how to remove the weeds and avoid them growing between the bricks

Question

I have noticed that there are weeds growing between the bricks, as shown in the attached pic.
How do i remove them?
Is there anything I can do so that I can avoid them growing in the first place?

Answer 1

Weeds are tenacious. Nothing is going to stop them from growing forever. Well, nothing you can do that won't be dangerous to your own health or cause other problems.

Given that the pavers are already in place. You can spray the weeds periodically, with something like roundup. This will keep them down. Or use a weedwhacker to mow them down.

Be careful on a paver walkway to not use flame to burn them down, as that can cause spalling, damaging the pavers. Be careful that you do not put down something that will cause environmental damage to nearby planted areas.

Answer 2

If you don't want to use a chemical herbicide, boiling water poured on the weeds will kill them. Use a kettle with a spout so you can direct the water directly onto the weeds with minimal splashing, and be careful carrying it from the kitchen! This can be useful for relatively small areas, especially if you have two kettles so one can be warming up while you pour the other.

Depending on your patience, and the number of weeds, you can also use a putty knife or thin screwdriver to scrape them out of the cracks. Sometimes for particularly big-rooted weeds, I'll lift an adjoining brick if I can wiggle something in next to it.

Other solutions (that I haven't tried):

• Vinegar -- some recommend a high strength (10% acetic acid, or higher) solution; others say it may damage the pavers.
• Herbicidal soaps -- these are formulated to smother the weed by blocking their ability to absorb oxygen. One example (no affiliation).

Other than pulling the weeds, these solutions will all leave you with dead weeds that you'll have to remove. If you go the herbicide route, wear gloves when handling them, and dispose of them where pets and wildlife won't get into them.

Answer 3

I've used vinegar - it works well, but it does depend on your pavers (hunks of granite won't care, some cement pavers will). Just keep a small plant sprayer bottle filled with some, and squirt as needed.

Answer 4

A preventive solution after you have weeded is to apply a polymeric sand onto the pavers. It fills in the cracks and sets to a porous but weed resistant surface. I initially balked at paying $25 for a bag of sand but was pleasantly surprised at how well this resists windborne seeds.

It will not stop weeds that are already present from growing up but will stop most wind borne seeds from taking hold.

Answer 5

If its just the odd weed here and there, any of the methods described in the other answers. If you find over time that weeds pop up all over, then start using a Path Weedkiller treatment - these are designed for paved areas only, and contain an ingredient that sits in the cracks for a season to prevent regrowth. Best applied in spring.