How to Stop Weeds From Growing Between Pavers

While pavers can make properties look gorgeous, the crevices may harbor notorious weed infestation. So, the question is, how to stop weeds from growing between pavers? We're giving measures on how to halt the growth of weeds to prevent paver damage and ensure functionality and a pleasing appearance.

How to Stop Weeds From Growing Between Pavers

To stop weeds from growing between pavers, you first need to ensure proper installation, seal pavers, and stabilize the sand bedding. You can also halt weed growth by doing regular sweeping, torching, pressure washing, or pulling the roots. Additionally, there are several available natural remedies and herbicides to kill weeds.

After installing high-quality pavers on your property, you may notice eventual grass growth in between the pieces or crevices. However, with these tips, you can end the growth of weeds in your beautiful pavers. 

Apply a Sealant

Sealing is the best defense to halt the growth of weeds and prevent them from returning. While you can do it yourself, this job typically requires a team with the equipment, expertise, and knowledge to apply a sealer correctly.

It's essential that the sealant doesn't flake off, suffer from discoloration, or seal in dirt. Additionally, it's better to refill the crevices between the pavers with sand.

Ensure Proper Installation

Paver installation can naturally include spaces between stones or bricks. It's vital that the sand bed is tightly packed to ensure a level foundation and avoid space for weed roots to sprout. 

Weeds thrive in cool, damp soil. However, if you have an adequately sloped pavement, the water won't stay in the crevices. 

Studies show that proper compaction of the pavement influences long-term pavement performance, despite spaces between the stones and bricks. Even a 1% reduction in in-place air voids can extend serviceability by at least 10%.

Stabilize the Sand Bedding

Although landscaping fabric can’t stop the growth of weeds, adding sand to stabilize bedding might be an excellent way of stopping weed growth. There are various kinds of sand, which is why it's important that you hire a professional paver installation company to evaluate what's the ideal material for your paver project.

For instance, some sands feature a pH that prohibits weed growth by making the sand uninhabitable. Other sands include gel additives or polymeric chemicals that react with water. In effect, the sand fills the spaces between the stones, so soil or roots have nowhere to go.

We have certification from the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute, the industry's top credentials for paver installers. This guarantees we apply the best practices and latest technical information regarding paver projects.

Pull Weeds Manually or Using a Mechanical Remover 

If there are existing weeds in the paver cracks, you won't be able to stop future growth without taking out the root cause. 

• Make sure to wear garden gloves.

• Dampen the soil, so it's easier to pick the entire plant, root, and all.

• If it's labor-extensive to pull weeds by hand, you can use a kitchen knife or crack scrapers to remove the weed at the stem's base to prevent re-growth.

Apply Natural Remedies

If adding a sealant is off the table, there are natural remedies you can use. In some cases, all you need to do is gather common household items. These are environmentally-safe methods to stop weeds from growing in between pavers.

Vinegar

Vinegar is a great weed killer because it won't cause discoloration, damage pavers, or affect nearby plants. It draws moisture out of the plant tissues and roots, stopping the formation of weeds. 

Transfer white vinegar into a spray bottle, then spray the vinegar along the cracks. Let the vinegar sit for 60 minutes to work its way into the sand.

Common Salt

Chemically known as sodium chloride, salt can stop the further formation of weeds by dehydrating the roots, disrupting the internal water balance in the plant. Dilute 1 cup of salt in 2 cups of water to make it easier for the weeds to absorb.

However, note that rainfall can cause runoff, carrying the salt to move to other parts of your outdoor space. This may change the quality of soil, killing other plants or prohibiting plant growth.

Boiling Water

Using boiling water is another straightforward and inexpensive way to stop weed growth in pavers. It's best to trim the weeds before pouring boiling water to provide space for the heat and moisture to penetrate the deep soil.

Apply Chemical Treatment

There are several weedicides or herbicides available on the market, and they are safe to use at the different phases of weed growth.

• Pre-emergence weedicide: Pre-sprouting weedicides kill plant enzymes to prevent the germination of seeds that hide between the paver cracks.

• Post-sprouting herbicide: Post-germination weedicide kills the weed plants after the germination stage. You might want to try using Roundup, which is an effective weed killer.

• Contact poison type: As the name implies, this herbicide immediately kills weeds when in contact with the plant. So be sure to spray this with caution and avoid using it during windy days.

• Systemic poison type: When sprayed, the plant would absorb this weedicide and disperse it in the entire internal system, including the branches, stems, and roots. A systematic poison type gradually kills plants by attacking the enzymatic process.

Do Regular Sweeping or Pressure Washing

Sweeping should be part of your paver cleaning routine because it ensures no dirt or soil for rooting. Weeds start with seeds that settle between the gaps of the pavers on the patio or driveway, so make sure to sweep the pavers at least twice a week.

Furthermore, pressure washing is a dual-purpose solution in stopping weed growth and cleaning your hardscapes. Use a rotating surface cleaner attachment. However, be careful not to push the sand out of the pavers.

Use Heat

Weeds may serve as hosts for crop diseases and harbor insects, which may damage your pavers eventually. The good thing is that weeds of 1-2 inches tall are most susceptible to flame heat. If you want to avoid chemicals, using fire to burn weed is an instant remedy. 

Even organic farming systems show success in using fire to control weeds. As long as you use a carefully directed flame or blowtorch, the heat temperature can rupture the plant's cell, effectively killing weeds.

However, avoid using this method when the pavers are near a storage area, wooden parts of the house, or other dry plants.

Conclusion

These weed removal methods can help solve your paver problems. Proper installation and sloping can prevent this issue in the first place. Our specialists at Aviara Pavers can transform your outdoor living spaces into a pristine yet functional oasis.