The way you landscape your yard can depend on the type of paving you choose. There are many different kinds of pavers, from brick to concrete to stone, but they all have one thing in common: they’re hard and flat.
This makes it challenging to grow grass between them without a little work! If you want to keep the grass off your pavers, there are several ways to make it happen:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Weeds can grow between pavers due to the presence of soil, moisture, and sunlight. |
| Several methods can be used to prevent weed growth between pavers, including using weed killer, applying sand, using a weed barrier, and maintaining proper drainage. |
| Non-chemical methods, such as using a weed barrier, applying sand, and maintaining proper drainage, can be effective for preventing weed growth between pavers. |
| It’s important to check for weed growth between pavers regularly to catch any weeds early on and prevent them from spreading. |
| The best way to remove weeds from between pavers is by hand, using a weed puller or knife. Chemical weed killers can also be effective but may harm surrounding plants and grass. |
Use Weed Barrier
If you want to use pavers, it’s a good idea to install a weed barrier between the joints. Weed barrier is simply a thin layer of plastic that prevents grass from growing through the joints between pavers.
It can be easily installed before your pavers are laid down, or after they have already been installed. The downside is that it needs to be covered by mulch or other landscaping material in order for it not to look out of place when finished.
Trim The Grass
The best way to keep grass from growing on pavers is to trim the grass often. You can use a weed trimmer or a power edger to cut off the grass at the base of your pavers. DO NOT use regular mowers, weed whackers or string trimmers.
“Looking for an easy and effective way to clean your pavers without a pressure cleaner? Check out our guide on how to clean pavers without a pressure cleaner for helpful tips and tricks.”
Spray Round-Up On The Grass
Round-up is a product that will kill the grass, and it’s important to use it properly. First, mow the grass so that all of the blades are even with each other. Next, spray Round-Up on each blade in a sweeping motion from top to bottom.
The product will not work if you spray any part of your lawn that does not have grass growing on it—only where there are blades present should be sprayed with Round-Up.
After allowing four or five days for this product to dry completely (and after waiting until any rain has stopped), you can remove dead pieces of grass manually using a rake or shovel and then raking again afterward using a leaf rake for good measure.
We recommend doing this twice per week until no more growth appears on your pavers at all; this may take up to three weeks depending on how much rain falls during these few days between treatments.
Add Sand To Joints Of Paver Stones
The next step is to add sand to the joints. You can use a long-handled trowel, funnel and broom for this task.
The first thing you need to do is fill up your pail with sand, which should be kept on hand at all times when working on pavers.
Next, take your long-handled trowel and pour the sand into each joint of your paver stones until they’re filled level with their surfaces.
If you have clumps that don’t get into place easily (or if it’s raining), just scatter them over the tops of those joints where they’ll drop in when it dries out a bit more—it doesn’t matter if they’re not exactly even with one another because we’ll be sweeping them flat later anyway!
“If you’re thinking about laying pavers over an existing brick surface, our guide on how to lay pavers over brick can help. Learn about the materials and steps involved in this process and get started on your project today.”
Apply Self-Adhesive Grass Barrier Strips
Let’s start by talking about the grass barrier strips, which are a good option if you want to keep grass from growing in a specific area. They are available at most hardware stores, and they’re easy to install.
The next step is to remove any remaining grass you missed with your rake or leaf blower. You can do this using a high-quality weed killer that allows you to spray and kill existing weeds while they’re still small.
Apply Horticultural Vinegar On The Grass
If you want to remove the grass from your pavers, vinegar is a great option. Vinegar is cheap, safe and effective at killing weeds and grass. It won’t harm the pavers themselves but it will kill any existing plants in a matter of days.
Vinegar works in two ways: it kills the roots of plants so they can no longer absorb water or nutrients from the ground; secondly, it dehydrates them so they wither away after dying from lack of water.
“Choosing the right brand of pavers can make a big difference in the quality and longevity of your outdoor space. Check out our guide on what brand pavers are best to learn more about the top brands on the market and make an informed decision for your project.”
Lay Landscaping Fabric Under The Pavers
If you’re looking for a way to keep grass from growing in the space between pavers, laying landscaping fabric under your pavers is a great choice. It’s easy to install and will prevent weeds from growing in the cracks between pavers.
Landscaping fabric is available in rolls or sheets (which are more expensive). The roll sizes vary depending on what you need.
You can also get landscape fabric with holes already punched through it—these work well as weed barriers when installing pavers as long as you have enough room between each one for the fabric to hang down into the gaps.
