How Can I Kill Weeds Between Patio Pavers?

Preventing Weed Growth

One of the best weed control strategies is prevention. Weeds can be stopped with a little routine care in the first place.

 

Regular Sweeping

Weeds, much of the time, do not sprout from under the pavers. They actually start with seeds that settle on the surface between the pavers' cracks. In order to expand, seeds need to take root. Prior to rooting, cleaning the pavers periodically will disrupt the seeds, helping to prevent the growth of weeds. Sweeping also eliminates surface dirt and by keeping the pavers looking clean, helps to increase curb appeal.

 

Proper Installation

The construction of pavers results in gaps between the stones or bricks. Assuring proper installation is the first step in preventing weeds. A tightly packed sand bed offers a level base for the deck or patio. When all the pavers are in place, the crevices should be filled with additional sand. This sand guarantees that each paver remains in place and helps prevent the growth of weeds.

 

Ensure Proper Slope

In the wet, moist soil, weeds flourish. Water flows down the slope when the deck or patio is correctly sloped and does not remain stagnant in the crevices between the pavers, helping to escape the conditions that weeds need to grow. It should always tilt the slope of the paved area away from the property.

 

Is It Too Late?

You have to go from prevention to seeking appropriate solutions for the issue when weeds are already present. You can remove existing weeds from your paver area in a variety of ways. A single technique of weed-removal might not be enough. Depending on how serious the weed issue is, it could be more successful to incorporate two or more of these methods. Go back to the avoidance strategies to hold them away until the problem has been rectified.

 

White Vinegar

Open the pantry and reach for the white vinegar, instead of treating weeds with harsh chemicals. In an empty spray bottle, pour the vinegar and spray the holes between the pavers, allowing it to sit down and work its way into the sand. Rinse away the vinegar with a garden hose after a few hours have passed. Without destroying the pavers or damaging surrounding plants, this easy solution will destroy the weeds. Vinegar does not discolor pavers, but before treating the whole region, do the same procedure with an inconspicuous test spot if you have any concerns.

 

Pressure Washing

Washing the entire patio with pressure is a dual-purpose approach. Not only will it remove the weeds from the gaps between the pavers, but it will also provide the pavers with a thorough cleaning, making the whole area look fresh again. Do not actually use a jet nozzle while you are pressure washing. The water pressure from the nozzle between the grooves will wash away the sand and etch the surface of the pavers themselves. Instead, use the pressure washer in combination with a revolving surface cleaner attachment.

 

Hands-On Removal

Pulling weeds is a common method of removal, but it is only successful if the whole plant, root, and all is removed. To do this, reach and carefully pull the weed to the lowest point of the stem. They can grow back any roots that don't come with the plant. This also leads to several hand-pulling sessions before remedying the problem. At the beginning of a weed issue, hands-on removal is possible when just a few weeds are present, but when there is a serious weed problem, it can become a very labor-intensive and less successful process.

 

Mechanical Removal

Using a mechanical removal solution is an alternative to hand-pulling weeds. Crack scrapers are equipped with L-shaped blades that, at the base of the stem, pull a weed from the stem, extracting the weed. This method usually leaves behind the root, enabling it to regrow. As a consequence, mechanical removal is a way to temporarily restore the look of the deck or patio, but to eliminate regrowth, future mechanical removal sessions will be needed.

 

Stabilizing Sand

When one of the above methods is used to eliminate the weeds, stabilizing sand can be used to help prevent any roots from re-growing. It is critical that the patio is dry and free from weeds when adding sand. Some paver sands feature gel additives that react with water, so that weeds have nowhere to go, filling the gap between the stones. Some sands also have a pH that inhibits the growth of weeds by rendering them uninhabitable. To decide the correct installation process, the type of sand used may aid. To ensure the product is used correctly, follow the instructions carefully.