Weeds popping up on gravelled areas and patios range from grassy weeds to woody weeds.
Broadleaf, henbit, purslane, chickweed, and dandelions all find it fair gain when it comes to rearing their heads between the stone.
So, how to stop weeds from growing in gravel? Well, you’ll never completely get rid of weeds existing in your drive. Weed seeds can travel through the air or via birds/insects.
If there’s dirt, moisture and sunshine then weeds will soon germinate. However, there are ways to remove the weeds when they do pop up so they die fast.
Taking to the Gardening Hint and Tips Facebook page, one woman shared a weed removal method she previously heard about and found great results after giving it a test herself.
Rather than using a chemical store-bought weed killer, Trudy Hurd’s method was to use two natural items – both of which are guaranteed to be found in your home – salt and boiling water.
She wrote: “Someone on here said about killing gravel weeds with boiling water with salt and yes in less than 24 hours the weeds are wilting just thought I’d share.”
Trudy added in the comments section that this is perfect for gravel driveways and patios but not with weeds near flowers or grass.
With 40 years of gardening experience, experts at John French Landscape Design, also recommend using salt and boiling water as a way that “works well” to kill weeds popping up between gravel and patios.
They explained: “Salt is most effective as a herbicide when it is mixed with water. The recommended strength of the saltwater mixture depends on where you plan to apply the herbicide.
“If you are applying the salt in an area where the long-term health of the soil is not an issue a much stronger mixture can be made such as a two to one or three to one.”
This amount of salt will definitely affect the pH levels of the soil over time and may cause it to become sterile.
Saltwater solutions should be applied directly to the foliage of the weed. Avoid soaking the roots with the mixture to protect the surrounding soil.
The saltwater can be applied using a spray bottle, or it can be poured from a container. If there are other plants nearby, water them generously after applying the herbicide to the weeds to flush out any saltwater that made it into the surrounding soil.
When it comes to using white vinegar on the weeds, the experts noted that “it has been proven over time to be ineffective on its own”.
However, when mixed with salt and water, vinegar can control weeds well. As with the salt and water mixture, vinegar must be applied carefully as it can change the pH balance of the soil over time – affecting the growth of future plants.