I have a garden of about 200 square meters and this year the weeds came back worse than before. I'd prefer to avoid chemical weedkillers because I have small children playing on the grass. What natural methods actually work?
The most effective method is honestly the manual one combined with prevention! I know it sounds like a hassle, but with 200 square meters and especially with small kids, it's totally worth it. What I tell parents who ask me the same thing is to start with a good weeder - no, you don't need to spend a fortune, just one with sharp teeth - and pull the weeds when the soil is damp, maybe after it rains. They come out with their roots so much more easily! Then, and this is crucial, put down landscape fabric or cardboard in the empty spaces. It cuts the light and suffocates new weeds. On top you can put wood bark or chips, which makes it look nice too. It's not an instant fix, but it really works after a few weeks.
For the rest of the lawn where good grass is already growing well, make sure it stays thick and healthy - weeds and good grass compete for space! Water it well, aerate the lawn in spring and if you can during the year, and cut the grass at a good height (not too short!). Keep the lawn tall and dense, weeds have a much harder time taking hold. If there are bare patches, reseed right away! That's the real secret.
If you really want an even faster method for stubborn weeds, boiling water works - you just pour boiling water directly on the weeds you want to get rid of. Everything dies after a few days, no chemicals, no danger to your kids. I realize that with 200 square meters it's a job, but if you do it systematically the first year, then maintenance is much lighter after that!
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