How To Prevent Weeds From Growing Between The Concrete?

Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 09:01 pm

Why Weeds Are Harmful

Nothing is more unpleasant than when you start to see those pesky weeds emerging in your new garden, making their way into your driveway or invading your sidewalk. In addition to being visually unsightly, they can also create problems.

When these weeds begin to grow out of the cracks in your sidewalk, they start to erode the concrete. If left untreated, these weeds will slowly widen the cracks to the point where you will have to redo your sidewalk or deck. To prevent this from happening, here is an overview of why these weeds grow and the best ways to prevent them from doing so.

How Does Grass Grow In Gravel?

To know how to get rid of grass growing through concrete, it helps to understand how it grows there in the first place. To many, grass growing through concrete seems counterintuitive; surely the environment around it is too hostile for anything to grow in. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

In fact, the cracks between sidewalks provide an ideal environment for weeds to grow. These cracks contain an abundance of soil and nutrients, creating a perfect breeding ground. In fact, these cracks create a micro-environment, as moisture and heat are retained in these cracks more than in any other area of your garden or sidewalk.

Tips For Controlling Weeds Growing In Sidewalk Cracks

Despite the bad news that it is actually very easy for weeds to grow in the cracks of your sidewalk, all hope is not lost. There are a plethora of things you can do to minimize their presence. Here are some expert tips:

Best Time Of Year

While you can choose to implement your grass control at any time of the year, spring or fall is the best time to do it. These are the times of year when weeds are at their strongest growth point, allowing them to absorb the weed killer more quickly.

Prepare The Ground

Before you begin using your weed control method, make sure your yard is properly prepared. Clear your driveway, path or sidewalk of anything that should not be affected.

Using A Traditional Weed Killer

One option for keeping grass from growing in the cracks in your sidewalk is traditional weed killer. These solutions can be found in garden stores and are easy to apply. However, they contain toxic chemicals, so it’s best to contact a company that specializes in lawn treatment.

Natural Remedies To Control Grass Growing In Sidewalk Cracks

Traditional weed control is a popular option for controlling weed growth. However, it is filled with toxic chemicals that can not only harm the environment, but also damage clothing and cause health problems. Fortunately, there are eco-friendly alternatives and natural weed killers that do the job perfectly.

Boiling Water

Hot water is one of the cheapest and easiest options to help you keep weeds from growing in your soil. Simply pour boiling water directly into the cracks at the top of the weeds to slowly kill them.

The weeds themselves can’t handle the intense heat and will die. It may take a few treatments for this method to really work, but if you stick with it, the boiling water will eventually kill the weeds from the root up.

Vinegar

Another solution you probably have in your kitchen is vinegar. The acidic nature of vinegar makes it the perfect solution for controlling weeds. Simply mix vinegar with a 5% acetic acid concentration (white vinegar usually has this level of concentration) with one cup of table salt, one cup of lemon juice and two tablespoons of dish soap. Another trick is to mix all these components in a spray bottle for easy application.

Baking Soda

Using baking soda to eliminate weeds is a handy method if you have weeds growing near your plants, as it can be an extremely localized method or a more extensive one, depending on the desired effect.

If you only want to target a few specific weeds, apply a teaspoon of baking soda directly to them. If you want to remove weeds from cracks in a sidewalk or driveway, sprinkle baking soda over the entire area.

Pulling Weeds

Pulling weeds by hand is an excellent option that requires no equipment. While you can invest in tools that can help you manually remove weeds, your hands are really all the equipment you need.

All you have to do with this method is pull the weeds out by the root to minimize the likelihood of them coming back.

Precautions To Take

While there is not much that can go wrong when you are removing small-scale weeds from your garden or sidewalk, there are a few things you need to be aware of in order to do it as safely as possible.

Neighbouring Plants

Make sure that weed removal does not affect nearby plants. If your weeds are surrounded by plants, be sure to use a localized method of removal. You may be more careless in your application if the weeds cover a large area or are between cracks in concrete, as there is less chance of destroying the plants around them.

Toxic Products

It is important to be fully aware of what you are putting on your grass and plants. Therefore, if you are using a store-bought weed killer, it is advisable to check the ingredients and precautions that may be present on the bottle.

Generally, it is advisable to limit any contact between the substance and your skin, which is why it is best to wear gloves when administering. Also make sure that once you apply the substance, you let it dry completely.

How Can I Get Rid Of Weeds In My Driveway For Good?

The best way to permanently get rid of weeds in your driveway is to use a material that creates a hostile environment for weed growth. A good example is a resin driveway, as the process involves deep digging to remove all existing weeds while laying down layers of material that block their growth.

If you don’t have the budget to completely redo your driveway, simply cover the cracks. Once you have removed the weeds from the cracks, simply fill them in with an appropriate material. There are a variety of different options you can use to seal the cracks, from concrete to sand, find the one that works best for you.

Overview

While they are annoying and can easily ruin a perfect lawn or driveway, there are several things you can do to keep weeds under control or remove them completely.

First, you have to be ready to do the legwork and analyze the best time of year to do this bit of gardening. Spring and fall are the best times.

Also keep in mind that there are many solutions for eliminating weeds that you may find in your home. While these methods are recommended, if you must use a traditional weed killer, be sure to be careful when applying it.

Finally, to prevent regrowth, try to cover any cracks that are a breeding ground for weeds. If you can’t seal the cracks or can’t afford to resurface your driveway, make sure you don’t let the weeds grow back.