Rethinking Glyphosate: A Gardener’s Perspective

What’s in that spray?

There’s something to admire in how gardeners once worked—steady, observant, and in step with the seasons. Long before weedkillers lined shop shelves, British gardeners tackled weeds with a kettle of boiling water, salt brine along the garden path, or a trusty onion hoe pulled between the rows. While we don’t claim to garden exactly like they did, there’s a lot to learn from their patience and practical approach.

We carry that spirit forward. We believe gardens should be places of life and care—not chemicals. Yet even today, it’s common across the UK to see contractors relying on quick-fix commercial weedkillers. It might look like efficiency, but in the long run, it often costs the garden more than it helps.

Chemical herbicides—especially those containing glyphosate—don’t just kill weeds. They disrupt soil life, damage biodiversity, and can harm the very insects and microorganisms that keep a garden thriving. Across Europe, glyphosate use is being restricted for good reason. And here in the UK, more local councils are finally beginning to phase it out too. It’s a step in the right direction—though one that feels long overdue.

At Doddington Garden Services, we’re here to restore soil health, support biodiversity, and help gardens flourish naturally. We don’t just want your garden to look good—we want it to be truly alive.