrific addition to my garden tool collection. "The spoon-like addition on the handle of the tool makes it much easier to pull the weeds out of the ground, so it's easy to use." Many other reviewers were quick to echo how easy it is to use the tool. One user posted: "I bought two of these weeders... Very easy to use! "It's good for removing the dandelions in my lawn." Another said: "I've found this tool really useful for digging up weeds in the lawn. "I find it's best to dig it in as deep as possible before then levering up and on sturdy weeds i do it from a couple of different angles. "Really takes the hard work out of weeding. I thought this was a great price too." The device also boasts an ergonomically designed handle aimed at improving user comfort. It measures 345mm (around 14 inches) in total. One user said: "Simple effective tool for weeding. "I've only used it once so can't comment on how sturdy it is but seems like good value so far." Another wrote: "Very well made does not bend like other types I have tried." June gardening jobs The Sun's Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine, has shared the tasks you should take this month. Stake out leggy perennials With all the dramatic weather we've been having, it's definitely time to stake out your leggy perennials (the ones that come back every year). Heavy rain and growth spurts, can make them collapse and flop. Picking out the slugs and snails Hopefully as we move into summer they will do less damage as the plants get bigger. The best way is still to go out at night with a head torch to find them. Pick elderflower heads You can use them to make your own cordial, or add to cakes, champagne or even fry them in batter. Get on top of weeds It's around now that weeds really ramp up in the garden, so keep on top of them with hoe-ing - or just the traditional 'on your knees with a hand fork'. Try and avoid chemicals - remember weeds are just plants in the wrong place. Up the mowing You'll need to mow your lawn weekly now - if you've got time, weed it beforehand as once you mow you chop off the leaves and its harder to see them. Check on your tomatoes Your tomato plants will need attention - water, feed and regularly and pinch out the sideshoots. Chelsea Chop There's still time for the Chelsea Chop - plants like Rudbeckia's, Asters, Penstemons, Sedums and other perennials can be cut back by a third to help them get a bit more bushy, and prolong the flowering period. Sort out your tulips If you can be bothered and have space - lift and story your tulip bulbs to ensure colour next Spring. Deadheading your roses Take them down to the first set of healthy leaves - which will ensure more flowers for longer. Enjoy your space Take some time to sit and enjoy your garden or outside space - it's great for your mental health. Even just a few minutes a day can make a big difference.
The Sun
13-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
Amazon gadget gardeners are calling a ‘weeding game-changer' – it's easy to use, saves your back & they won't grow again
A weed puller with a novel feature has shot to the top of Amazon's garden tools best-sellers. Weeding is the great chore of gardening - the grunt work before the fun part of planting your prize blooms or veg patch. 2 2 But scrabbling about on your hands and knees to remove them from flower beds or patios can be back-breaking labour. The LAWFYMORI Long Handle Weed Puller has an extra long handle that enables the user to extract unwanted vegetation without bending or kneeling down. As a result it's been billed as an 'ideal gift for seniors' who want to continue to enjoy their gardens but want to avoid running the risk of injury. The 2-in-1 head means the tool can be used as a both a weed rake or a garden hoe. The weed puller also has an adjustable handle, meaning it can be extended or shortened to either 42 cm, 79 cm, 115 cm or 150 cm. One reviewer on Amazon called the tool, which retails at £21.99, a "weeding game changer". They wrote: "Weeding - one of the worst things about the spring and summer months! "With this tool, it is not nearly as bad - it is even satisfactory! Perfect for what I need - I was going to buy a hoe but came across this which is much better. "The rake side makes it so easy to pull out the whole weed (inc. roots) from the soil and gravel areas without bending and the hoe is good for weeds on the paving / driveway. "The hoe part is smaller than most dutch hoes but it still does the job. This tool will make it a lot easier to keep on top of the endless weeds that grow everywhere." Trying out Lidl's new weeding tools Another reviewer wrote: "This is excellent for pulling out tough weeds in your garden. "I struggle when I kneel down, so buying this has made the task of taking the weeds out so much easier. "It gets out stubborn thistles too. I would