The No-Dig Trick For Tackling Weeds Is Already In Your Garage

If you have a garden, you already know what weeds are like. They're uninvited guests who waltz in and act like they own the place. When it comes to getting rid of them, it's tempting to grab a shovel and go to town, but outrage only leaves you with a destroyed lawn and a sore back. It turns out that there's a really simple way to get rid of these green squatters and it's probably in your garage right now. It's a hammer.

And no, we're not suggesting you hammer the weeds flat — although you probably want to. Simply flip the hammer over and use the claw side. It becomes like a hook that can yank the weed out from the dirt, pulling the stem and roots up with it. It's a great and effective way to rid yourself of weeds without any digging or flinging soil around your garden. And it can also be one of the tricks to stop pesky weeds from growing in cracks, as it works in stubborn areas where shovels or weeding tools may struggle to access. And perhaps the best part is, it's actually quite satisfying, sort of like tweezing a stray hair or pulling a sticker from a mug.

Once those weeds are out — all thanks to the claw end of a hammer and of course, your upper body strength — you'll want to make sure they stay away. Weeds are persistent but they're quite simple plants, needing only sunlight to thrive and overtake your space. So in addition to the hammer trick, you can also suffocate them with cardboard. 

Simply lay some cardboard flat across your garden bed and wet it down with a hose to keep in place (you can then even pile mulch on top if you want to keep it hidden). This is how you create a no-dig garden with a clever cardboard box hack — which will save your back. This works because it blocks the light and chokes out weeds before they can even get started growing, plus it's very low effort and you're not disturbing the soil, which is always a bonus.

This trick doesn't replace the hammer method but it certainly finishes the job. First you pull them up, then you cover and stop them from ever coming back. Simple, cheap, and clean with no trips to the hardware store required. And if you're curious about other ways to get rid of weeds in your garden, there are many simple tricks that are often better than what you find on the store shelf.