I guess I need to try that hot water method. Herbicides are depleting the natural balance of nutrients in the soil - it is proven and tested, as I had a really bad experience. We had to throw away our cucumber harvest after finding out that they tasted bitter. The reason behind this was nutrient imbalance, resulting in the production of cucurbitacins that gave a bitter taste to the cucumbers. We learned our lesson and started the natural hand weeding method.