Skip to main content

9 easy and effective ways to clear a garden full of weeds for good

Use these weed removal and prevention methods when your garden is full of these intruders

Gloved hand holding a pulled weed with roots and soil still attached
effective stock photos / Shutterstock

Growing a pristine garden is a horticulturist’s pride and joy. That makes a weed infestation a gardener’s greatest nemesis. Weeds not only make your garden look messy and unkempt, but they also suck up a lot of nutrients from the soil and weaken your prized plants. That’s why we’re going to discuss how to clear a garden full of weeds so you can save your gorgeous outdoor space.

Sure, the best weed management method is prevention, working to tackle weeds before they sprout, but this isn’t always possible. So, if your garden or lawn becomes overgrown with unwanted weeds, you’ll need a game plan. This growing season, keep your garden lush and tidy with these tips and tricks for clearing a mountain of weeds (and some bonus tips for how to prevent them from returning).

Close-up of crabgrass weed
Christian Delbert / Shutterstock

How to clear a garden full of weeds

The first step in addressing an overrun garden is the hardest: removing all the weeds. While there’s no way to get around the work involved in garden and lawn care, there are some methods and tools that can ease the labor-heavy process.

Recommended Videos

Method #1: Pull weeds manually

If your weed problem is moderate, take some time to pull the weeds right out of the soil. Make sure you grab each plant by the stem, as close to the soil as possible. This makes it easier to pull up the entire root so the weed can’t grow back.

Method #2: Invest in a weeding tool

When your garden is full of overgrowth, it can be back-breaking work to pull all those weeds by hand. Prevent hand cramps by investing in a few simple gardening tools. For example, a hoe with a long handle ensures you can work across a large area without needing to bend over. You can also use a more specific tool, like a weed puller claw, to dig around the root and pull it out more precisely.

Method #3: Pour boiling water on the area

If you’re looking for an easy, organic method for killing a large patch of weeds, boiling water is your ticket. The scorching heat kills any plant life it touches, so this method is only useful in areas that don’t also have intentional flowers or plants you tend to. This is also a great method for killing weeds that have grown between the cracks of your garden path’s pavers.

Method #4: Use baking soda or vinegar

Alternatively, you can also use baking soda or vinegar as an organic weed-killing solution. This is more precise than the boiling water method since you can apply the solution to individual plants. To use baking soda, simply wet the weed and sprinkle the baking soda directly onto the leaves. You can also fill a spray bottle with distilled white vinegar and spray it directly onto the plant.

Person using tool to remove weeds.
Simon Kadula / Shutterstock

How do you get rid of thick weed roots?

When weeds have time and space to grow, they become hardy and establish strong roots. Mature weeds are difficult to pull out of the soil, but it’s not impossible to kill those resilient and beastly plants.

Method #5: Grab a weed burner

A weed burner is an electric gardening tool that applies extreme heat in a small, precise location to kill the weed’s leaves. Once the leaves are dead, photosynthesis won’t be possible, so the plant will soon die. Multiple weed burner treatments may be necessary to kill the plant for good, particularly if the roots are strong and deep.

Gloved woman removing weed from soil with tool.
Kostenko Maxim / Shutterstock

How do I keep my garden weed-free?

Since the best offense is a good defense, get ahead of the game with a soil treatment plan to kill weed seeds before they sprout.

Method #6: Apply soil treatment

Sprinkling a pre-emergent product onto your soil can prevent seeds from germinating. Apply the product according to the instructions, then water the area to allow the herbicide to soak into the soil. All pre-emergents, even the organic ones, prevent germination, so be especially careful when applying. Otherwise, you might prevent the growth of your flower and vegetable plants. For the best result, use this product once your other plants have already sprouted.

Method #7: Line your garden

When planting your garden, consider adding a weed-proof membrane before tossing down your gravel or mulch. These linings are available at home and garden stores and can prevent overgrowth on both traditional and raised beds.

Method #8: Lay mulch

Just like any other plant, weeds can’t grow without sunlight. To reduce their exposure to this necessity, lay mulch over the soil. Once your plants have matured, toss down a layer of mulch to prevent weed growth and add some aesthetic charm to your garden.

Method #9: Don’t leave open space

Weeds need space and nutrients to grow. That’s why, when you make the most of every inch in your garden, you’re actually keeping those pesky weeds at bay. By filling up your space with a variety of plants, there’s not much room left for those unwanted intruders.

You work hard to make your garden flourish, so it’s a shame when weeds arrive to detract from the visual appeal of your garden and the overall health of your plants. With these weed-killing and prevention methods, your garden will be lush and healthy all season long.

Veronica Sparks
Veronica Sparks is a writer from Milwaukee, Wisconsin who loves writing about gardening, home décor, and DIY life. She’s…
When you should (and shouldn’t) put used coffee grounds in your garden
Coffee grounds do have a place in your garden. Here's how to use them
Person holding coffee filter with coffee grounds.

Depending on how into gardening you are, you may be aware that putting used coffee grounds in your garden is a highly debated topic. Some people swear by using coffee grounds for growing plants, while others say it's the worst thing you can do for your garden.

So which opinion is correct, and how do you know which side to trust? How do you know if you should -- or shouldn’t -- put used coffee grounds in your garden? We’ve researched the pros and cons and broken them down below so you can decide if you want to use coffee grounds in the garden.

Read more
Should you power wash your house in the fall? Here are 6 things to wash at the end of the season
Power wash your house in the fall — you'll be happy with the results
Blue house in autumn

The fall season is a prime time to check off some of those pesky household chores on your to-do list. With the kids back in school, autumn is a time to wrap up all things summer and start preparing for winter. This includes, of course, floor-to-ceiling cleaning — tedious but necessary work. Rest easy knowing there's at least one quick task, and it may even be a little fun: pressure washing your home's exterior. We'll walk you through some ways to power wash your house in fall with just five quick projects. You can have your house sparkling clean and prepared to survive the winter.

What is power washing?
Power washing is one of the final steps you should take before winter arrives. Odds are, there are leaves and other pieces of debris wedged in the gutters and around your home's exterior, and power washing removes all of this debris before it freezes over. Before the temperature drops below freezing, start the process of removing dirt, mildew, mud, and other blemishes with the power of pressurized, heated water.

Read more
This is what you should be planting in fall for a beautiful spring garden
Plant these seedlings in the fall and watch them grow in spring
Chair beside blooming flower garden

If you want a beautiful spring garden, it's a good idea to think ahead by getting to work now and planting in the fall. Autumn is the perfect time to clear old flower beds, build garden pathways, add architectural elements to your landscape, and of course, plant. The truth is that fall is the ideal time to install cold-hardy plants, and we'll discuss why. As you plan your garden for the year ahead, consider planting the below seedlings right now. 

Benefits of planting in fall
Overall, planting in fall is ideal for many variations of turf, flowers, shrubs, and trees because pest populations will dwindle soon, letting you sidestep damage from these critters, and plant growth patterns will turn in your favor. The cooler autumn air is much more forgiving, and the still-warm soil offers an ideal environment for deep-root development.

Read more