How to get rid of weeds between block paving

Posted on 8th February 2021

Neglected block paving can lead to an unsightly garden, so to keep your block paving looking as attractive as the day it was first installed, give it a little TLC to keep it free from pesky weeds! This month, Harpenden Block Paving will be covering all you need to know about weed removal and prevention so you can keep your landscape looking great.

Weed removal and preventative techniques 

Manual weeding between block paving

Nothing gets rid of a weed for good like manual labour. Instead of simply removing the leafy part of the weed, pulling the weed out by the root will ensure a more effective removal. It may feel tedious but you will have longer-lasting results this way.

Use a knee pad to rest while you navigate around the weeds amongst your block paving, and wear a pair of tight-fitting gardening gloves to protect your hands. The best time to remove weeds manually from your block paving is after heavy rain. Alternatively, you can hose down your patio to help dampen the soil between your slabs – this will make the weeds easier to lift up and out of the soil by the root.

Tips:

• For any stubborn weeds that won’t shift, use a billhook
• Put on some music as this job can be laborious
• Take breaks every 20 minutes 

Use white vinegar to kill weeds between block paving

White vinegar is readily available, cheap, and an effective weed killer for block paving. It dries out weeds on contact – you can use white vinegar on younger weeds or vinegar with a higher concentration for older weeds, such as weed killer vinegar, which can be picked up at any garden shop/supermarket.

Mix 2 teaspoons of dish soap in with the white vinegar (the amount of vinegar will depend on the size of the job at hand, but typically, with 2 teaspoons of soap, you will require 4.5 litres of white vinegar to mix). Once stirred, pour the solution into a garden spray bottle.

Why use dish soap in the mix? This will help the vinegar stick to the weeds better.

Tips:

• If you only have a few weeds to tackle, you can pierce a few holes into the cap of the vinegar bottle and douse the weeds by pouring straight out of the bottle that way 

• If you’re using vinegar with a much stronger concentration than that of white vinegar, dilute it with water

• Spray the weeds on a sunny day – this will help the vinegar to work its magic and speed up drying out the pesky weeds

• If it rains soon after you have sprayed your weeds, wait until it dries up outside and spray them again

Use boiling water to kill weeds between block paving

A good way to kill weeds and prevent germination is to boil your kettle and pour the water between your patio slabs. Repeat until you have doused all pesky weeds.

Tips:

• Be careful when pouring the boiling water, pour from a short height and pour directly onto the weeds
• Whenever you boil the kettle, pour any remaining boiling on your weeds to prevent wastage and to reduce the weeds

Use saltwater to kill weeds between block paving

Make a saltwater solution of 3 parts water and 1 part salt, and mix together. Pour this saltwater solution between your patio slabs. As the weeds start to die, pour some dry salt over areas where there are lots of weeds. 

Tips:

 

• If results are slow-going, increase your concentration of salt in the water and repeat
• You can add a dash of dish soap or vinegar to your saltwater solution
• Continue with this method every 3-6 weeks

Use baking soda to kill weeds between your block paving

Sprinkle baking soda over your patio and sweep it into the gaps between the slabs, then hose down with water.

Tips

• Baking soda can be applied after heavy rain 
• Using baking soda as a weed killer is best used in spring and autumn
• This method needs repeating every 4-6 weeks

Powerwash between patio slab to prevent weeds

Powerwashing between the patio slabs once the weeds have been removed will get rid of any seeds or roots that are still there. To keep your patio free from weeds, powerwash your patio after weed removal. Hold the power washer hose over the patio gaps for 30 seconds before moving onto the next area.

Tips:

• You can rent power washers from hardware shops, so don’t worry if you do not have one
• Don’t do this too regularly, as you do not want to breakdown the mortar that keeps the patio in place

Sweep patio to prevent weed growth

By sweeping your patio once a week, you can brush away any seeds that may have fallen between the gaps of your slabs. This will stop the seeds from settling and growing into big ugly things.

Tips:

• Save yourself time and only sweep in the gaps
• Listen to a podcast to help pass the time

Use polymeric jointing sand to seal the gaps in patio slabs

This sand is a great weed preventative, all you need to do is sweep the powdered sealant between the gaps in your patio and lightly spray with water to let the sealant bond. 

Tips:

• Stay off your patio for 12-24 hours to let the sealant settle 
• Apply the sealant every other season

Still not satisfied with the results?

Is your patio still not looking its best? Turn to Harpenden Block Paving for a patio refresh! We have provided countless customers across Harpenden, St.Albans and the surrounding areas for 20 years with durable driveways and patios, and beautifully landscaped gardens. So if you would like to know more about how we can transform your outdoor space, contact us today – we’d love to help!