How many times have you toiled for an afternoon de-weeding your patio, only for a bouquet of dandelions to sprout up again mere weeks later?
Well, we’re here to help you get to the root of the problem. In this article, we will detail all the ways you can stop weeds growing between paving slabs, ensuring all your hard work does not go to waste this summer.
Continue reading, below, to find out how to keep your patio free of pesky dandelions, crabgrass and chickweed for good.
First, you need to remove any overgrown weeds from the gaps
Before you start thinking about long-term pest control, you’ll first need to remove any weeds that are currently invading your patio area.
And while there are many complicated tricks and hacks floating around, we always get the best results with the most straightforward method: stripping them out by hand. Just ensure you wear a thick pair of gardening gloves to get a good grasp on the stems and then pull the weeds out, roots and all. Simple!
To make life easier, you can use a weed knife or a curved blade to better dig the roots out of the ground. Weeding just after it has rained can also lighten the labour as the soil between your paving slabs will be softer. This means the weeds will be easier to pull up, either by hand or with a knife.
But removing weeds is only half the job: you need to ensure they don’t just return in a month’s time too. Take a look, below, to find out our four top tips for keeping your patio free of weeds.
1. Sprinkle baking soda
Baking soda is probably the simplest and safest way to soften up and kill weeds. All you need to do with it is sprinkle it over your patio slabs and then sweep it into the gaps between your slabs. Once you’ve done this, simply pour some water down the gaps too.
Not only does this kill the roots, the combination of baking soda and water also means they’ll be easier to uproot too. If you repeat this process every month or so, you’ll easily be able to stop grass growing between slabs.
2. Pour boiling water
Boiling water can cause serious damage to any weed roots or seeds you missed with your gardening gloves. Simply boil the kettle, or heat up some water in a pan, and then pour the boiling water into the gaps between the paving slabs to prevent weeds from growing.
Pouring boiling water onto weeds can also make pulling them out easier. The soil and roots soften up and do not cling as stubbornly to the earth. However you use it, ensure you take care when pouring the boiling water. Always pour from a short height and directly onto the weeds themselves.
3. Use a pressure washer
While you’ll still need to de-weed the gaps between pavers by hand, using a pressure washer helps to truly finish the job. Seeds, dislodged roots, and loose weeds still hiding in the gaps will be promptly removed by the force of a jet wash. To ensure the job’s done right, spend approximately 30 seconds on each area.
It’s worth noting that this approach should not be regularly administered. The pressure of the water can break down the mortar that keeps your pavers in place. With this in mind, it’s advised that you make use of a pressure washer only once per season to flush out any particularly stubborn remnants of weeds.
4. Refill the jointing compound
Weeds typically thrive when the mortar between pavers has been worn away, leaving an inviting habitats for seeds travelling on the wind. Well, you can reseal these areas to stop weeds growing between paving slabs. This is where jointing compound comes into play.
Much like baking soda, you simply need to sweep this compound into the gaps between your pavers. Then, lightly spray them with water. A spray bottle full of water works particularly well for this task.
Give the compound 12 to 24 hours to settle and voila, your gaps are sealed. Remember, as effective as jointing compound is, it’s not going to do much if applied onto existing roots. They’re likely to grow through the joints, ruining all of your efforts, so clear them out before sealing the gaps.
Have you got any more questions about how to stop weeds growing between paving slabs? Just give us a call on 0800 032 6306 or start a live chat today. Our friendly team will be more than happy to guide you through all aspects of patio maintenance.