If you’re using landscape fabric that doesn’t already have holes in it, there are several ways to create them before installation:
You can use scissors or a utility knife; cut along lines marked on the roll with chalk; or make dots with an awl (or similar tool) on either side of each line that needs cutting through so that they’ll be easier to find once installed
Seal The Pavers
Seal the pavers. Sealants that are designed for use on pavers are available at most hardware stores and will prevent grass from growing through the cracks in your concrete walkway.
The sealant should be permeable, so it will allow water to pass through but not let roots grow through it.
Apply sealant in thin layers rather than one heavy coat, so that you can fit additional coats of sealant over time if necessary (and because you don’t want a thick layer of sealer on top).
“Gravel is an important component of a strong and stable paver installation. Our guide on how deep should gravel be for pavers can help you determine the right depth and ensure a durable and long-lasting outdoor space.”
Fill Joints With Polymeric Sand
Another good option is to fill the joints with polymeric sand. Polymeric sand is made from recycled plastic, so it’s eco-friendly, and it has the added benefit of being able to be poured very easily in large quantities.
It also dries out when wet, so you won’t have to worry about your paver joints getting muddy or slippery when it rains again! Polymeric sand comes in different colors as well—you can even buy this type of sand in brown and black if you really want that natural looking look!
Polymeric sand can also be used to fill gaps between pavers and concrete slabs. This works great because once again: no mud!
You don’t want your beautiful patio area covered in thick clumps of dirt every time it rains either; instead just use this special kind of fine sand instead!
It should hold up well over time too since its made up mostly out of recycled plastic rather than just plain old dirt like regular soil would be composed entirely out off.”
Pour Concrete Or Mortar Over The Pavers
There are a few ways to keep grass from growing on pavers. The best method is to pour concrete or mortar into the joints between the pavers.
Then, use a trowel to spread the mixture over your entire walkway and patio. Make sure you leave it to dry for several days before brushing off any excess that may have spilled out of the joints.
“Sunken pavers can be unsightly and even dangerous, but with the right approach, they can be easily repaired. Check out our guide on how to repair sunken pavers for step-by-step instructions and helpful tips to get your outdoor space looking great again.”
Fill Gaps Between Pavers With Plastic Spacers
If your pavers are uneven, use plastic spacers to fill in the gaps between them. First, hammer the spacers into place before laying the pavers on top of them. Be sure to use a level to make sure they’re level with each other. You can buy these plastic spacers at home improvement stores or online.
Conclusion
It’s important to keep your pavers looking their best and make sure that they are sealed so that you can enjoy them for years to come.
The key is to stop grass from growing on your pavers by using one of these methods: weed barrier, trimming it or spraying Round-Up on it, adding sand between joints or applying self-adhesive grass barrier strips.
Further Reading
For more information on preventing weeds from growing on your pavers, check out the following resources:
How to Stop Weeds Growing Between Paving: This article provides tips on how to prevent weeds from growing between pavers, including using weed killer, applying sand, and using a weed barrier.
Prevent Weed Growth Between Paving Stones: This resource provides information on how to prevent weed growth between paving stones, including using a jointing sand with weed inhibitor.
How to Stop Weeds from Growing on Your Paver Patio & Walkways: This blog post provides tips on how to prevent weeds from growing on your paver patio and walkways, including using weed killer and proper maintenance techniques.
FAQs
What causes weeds to grow between pavers?
Weeds can grow between pavers due to the presence of soil, moisture, and sunlight. Over time, these factors can create the ideal conditions for weed growth.
How can I prevent weeds from growing between pavers?
There are several ways to prevent weeds from growing between pavers, including using weed killer, applying sand, using a weed barrier, and maintaining proper drainage.
What is the best way to remove weeds from between pavers?
The best way to remove weeds from between pavers is by hand, using a weed puller or knife. Chemical weed killers can also be effective but may harm surrounding plants and grass.
Can I prevent weed growth without using chemicals?
Yes, there are several non-chemical methods for preventing weed growth between pavers, including using a weed barrier, applying sand, and maintaining proper drainage.
How often should I check for weed growth between pavers?
It’s a good idea to check for weed growth between pavers regularly, at least once every few months. This can help you catch any weeds early on and prevent them from spreading.
I am Hellen James, a landscape architect. For many years I have written about landscaping for various publications; however, recently decided to focus my writing on personal experience as a profession.