highly recommend this weed puller and the seller. The package came quickly and was well wrapped. It is easy to assemble as well. While the LAWFYMORI has an average 4.5 star rating on Amazon, not everyone was entirely smitten with the product - with several reporting issues with the handle. One user said "the handle came off a few times" and reported that they were considering using glue to fix it in. Another wrote: "Handy enough tool and lightweight but after using it for a few minutes the top handle kept popping off. "Heres my fix. take the top off and wrap the top end of the shaft with plumers UVP tape the force the top back on. "Design flaw? Maybe. Easy enough fix? Sure. But should I have to have fixed it for them? No." What is a weed? And why are they important? Simply put, a weed is a plant that grows in an area or space you don't want it to. Rebecca Miller, Fabulous' Associate Editor, and keen gardener, explains why gardeners need to become friends with weeds. "From nettles, buttercups, docks and dandelions - there are so many wonderful plants that are called weeds. And yet, as soon as the weather warms up, and we spend more time in outside, we want to pluck, pull and kill as many of them as possible, to make our gardens look perfect and pristine. " Weeds are essential to our ecosystem - many are pollinators, providing food to bees, bats, beetles, butterflies, moths and wasps. And without weeds, these animals wouldn't survive past early Spring. " Weeds also give back to nature - when they die and decay, their roots break down, feed microorganisms and insects, and make pathways and tunnels for worms. Bountiful life below means plentiful life above. " Weeds are also brilliant indicators of soil health - which is important if you want to grow anything in your outdoor space. When microorganisms and insects break down weeds, they release essential nutrients into the soil that plants soak up. They also store nitrogen and carbon dioxide in the ground, creating cleaner air and removing greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere, mitigating the climate crisis. "So before you pull out every weed in your garden, why not give a few of them a chance to grow and bloom, and see what enters your garden to enjoy the flowers..."
The Sun
04-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
The £6.99 Robert Dyas gadget that gets rid of weeds instantly and Alan Titchmarsh is a fan
IF you're in need of a weeding hack that is sure to stop pesky plants popping up all over your garden - fear not, you've come to the right place. Alan Titchmarsh has revealed his go-to gadget that instantly destroys weeds. 2 The handy tool can be snatched up for just £6.99, and is currently being sold at Robert Dyas. And it's bound to help Brits fix up their gardens just in time of summer. Renowned gardening expert Titchmarsh unveiled his secret device writing for Country Life. His neat planning trick means that he "never has to do any weeding". Titchmarsh revealed that he uses a handy weed grubber. The broadcaster said that his tidiness on the lawn was "confined to weekly mowing and fortnightly edging in spring and summer". Highlighting the key timings, he also told of what fertiliser is best to use. But he cautioned to use it only at the correct times. He explained: "I feed with the ubiquitous blood, fish and bone in April and again in June, and extract any large rosettes of plantain or dandelion with a daisy grubber." The Wilkinson Sword Stainless Steel Weed Grubber can be bought for under £7. I hate my new build garden being overlooked so found a 5 METRE privacy fence to block out nosy neighbours for under £30 According to Robert Dyas, the gardening gadget is weatherproofed and rust-resistant. One shopper who bought the grubber branded it a "brilliant little tool". They said: "This works well for smaller weeds, and does not remove too much of your lawn!" Another said: "Perfect for weeding my strawberry patch and great value for money." They recommended the product and rated it five stars. Titshmarsh added that ubiquitous blood fish and bone was the best fertiliser for this job. An organic fertiliser, this all-natural mix of dried animal by-products gives grass a steady dose of nutrients without scorching it or harming the soil. It can feed lawns slowly over time, helping roots grow deep and strong, while boosting the health of the soil underneath. As opposed to commercial lawn feed, it can prove to be a great substitute and one that old-school gardeners love to go for.
CBC
29-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Invasive plant species run rampant in parts of Ottawa. These gardeners are asking for help
Buckthorn, dog-strangling vine and garlic mustard are considered invasive species in Ontario, but the volunteer groups weeding them out say bureaucracy is making progress difficult.
