How to get rid of stubborn weeds in gravel for good

Spruce up your gravel patio.

Gravel looks good, and it’s budget-friendly and low-maintenance, whether you have a gravel driveway, walkway, or patio. What doesn’t look good are tufts of grass and weeds popping up between the small rocks. If a weed take-over is causing you to rethink the gravel in your yard, don’t give up just yet. You can get rid of it, and you can keep it from coming back. And it’s as easy as grabbing some items from your pantry if you’d rather not pull them by hand. Read on to learn how to get rid of that unwanted grass and weeds in gravel to tidy up your landscaping.

What Is Gravel?

Gravel is a mixture of small natural rock fragments that are sourced from quarries or riverbeds. It’s often used as a base for driveways, walkways, and patios, to improve drainage in landscaping, and as mulch in flower beds. Pea gravel is made up of small, round stones that are often used for decorative paths, between pavers, as a base for outdoor seating areas, and around a fire pit. 

How To Get Rid Of Unwanted Grass And Weeds

Any plant growing where it's not wanted is considered a weed, like those tufts of grass sprouting in your flower beds and the moss growing between your pavers. There are several ways to get rid of unwanted weeds sprouting up in the gravel areas of your yard. Depending on whether you have a little or a lot, you can pull them up by hand or spray the area with vinegar or herbicide. Choose the method that works for you:

Pull By Hand

If you see weeds or grass here and there, the easiest thing to do may be to pull them by hand. A few minutes pulling weeds each day can maintain your gravel and make it easy to pluck young seedlings as they emerge. If it hasn’t rained, consider watering the area first to make them easier to pull. Then grab the weed close to the ground and pull slowly so you remove the entire roots. Use a weed fork to remove any roots that are stuck. To avoid bending that may cause an achy back, use a standard garden hoe to slide beneath the gravel and slice weed and grass roots and stems. 

Spray With Vinegar

Household vinegar can be sprayed directly on weeds to kill their leaves, but it’s more effective on young plants. Mature weeds need a stronger concentration. Industrial-strength horticultural vinegar has higher concentrations of acetic acid, about 20%, and is more effective. More than one application may be necessary since the roots may survive.

Sprinkle With Salt

For a larger area of weeds, you can sprinkle table or rock salt directly over the gravel. Lightly water the area to help the salt reach the roots. The salt draws moisture out of the plants over time, so you’ll likely see results after one or two weeks. Be careful to avoid using salt near trees and other plants, and don’t overdo it. Too much salt in the soil can permanently affect soil quality, leading to compaction, poor drainage, and reduced aeration and making it impossible to grow plants there later.

Pour Boiling Water

Boiling water kills plants quickly. Simply heat a tea kettle or pot of water to a boil. A tea kettle or a pot with a spout allows you to control the flow of the water during pouring so you can target unwanted growth without killing nearby plants. This method is best for young weeds because it doesn’t effectively harm deep roots. You may have to repeat with more boiling water after a week.

Use An Herbicide

For stubborn weeds that keep coming back, an herbicide may be your best bet. Look for glyphosate-based products and follow directions on the packaging. It kills any plants it comes in contact with down to the root, so only target what you want to get rid of. It won’t keep new weeds from taking root, so you may need to apply it again if you see more sprouting. Make sure to use gloves and protective eyewear during use.

Burn Them With A Weed Torch

A propane weed torch may not be something you have on hand, but it can be pretty effective at getting rid of unwanted plants. Flame weeding doesn’t ignite plants or reduce them to ash, rather it uses flame and intense heat, up to 2,000ºF, to wilt them. To use, you pass the flame over the weeds for 1 or 2 seconds, causing the cells to rupture and the plant to wilt and die. This process works best on young weeds and may require several sessions for mature weeds with large taproots.

When using a propane tank and flame, there are some safety precautions to consider. First, remove any flammable leaves, sticks, and other debris from the gravel. To avoid damaging the gravel, make sure it is dry and hold the torch at a safe distance. Sweep across the gravel rather than focusing on one spot for too long or you may leave black marks on your gravel.

Warning

Follow all regulations and take note of dry spells and fire weather watches in your area. Using torches, particularly during fire season, may not be allowed.

How To Keep Grass And Weeds Out Of Your Gravel

Cover The Area With Landscape Fabric

The best way to keep weeds and grass from growing up through gravel areas on your property is to lay down landscape fabric to cover the surface and prevent weed seeds from coming in contact with the soil. This fabric needs replacing every few years.

Add Barriers

Use physical barriers like stone, plastic, or metal edging to keep gravel and grass separate and keep seeds from getting in the gravel.

Layer On The Gravel

Layer the gravel to a 3- to 4-inch thickness to keep sunlight from reaching the soil and germinating weed seeds, the same way mulch works. Some seeds may still make their way to the soil, but a thick layer should help.

Apply Pre-Emergent Herbicide

After installing a gravel patio or walkway, apply a pre-emergent herbicide to keep weeds from germinating. Apply the pre-emergent each spring and late summer for control all year.

Weed Often

Keep unwanted growth from getting out of hand by weeding and dealing with weeds and grass as they sprout. Young growth is easier to remove.

Read the original article on Southern Living