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.

An outdoor kitchen featuring a grill and a bar area

How to Keep Weeds Out of Pavers

To prevent weed growth in pavers, you first need to achieve proper installation, seal the pavers, and stabilize the sand bedding. You can also halt weed growth by doing regular sweeping, torching, pressure washing, or pulling the roots. You can also apply natural remedies, herbicides, and polymeric sand to get rid of weeds.

Our paver installers follow ICPI standards when installing pavers for driveways, patios, walkways, pool decks, and outdoor spaces. However, grass growth is still common on paving stones. With these tips, you can end the growth of weeds in your beautiful pavers.

1. Install Pavers Properly

Paver installation can naturally include spaces between stones or bricks. It's vital that the sand bed is tightly packed to create a level foundation and avoid space for weeds to sprout. Proper compaction of pavers influences long-term pavement performance, and even a 1% reduction in in-place air voids can extend serviceability by at least 10%.

Pros: Creates a stable and compact ground base that inherently helps to prevent weeds by minimizing gaps where seeds can germinate.
Cons: Some weed growth can eventually occur through wind-blown seeds, requiring ongoing maintenance.

2. Apply a Sealant

Apply a high-quality sealer evenly across your driveway, brick patio, or stone pavers using a roller or sprayer, providing coverage across the surface and joints. Allow the sealer to cure completely according to the manufacturer's instructions before walking or driving in the treated area.

Pros: Creates a protective barrier that helps get rid of weeds by preventing seeds from taking root in the cracks, keeping garden pathways and hardscaped areas looking clean.
Cons: Requires proper equipment, expertise, and knowledge to make sure the sealant doesn't flake off, suffer from discoloration, or seal in dirt.

3. Stabilize the Sand Bedding

Some sands feature a pH that prohibits weed growth by making the surface uninhabitable. Other types include gel additives or polymeric chemicals that react with water. In effect, the sand fills the spaces between the patio pavers or stones, so soil or weeds have nowhere to go.

Pros: Stabilized bedding beneath paving bricks, patios, or stones helps to prevent weeds by creating a dense, less permeable layer that inhibits weed seeds from taking root.
Cons: If the bedding isn't perfectly stable or if there are gaps, seeds can grow, necessitating additional weed control efforts.

A brick walkway partially covered with green grass

4. Pull Weeds Manually or Using a Mechanical Remover

To remove weeds from your garden, brick patio, or driveway, manually pull them from the joints between pavers and stones when the soil is moist. For larger areas, use a mechanical weed remover or specialized tool to clear weeds from between pavers and along grass edges, then apply a sealer to the joints to create a barrier.

Pros: Environmentally friendly and provides immediate results.
Cons: Labor-intensive, especially for large areas.

5. Vinegar and Baking Soda

Dilute white vinegar and baking soda in a spray bottle, spray the vinegar along the cracks, then let it sit for 60 minutes to work its way into the sand. This cleaning solution is a great weed killer because it draws moisture out of the plant tissues and roots, stopping the formation of weeds on a brick patio or garden landscape.

Pros: Won't cause discoloration, damage pavers, or affect nearby low-maintenance plants.
Cons: May not target deep roots and affect the soil's pH.

6. Scatter Common Salt

Chemically known as sodium chloride, salt can stop the further formation of weeds on paving stones by dehydrating the roots, disrupting the internal water balance in the plant. Dilute 1 cup of salt in 2 cups of water, then let it sit on your brick patio or driveway to make it easier for the weeds to absorb.

Pros: Offers a readily available and inexpensive solution.
Cons: Rainfall can cause runoff, causing the salt to move to other parts of your outdoor space.

7. Pour 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 water to provide space for the heat and moisture to penetrate the deep soil.

Pros: Scalding the weeds prevents them from sprouting without introducing chemicals.
Cons: Only effective on the visible parts of the weed and may not reach deeper roots, leading to potential regrowth.

A cobblestone street with patches of grass growing between the stones

8. Apply Pre-Sprouting and Post-Germination Weedicides

Pre-sprouting weedicides kill plant enzymes to prevent the germination of seeds that hide between the paver cracks, while post-germination weedicides kill the weed plants after the germination stage.

Pros: Creates a chemical barrier that stops seeds from germinating and offers precise control over existing weeds, targeting them directly once they've sprouted.
Cons: May require repeated applications for complete removal and rely on you to identify the specific weeds.

9. Spray Herbicides

Contact herbicides immediately kill weeds when they come into contact with the plant, while systemic herbicides gradually kill plants by attacking the enzymatic process. A selective poison may only attack certain weeds, which the brand would usually identify. A non-selective type can prevent weed growth on the ground.

Pros: Offers a convenient and effective way to prevent weeds and grass from sprouting on your paving stones, garden, or driveway, quickly clearing large areas.
Cons: Can pose risks to non-target plants and the environment if not applied carefully, and repeated use may lead to herbicide-resistant weeds.

10. Do Regular Sweeping or Pressure Washing

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. Reinforce this with pressure washing to remove existing weeds, dirt, and any lingering weed seeds from the crevices.

Pros: Effectively cleans and dislodges potential weed growth, offering an immediate visual improvement.
Cons: May aggressively remove jointing sand, requiring reapplication to maintain the integrity of the pavers.

11. Deploy Heat Treatment

Weeds 1-2 inches tall are most susceptible to flame heat. As long as you use a carefully directed flame or blowtorch, the heat temperature can rupture the plant's cells, effectively killing weeds on pavers.

Pros: Can burn weeds instantly and even kill insects.
Cons: Can be quite tricky to use if your patio ground or driveway stones have several wooden parts or dry plants.

12. Put Polymeric Sand

After thoroughly cleaning your patio pavers and making sure they are dry, carefully sweep the polymeric sand into the cracks until they are completely packed. Lightly mist the area with water to activate the new sand and prompt it to harden.

Pros: Prevents weeds and grass from taking root by creating a solid barrier that inhibits weed seeds from germinating.
Cons: Improper application or insufficient sealer can lead to the polymeric sand cracking or washing out.

A cozy patio featuring a fire pit surrounded by comfortable chairs

Conclusion

These weed prevention strategies provide ongoing maintenance to protect your outdoor surfaces from costly damage and preserve your home's curb appeal. Our specialists at Aviara Pavers follow a proper landscaping process to install and maintain your pavers, guaranteeing that your driveway, pool deck, patio, and walkway remain beautiful and functional for years to come.

12 Tips on How to Stop Weeds From Growing Between Pavers