In some cases, weed killers appear to be the only way to get rid of unwanted greenery. However, they can also have negative effects on the environment and groundwater and are therefore not always legal to use. Anyone interested can find out which guidelines are important and which alternatives there are to the use of chemical agents here.
What does the law say?
When using weed killers, the following points must always be met according to §12 of the Plant Protection Act:
- approved
- only used on land used for horticulture, agriculture or forestry
- not used near bodies of water
Chemical weed killers are not legally permitted to be used on sealed surfaces, such as asph alt or paved paths and driveways. This may seem nonsensical, but it is forbidden for a very important reason: on the sealed surfaces, the substances cannot seep into the ground sufficiently and be filtered here. Instead, they first reach the waterworks via the sewage system and from here into the drinking and groundwater.
Even hobby gardeners are allowed to use weed killer on their green as long as they do not use it on the paved driveway.
Potential pen alties
As mentioned, chemical weed killers can occasionally appear to be the only way to control the sometimes destructive growth of some plants. Nevertheless, the substances also pose significant risks to the environment and the he alth of people and animals. For this reason, use on paved paths or otherwise sealed areas is punishable by fines of up to 50,000 euros. Before using it, you should therefore urgently clarify whether the product is approved for use on the respective area.
Tip:
Information on this can usually be found directly on the packaging. If these or information on approval are missing, the respective product should be avoided. Appropriate alternatives can be found in specialist retailers.
Alternatives
There are several remedies and measures as an alternative to chemical weed killers. Complex weeding is of course an option. However, other mechanical and chemical alternatives can also be found. Below:
- Vinegar
- S alt
- Burn down
- Foil
- High pressure
- Steam
- Joint scraper
Vinegar
Vinegar increases the acidity of the soil, making it unsuitable for most plants - including many weeds. However, watering with a solution of water and vinegar is not suitable as a measure against weeds on the bed or border. In addition, acetic acid in concentrated form can also attack and discolor stones and make them porous in the long term.
If you want to use this natural weed killer, you should not use vinegar too often - but only use it in an emergency to create a basis for further, gentler measures.
S alt
Just like the vinegar mentioned, the s alt makes the soil unsuitable for most plants. Therefore, this simple home remedy against weeds can help very quickly and easily. It is also inexpensive, natural and is considered food - so it is not illegal as a weed killer.
Tip:
Nevertheless, caution is advised. Although vinegar and s alt are often used alone and in combination as natural and cheap weed killers, there has already been a court case regarding their use on sealed surfaces. To be on the safe side, it is worth checking the legality of the use with the respective municipality in advance and having it confirmed in writing.
Burn down
Especially when weeds are spreading extensively, burning seems to be time-consuming, but at the same time it prevents the distribution of seeds and also brings quick results. However, only special flame burning devices for use in the garden should be used for this purpose. Even then, it must be ensured that heat and flames cannot be transferred to dry grass, bushes and twigs or other combustible material.
Foil
Special garden films form a barrier to the substrate. This prevents the seeds and roots of unwanted weeds from spreading. Laying out foil is the only measure mentioned to prevent weeds and can make the use of weed killers unnecessary in advance. It also simplifies the removal of growths that can become established due to the wind dispersal of seeds - because these too can only put down very shallow roots due to the barrier and are therefore easy to pluck out.
High pressure
Moss, lichens, weeds – removing unwanted growths from joints and rough stones can prove difficult. However, a high-pressure cleaner can help here. At the same time, other dirt, including soil, is removed from the joints and paving stones.
Tip:
If you don't want to invest in your own high-pressure cleaner, you can rent one inexpensively from many hardware stores.
Steam cleaner
Whether it's joints between tiles in the bathroom or the paving stones on the driveway - the steam cleaner causes the weeds to die off quickly thanks to the moist heat. It still has to be plucked, but the measure is simpler. In addition, seeds are heated to such an extent that they are no longer able to germinate. Moss and lichens are removed at the same time and other contaminants are also dissolved and are therefore much easier to remove.
Joint scraper
Simple, inexpensive, mechanical - the joint scraper requires effort, but it also has some advantages to offer, just like weeding and digging. The measures are not tied to a power source and can be used very specifically and without damaging other plants.
Preventing weeds
One of the easiest ways to keep the effort involved in killing weeds both gentle and legal and low is to prevent its spread. There are various options available for this. These include:
- Cover
- Root barrier
- Early removal
Cover
Gravel, mulch or even a film - a cover around larger plants prevents the spread of weeds. Even if a single weed appears, it is easy to pull out.
Root barrier
Special root barriers, lawn edges or foil represent barriers. This means that weeds and roots can only spread in a reduced form and removal becomes much easier.
Early removal
Here a stem, there a leaf - if you weed early and regularly, you increase the chances of success in destroying weeds and also keep the associated effort as low as possible.
