5 glyphosate-free ways to control weeds in your Kent or Sussex garden

Glyphosate (sold as Roundup and many other brands) is the world's most widely used herbicide. But research published in Environmental Science & Technology found it disrupts soil microbial communities — the very organisms that make your soil fertile. In a region like ours, where gardens border some of England's most biodiverse chalk grassland and ancient woodland, the case for going chemical-free is especially strong.

The good news is that chemical-free weed control is entirely achievable with the right approach. Here are four methods that work particularly well in Kent and Sussex conditions.

Mulching — A 7–10cm layer of wood chip, compost, or straw suppresses most annual weeds by blocking light. On the free-draining chalk soils of the Downs, mulching also helps retain precious moisture. Apply in spring when the soil is moist.

Hoe little and often — A sharp hoe used on a dry, sunny day kills seedling weeds before they establish. In our warm south-east summers, a dry day is rarely far away. The key is timing: hoe when weeds are tiny so severed roots desiccate quickly.

Boiling water — Effective on weeds in paving cracks. Pour directly onto the crown of the plant. Repeat as needed. No chemicals, no residue — and particularly useful in the walled kitchen gardens and courtyard spaces typical of older properties across the Weald.

Ground cover planting — The best long-term solution is to leave no bare soil. Dense planting with ground-covering perennials like hardy geraniums, epimediums, or ajuga outcompetes weeds naturally. This approach is championed at Great Dixter in East Sussex, where Christopher Lloyd's legacy of densely planted borders leaves almost no room for weeds to establish.