The settlement of dandelions, grass and moss in the terrace joints can hardly be avoided. Although weeds also have their place in the home garden, as wild plants are ecologically very valuable, a paved area that is overgrown with greenery quickly appears unkempt. In this article you will find great tips on how to get weeds out of the cracks easily and permanently.
How do I permanently remove weeds from paving stone joints?
To permanently remove weeds from paving stone joints, you can use a joint scraper, flame burner, high-pressure cleaner, boiling water, paving joint mortar or Dansand. However, avoid legally prohibited methods such as vinegar and s alt.
You can stop the wild growth on the terrace and driveway with:
- Joint scraper and wire brush,
- flaming devices,
- the high-pressure cleaner,
- boiling water,
- Paving grout,
- Dansand,
- Biological weed killers
get to work. However, some preparations that are passed around as tips are prohibited. Other methods work very well, but have to be repeated regularly.
Joint scraper and wire brush
Removing weeds in this way is effective as long as you work thoroughly and lift the weeds out of the cracks along with the roots. If this is not the case, the green will quickly become out of joint again.
Preferably use a telescopic joint scraper (€39.00 on Amazon), then you don't have to bend down and it noticeably relieves the strain on your back. If the soil between the paving slabs is slightly moist, the wild plants are easier to remove.
flaming devices
You can destroy weeds with heat using a special burner that runs on electricity or gas. The high temperature causes the cells of the plants to burst, the plants dry up and can simply be swept away.
Handle the devices carefully and pay attention to adjacent ornamental and useful plants so that they are not accidentally damaged. Hold the device over the plants long enough, as this is the only way the heat can reach the deeper roots.
High-pressure cleaner
Weeds can be removed very effectively with the high-pressure cleaner. The device used should work with at least 10 bar. If you hold the nozzle directly into the cracks, the shallow-rooted weeds will simply be flushed out. You can then sweep off the plants.
However, the high-pressure cleaner also rinses gravel and sand out of the joints. This makes it necessary to regularly bring in fresh material. We recommend Dansand, which compacts heavily and thereby deprives weeds of their livelihood.
Home remedies
Boiling water
This destroys the cell structure of the plants due to the high temperature and the plants die. Depending on the type of weed, this takes between two and four days. For stubborn weeds such as dandelions that have already reached a certain size, you may have to repeat the process several times. If you use cooking water in the kitchen, this method is cost-effective, environmentally friendly and very effective in small areas.
Vinegar and s alt
When mixed in the right proportions, vinegar and s alt are relatively effective against weeds. However, its use on paved areas is prohibited by law as environmental hazards cannot be ruled out due to the inability to biodegrade. The use is to be classified as unlawful in accordance with Section 3 of the Plant Protection Act because the products violate “good professional practice” in plant protection. There are good reasons for this, because many products used in the household, such as vinegar essence, are more harmful to the environment than users assume.
Therefore, you should refrain from using this home remedy to destroy wild plants growing in the driveway or on the patio.
Paving joint mortar
With this you can permanently get rid of weeds that keep growing in the terrace joints. The resin-based material is simply placed into the joints between the panels. There the frost-proof agent hardens elastically, so there is no need to worry about cracks in the winter months or under load.
Weed-inhibiting joint sand
Dansand, when well settled into the cracks, creates desert-like conditions thanks to its high pH value. This means that the seeds of the wild herbs have no chance to germinate.
Application:
- Stand thoroughly into the dry cracks of the terrace stones.
- If possible, walk over the area with a vibrating plate to compact the material.
- The sand should only be able to be pressed a few millimeters into the joint with a spatula.
- If this is not the case, add some sand.
Herbicides
In specialist retailers you can get a variety of weed killers for a wide range of applications. As with the home remedy vinegar and s alt, the use of many preparations on paved surfaces is prohibited. Therefore, do not randomly use a product that you still have at home, but only use products that are approved for the intended use.
Please remember that many herbicides contain glyphosate, which is suspected of being carcinogenic. These substances should no longer be used in ecologically managed gardens.
Biological weed killers are kinder to the environment if they are used according to the instructions on the packaging. Dilute this with water according to the package leaflet and pour the preparation specifically into the cracks in the slabs of the terrace or driveway.
Tip
If root weeds have settled in your garden, you should remove them as quickly as possible. This means that the weeds cannot even reproduce. In addition, small plants are much easier to pull out of the joints than large ones that have already formed a deep root.