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Weeds are the bane of every gardener's existence. If you've got a green thumb, chances are you've been out in your garden over the past few weeks getting it ready for the end of spring and the start of summer. With the warmer weather arriving, making sure your plants are thriving, and your lawn is luscious and green is paramount - and that also means getting rid of weeds.

Weeds can grow just about anywhere there's soil. Not only do they pop up in flowerbeds, pots, and lawns, but they can also be a problem if you've got a patio or gravel path, as they'll always find a way to emerge in even the most unlikely places.

The pesky plants are also very difficult to get rid of. They are naturally resilient plants that have deep and extensive root systems, and can often regrow if the top is removed. They also often have a waxy coating on their leaves, which means traditional weed killers don't always penetrate into the plant.

But if you're struggling to get your garden weed-free this spring, there is one trick that can help. It doesn't use weed killer or boiling water, which is another method commonly used to kill weeds, but is something most people have in their kitchens.

Ifzaal, a gardening and nature expert on TikTok, posted a video recently explaining what to do if your garden is getting overrun with weeds. All you need is a common kitchen item that might be in your cupboard already - white vinegar.

He said: "As the weather is warming up, you'll start to notice the weeds popping up through your lawn, or through the gaps in your patio slabs. And if you're like me, you'll probably want to stay away from shop-bought weed killers, which often contain loads of chemicals and aren't always safe to use around kids or pets.

"A cheaper, safer alternative would be to use white vinegar. One of the ways you can use this to get rid of weeds is to pour it into an empty spray bottle and gently spray it over any weeds that you see in your garden. But if that's too much work for you, you can just pour the white vinegar over the weeds straight from the bottle."

Ifzaal said you can see the results of the white vinegar working within just one hour, and within three days, the weeds will be "burnt to a crisp". The hack works best on sunny days with no rain, as the rain can wash away the vinegar.

However, Ifzaal insisted the hack should only be used on weeds growing in patios and paving slabs. You should never use white vinegar in your lawn or flowerbeds, as it will "ruin" the grass and flowers you want to keep, as well as kill weeds.

Manual removal

• Pull by hand: Uproot weeds, ensuring you remove the entire root system, especially for perennial weeds.
• Hoeing: Use a hoe to sever weeds at the soil surface. Best done when the soil is dry.

Mulching

• Organic mulch: Apply a two to four inch layer of wood chips, straw, or leaves around plants to block sunlight.
• Landscape fabric: Place fabric under mulch for extra protection.

Chemical control

• Selective herbicides: Target specific types of weeds (e.g., broadleaf or grassy).
• Non-selective herbicides: Kill all vegetation. Use carefully to avoid harming desired plants.
• Pre-emergent herbicides: Prevent weed seeds from germinating.

Natural solutions

• Boiling water: Pour directly onto weeds in cracks or driveways.
• Vinegar: Household vinegar can burn young weeds. Stronger horticultural vinegar is more effective, but use caution.
• Salt: Use sparingly, only in areas where you don't want anything to grow, as salt can harm soil health.