Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Stop Weeds in Block Paving
How to Stop Weeds in Block Paving. Block paving is a popular home option for walkways and patios. But over time, even well-laid paving can fall prey to weed growth. Poorly laid or degrading substrate may allow weeds to grow up from the soil or the weed's seed may land and germinate in dirt nestled in the joints between the pavers. Whatever the...
Block paving is a popular home option for walkways and patios. But over time, even well-laid paving can fall prey to weed growth. Poorly laid or degrading substrate may allow weeds to grow up from the soil or the weed's seed may land and germinate in dirt nestled in the joints between the pavers. Whatever the cause, weed growth is potentially damaging. Over time, the weeds' foliage and roots can actually crack and damage the pavers. Luckily, these weeds are relatively easy to kill using a number of solutions.
Things You'll Need
Herbicide
Long-handle brush
Corn gluten meal
Spray the weeds with an herbicide. A glyphosate-based broad spectrum herbicide will kill any weeds (or plants) it comes into contact with. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for application rates and amounts. For a more natural option, pour lemon juice or boiling water onto the weeds.
Monitor the paving stones for regrowth over the next two weeks. Persistent perennial weeds growing up from the soil between pavers may require one or more treatments.
Pull up the weeds once they're dead.
Control weed seed lying dormant in the soil between pavers with corn gluten meal. Corn gluten meal is available at health stores and home and garden centers (labeled as a weed killer). Sprinkle it in the joints in early spring as soon as temperatures begin to warm, three to five weeks before the weeds sprout. If it rains within 72 hours after applying the corn gluten meal, re-apply the layer.
Tips & Warnings
Brush the paving stones with a long-handle brush to remove any surface debris that weed seeds may be rooting in. Weekly brushing will take care of most surface weed invasions. If the weeds are growing up from the soil beneath the pavers, repeated treatments may keep them at bay. For a more permanent solution, have the paving stones removed by a professional and replaced over a black polyethylene plastic barrier over the soil. The barrier will control weed growth for up to five years.
