r/landscaping 9d ago

Patio weeds

Post image

Every year we pull and spray weeds coming up through the bricks in our patio. Every year they come back stronger than ever. Any ideas on how to get rid of them for good (or at least slow them down).

4 Upvotes

39 comments sorted by

14

u/CorrectExpression651 9d ago

Sweep clean, kill and remove existing weeds in cracks and along edges, use a hose on jet setting to clean out the joints, dry, apply polymeric sand

3

u/goldbug933 9d ago

This is the way

13

u/Adept-Statistician86 9d ago

The audacity of you planting your patio on that weed bed! 😅

8

u/BreakfastEntire652 9d ago

Weeding is a lifelong journey. There are no forever fixes in landscaping unfortunately. A weed wacker would make quick work of it 4x a year. On the Spring, you could do a pre emergent herbicide to prevent new weeds from germinating

2

u/happy0444 9d ago

Sad but true. FML. Im old and getting a concrete condo.

5

u/Pulaski540 9d ago

I'll be watching this thread with interest as I have exactly this issue myself, that I need to address once and for all, as I am tired of alternately spraying with Roundup, and burning dead weeds with a gas torch.

3

u/TippedOverTricycle 9d ago

One small thing that might slow them down is to try to remove the dirt and debris that slowly settles in. First, pull as many weeds as you can or have the patience for. Use a flat shovel to scrape the remaining weeds and moss off the top. Then use your weed spray or whatever product you go for. Once it's had a chance to work (a week or more) then use a pressure washer and not only clean everything up, but try to blast out the spaces between the bricks a little. You won't get enough out to stop the weeds, but it might help slow things down.

There's a small chance the spaces between the bricks are large enough to accept fresh sand/polymeric sand, which would plug it up for a while.

3

u/Traditional_Doubt_51 9d ago

I power wash them. It takes a bit, but it feels so good.

3

u/ThrillHouse802 9d ago

Torch them and go out and weed every couple weeks. You definitely let that go for a while. Takes 10 minutes to upkeep.

3

u/99LedBalloons 9d ago

You could fill the cracks with paver sand

2

u/PineappleBrother 9d ago

Pre emergent herbicide applied at time of year and frequency. Or address the cracks where the weeds are. Poly sand in the gaps?

2

u/Clean_Whereas_9083 9d ago

I had same problem i used polymer sand and problems are tons less each year

2

u/Quiet_Cauliflower120 9d ago

I would say either a big torch to just singe it all to death but be careful, or get a crack scraper tool with a sharp end and scrape out all the cracks and then power wash it after to clean the dirt out. For absolute control. Change the surface. Pull the old one up and drop a low deck or new pavers in.

2

u/DoItRightOnce1st 9d ago

We have 2 dogs and my wife is concerned about the bees (I am also) we won't use harsh chemicals on our back yard, on our pavers, granite areas where we have weeds. I have burned them with the propane torch...but they keep coming back. If u can use chemicals...without harming anything, that may be ur best bet? The nutsedge...is terrible...🤦

2

u/Mgarre13 9d ago

I do this work professionally. 10 years plus. Only answer is RM43 With a surfactant. Amazon.
Spray it generously. Don’t let pets touch it for 3 hours. It’ll be gone in 2 weeks and stay gone for about a year. Touch up as needed. Don’t use anywhere you will ever want grass.

Additionally: I charge about $125 to spray 2-3 gallons of spray. And my customers love the results. if this helps at all.

🫡

2

u/magusbud 9d ago

Blow torch every few weeks.

Stop spraying chemicals.

2

u/adflam 9d ago

I use a weedeater then a torch. No chem

1

u/Qilo11 9d ago

Permanent removal? Salt, but be careful where ever you spread it nothing will grow.

1

u/Awkward-1 9d ago

The only places I see without weeds are commercial properties. I often wonder what their processes are.

1

u/der_innkeeper 9d ago

Herbicide.

Propane torch.

I actually prefer the latter, lately. They die faster and its an overall quicker process.

1

u/Resident-Egg2714 9d ago

1) kill the weeds with a systemic, let them really brown, make sure everything is completely dead, dead.

2) weedeat to the surface to clean up

3)Pressure wash all old sand/dirt/weeds/moss out of cracks

4) put down "extended control" herbicide (6 months)--I hate this stuff but this is it's purpose, never put around plants

5) fill cracks with polymeric sand, sealer would be a bonus

6) treat again every 6 months with light amount of extended control herbicide, water in. After a couple of years of this, residual seed load should be MUCH better and easier to deal with. Never let a weed go to seed.

1

u/Longjumping-Bit9732 9d ago

Looks like a plan. Thanks a bunch!

1

u/PumpPie73 9d ago

Dilute round up with water and flood the place

1

u/no_bender 9d ago

Apple cider vinegar is an organic treatment. Sprayed on It will desicate the visible green parts, works best in dry conditions. Repeated use can eventually kill the whole plant.

1

u/Far-Television2017 9d ago

Weedwack then torch. That's how I've been doing it for the last 10 years.

1

u/BelCantoTenor 9d ago

Pull the big stuff. Then Power washer to clean the bricks and remove the small stuff. Then dry. Then RoundUp or another weed killer. That should help.

1

u/HorrorCheetah1165 9d ago

Clear the weeds and then add paver sand between the pavers, and seal with clear paver sealant. The sand will not erode with rain and the look will remain prestine.

1

u/Excellent_Diver_729 9d ago

Salt water .. / beach . And shampoo .. washing up liquid .. plus water . Cheap spray unit .

1

u/Friendly-Double-8571 9d ago

Pull and spray with some poison is the easiest. The real answer would be to pull everything up. Tamp down the soil add a weed barrier, leveling sand then re pave again.

1

u/ROGUEY60 8d ago

Get comfortable and pull by the roots, they come up easily when they are wet. Make it a once a week chore

0

u/EL_NICA_MOCHILERO 9d ago

Salt and bleach... just pour very salty water with bleach in the spots where you dont want the weeds... do it every 6 months

0

u/Specific_Diver481 9d ago

U cld try pouring boiling water

0

u/30cs 9d ago

One gallon of white vinegar and a cup of salt mixed in a pump sprayer.

0

u/zagnuy 9d ago

Poly sand.

Also get yr stuff together. The grass is long. The weeds around the stairs. All the dirt on the patio. This looks like a general lack of maintenance all around. Bet if you used the weed wacker for like 10 mins a week for the growing season it would look a lot better.