Not only in large gardens can the fight against unwanted weeds become a Sisyphean task. As soon as you have laboriously weeded, the annoying green shows up again. However, chemical agents and some home remedies against weeds not only destroy the weeds, but also damage useful and ornamental plants. Steam, on the other hand, is environmentally friendly and is therefore ideal for killing weeds.

Weeds do not tolerate hot water

The principle of thermal weed control?

Hot water or steam destroyed the cell structures of plants. In order for these to break open and no longer be able to fulfill their function, temperatures from 42 degrees are sufficient.

The condensed steam also seeps into the soil and damages the roots here. As a result, they can no longer absorb liquid and the plant inevitably dies.

The advantages of weed killing with the steam cleaner

This way of removing weeds offers numerous advantages over other home remedies:

  • The method is chemical-free and hardly pollutes the environment.
  • There are no restrictions on use near water.
  • The above-ground parts of the plant, including the seeds, are destroyed.
  • The roots are weakened so much that the plant dies.
  • You can even reach hard-to-reach areas with the steam jet.

Does the weed control work with every steam cleaner?

A handheld steamer is sufficient for smaller areas or individual plants. In order for large-scale weeding to work with the steam cleaner, you need a device with a large water tank, a strong steam boost and possibly an additional hot water function.

Are there any disadvantages?

Hot water and steam are very effective against weeds. However, this method is not entirely without minus points either:

  • In the first year you have to steam the weeds three to four times. In the following years, two applications are usually sufficient.
  • Sensitive tiles and paving stones can splinter or break from the hot steam.
  • The water consumption in large areas is high. Common household devices have to be filled several times.
  • As the steam blast scatters, neighboring plants may be damaged.
  • The hot water produced by the steam is also not good for soil life. The soil flora suffers, especially with large-scale application.

tips

In the case of long taproots, the effect of the hot steam is usually not sufficient. A root cutter is a good service here, with which you can relatively easily cut out the plant and its roots.

Category:

Herbs