In brief

🌿 It's not always worth using weedkillers to remove weeds from your garden.

🌱 Several plants, also known as 'natural fertilisers' can combat weeds.

🌸 One of them is also renowned for the beauty of its flowers.

Looking to get rid of your weeds? Many garden owners immediately think of weedkillers and other plant protection products. They are certainly effective. But their effects on biodiversity can be disastrous. So, should you weed your garden by hand or with a pair of shears? The latter is likely to be laborious and ineffective.

These days, many gardeners prefer to avoid cutting the weeds that grow on their property. But if you still want to get rid of your weeds, you can also use certain plants. Also known as 'green manures', these plants improve the soil in your garden. They can also make it harder for weeds to spread.

The effective, natural solution against weeds

'Green manure' refers to a number of plants that are known to nourish the soil. These include phacelia, red clover and vetch. Not all gardeners are aware of the benefits of these plants. However, those who are are well aware that they can rely on these 'green manures' to prevent weeds from developing, particularly in winter.

Phacelia is certainly one of the most effective plants against weeds. In itself, this species is not toxic against weeds. Rather, its effectiveness is due to its very rapid development. When you plant it in your garden, you'll quickly notice that phacelia will cover a large part of your land at high speed. In doing so, it will smother weeds and prevent them from growing.

An ideal weed control solution in winter

Phacelia is a preventive weed control solution, but, if weeds have already developed in your garden, planting this 'green manure' will not be effective. On the other hand, this plant is ideal if you want to protect your land from a potential invasion of weeds.

In winter, many gardeners leave part of their garden and vegetable patch fallow. To prevent weeds from growing in these areas, they can cover the soil with straw. But using phacelia, or any other 'green manure', is also an ideal solution. As well as keeping weeds at bay, you can enjoy the beautiful mauve colour of this flower.

Be careful not to let your garden be invaded by this weed-killing plant

'Green manures' are not only useful against weeds. Phacelia in particular can be used to attract pollinating insects. In general, gardeners who use them end up cutting them back in the spring to get back to work in the garden.

In some cases, however, they can be left in place all year round to allow the soil to rest. However, care should be taken with phacelia's rapid growth. This plant needs to be monitored to make sure it doesn't get out of control. The same applies to other 'natural fertilisers'.