Whether your brand-new outdoor tiles have just been freshly laid, or you’ve been enjoying your patio space for several years already, at some point, you’re likely to notice groups of weeds sprouting from between the gaps.
Unfortunately, no matter how well you care for natural stone paving or outdoor porcelain tiles, no tiling materials are immune to the potential growth of weeds. A natural nuisance, but easily controllable, weed growth between your pavers is an inevitability that all gardeners will need to manage.
However, just because your patio or driveway will one day see weeds sneaking their way through the cracks, that doesn’t mean you can’t stop weeds between pavers from becoming an issue in the long run. In fact, with the right care and attention, you can keep patio weeds at bay with ease.
Keep reading to learn more about how to get rid of weeds between pavers, including why weeds grow in these gaps to begin with, and how to stop weeds between pavers from coming back once your patio and driveway have been cleared.
Why do weeds grow between paving?
Like it or not, when it comes to garden care, weeds are somewhat of a persistent enemy, mainly thanks to their hardy nature and the sly way in which their seeds spread and take root.
However, weeds themselves do not grow from beneath your slabs. Instead, the seeds are usually carried by the wind until they come to rest within the cracks and gaps between your patio pavers. Typically dark and moist with rich soil, these spaces create the perfect environment for seeds to germinate and take root before they eventually poke out from your patio’s gaps.
Classic Sunset Buff Sandstone Paving
How to remove weeds from a patio or driveway
So, if weeds are going to appear in the open lines in and around your patio and driveway tiling, what exactly can you do to get rid of them once you spot them? Well, as it turns out, there are several options you can try before needing to resort directly to weed killer:
- Manual weeding – first things first, if you want to avoid causing any accidental harm to your tiles, you should try manually weeding your patio. This is an excellent option if you have very few weeds that are clearly visible. All you have to do is gently pull them out, being careful to remove each weed’s full root, and then throw them in the compost.
- Pressure washing – while not advisable if you have a soft stone patio, pressure washing can be a great way to clear out stubborn weeds lodged within your grouting if you plan on repointing your tiles in the near future.
- White vinegar spray – a weed's worst nightmare, the acidity of white vinegar is lethal to weeds. Simply create a mixture of four parts vinegar to one part water, add a dash of dish soap, and then decanter the mixture into a garden spray bottle. Then carefully spray this mixture on your patio weeds, avoiding the tiles as much as possible, leave it to take effect and then pluck the weeds. Important: Be sure to check that your tiles are properly sealed before applying, as high-acidic solutions can damage unsealed and natural stone surfaces. Always test on a small, inconspicuous area first.
- Boiling water – Lastly, for a relatively fast way to stop weeds between pavers from growing out of control, you can simply boil a kettle and pour the water onto the weeds in question. This will kill the stem on contact and soak the root base, making it easy to remove them.
How to stop weeds from growing between slabs with weedkiller
While the options we’ve outlined above can offer effective at-home removal, if you want to know what to put between paving slabs to stop weeds on a more permanent and quicker basis, then weedkiller is going to be your obvious choice.
While certainly a viable way to get rid of patio weeds, you need to make sure that whatever weedkiller you pick is patio-friendly and suitable for your tile material type. Be sure to check the information on any weedkiller you look at and double-check how to use it before dousing your patio in it, to avoid harming your paving.
On top of this, once you’ve applied your weed killer and waited the required length of time required for it to take effect, it’s always best to use a patio cleaner to wash down your slabs and ensure that any remaining weed killer is rinsed away.
Martello Beige Porcelain Paving
How to stop patio weeds from coming back again
Naturally, having gone through the effort of thoroughly de-weeding your patio or driveway, the last thing you want is for said weeds to rapidly grow back and infest your patio once again.
Fortunately, there are several things you can do to reduce the likelihood that patio weeds will return, including all of the following:
- Regrout your tiles – it’s often said that prevention is better than the cure, and this is certainly the case when it comes to weeds. So, once you’ve entirely cleaned your outdoor paving, the best way to stop any weeds from returning is to seal up any cracks in your slabs and repoint any damaged grout gaps between your tiles, thus removing the exact locations weeds settle in to grow.
- Seal your tile – after regrouting your tiles, the next thing you should do is seal them. Sealing your tiles and grout will prevent any moisture from getting in, which is the primary cause of tiles cracking in the first place.
- Regular sweeping – once your patio is all nice and sealed up, the best way to keep seeds from its surface is with a regular sweep. This takes no time at all and can be done weekly whenever you get the chance.
- Add drainage – finally, if you have the space to do so, adding some form of drainage system around your patio or driveway tiles will prevent the build-up of stagnant water after rain and allow landed seeds to be washed away.
Create your new patio with Stone Superstore
Of course, eliminating all weeds from your patio permanently isn’t a simple task. However, with the proper care and attention, you can stay on top of any weeds that do appear to keep your outdoor paving looking fresh and guest-ready.
If you’re yet to install any garden tiles around your home, then you can get started by bringing your paving dreams to life with the Stone Superstore range. Boasting a huge collection of natural stone pavers and porcelain outdoor tiles, we’ve got something to suit everybody’s taste.
And once you do have some favoured tiles in mind, be sure to order free cut samples so you can see them in person. In the meantime, don’t forget to explore even more outdoor paving advice, for more installation and care guides like this one - such as how to care for porcelain paving.
