Tired of seeing weeds on your patio? Does it feel like you’re constantly pulling weeds and grass out from between the pavers? Here are some tips to get rid of the current weeds and stop new ones from growing.
Why Do Weeds Grow between Pavers?
The best way to resolve a problem is to pinpoint the source. In this case, you need to know why weeds grow between pavers.
Most weeds don’t need much soil to take root. Birds and other animals drop seeds as they move over the patio. The seeds make themselves at home and sprout when the time is right. Weeds may also invade from neighboring grassy areas. If there is a clear path of travel, they’ll find it.
How to Kill Weeds on a Brick Patio
If your patio hasn’t been cleaned in a while and needs to be resanded, you could use a power washer to blast weeds out of the joints. This is not smart to do on a recently sanded patio because the power washer will blow the new sand out.
Other ways to kill weeds on a patio include:
- Pour boiling water onto the weeds. This will collapse the plant’s cell structure and kill it without chemicals. Does not work on all weeds.
- Spray vinegar on the weeds. This may harm other plants in the area, so be strategic with where you spray. The acetic acid in the vinegar dehydrates the weeds within 24 hours.
- Apply salt to paver joints. You can use a 3:1 ratio of water to salt to dry up the weeds and their roots. Much like vinegar, this can harm surrounding plants. Apply with caution.
- Use baking soda for weed control and prevention. Spray your pavers down with water and apply baking soda to the cracks. Reapply every 4-6 weeks for best results.
- Use herbicide as needed. We’re hesitant to recommend herbicide because the chemicals in most products may discolor pavers or harm your landscaping. Nevertheless, this may be necessary for widespread weed growth. Test in an inconspicuous area before applying throughout the patio.
Once the weeds are dead, remove the plant material to prevent regrowth. You could use a power washer for this or the manual technique described in the next section.
How to Pull Weeds between Brick Pavers
Weeds with strong root structures may require extra effort to eliminate. In this case, you’ll need to pull the weeds out manually, root and all. You could use a weed eater to cut the weeds down, but they will regrow from the roots. Pulling out the entire plant will prevent regrowth in that area.
Try grabbing the base of the plant and pulling in an upward motion. If it comes out relatively easily, great! If you just rip the leaves off the plant, you may need a different approach.
Use a long screwdriver, a trowel, or a weed removal tool to dig under the weed root and pry it upward. Test this from different angles until you find a system that works well for you. Repeat this throughout the brick patio until there are no weeds left.
How to Prevent New Weeds from Growing
Removing weeds from brick pavers is a hassle. You can save time in the future with some simple prevention methods.
- Sweep the patio frequently to get rid of seeds. This is most important in the spring when plants are in their growth season. You can use a leaf blower to speed up the process.
- Sand between pavers for routine maintenance. This will keep the pavers in place and block weeds from taking root.
- Remove weeds as soon as you notice them. Most weeds grow quickly, so a small plant can turn into a mess.
- Get paver restoration to revitalize your patio. This will include sanding and releveling, which can aid in weed prevention.
If you’re in need of brick patio restoration, contact It’s The Brick Guys at (833) 627-4257. We can clean the stones, reset the pavers, resand the joints, and make the patio look good as new!
