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It can be disheartening to install great-looking new pavers only to spot grass and weeds creeping up in between them a short time later. Fortunately, there are things you can do to help keep the vegetation in check and your pavers looking their best.
But doing so requires a combination of proper installation and ongoing maintenance. We’ll explain everything you need to do to kill weeds, grass, and vegetation and prevent them from growing between your paving stones below!
Five Tips for Preventing Grass and Weeds from Growing Between Pavers
Many people suspect that it’s impossible to keep your grass and weeds from growing between your pavers, but that’s not true. If you employ the following tips and tricks, you can enjoy beautiful looking pavers without grass and other vegetation compromising their appeal.
1. Start with Proper Installation
Proper installation is likely the single most important thing you can do to prevent grass from growing between your paving stones. This means excavating deeply enough (about 6 to 8 inches for patios) and removing all of the organic matter present.
You’ll then want to install a geotextile fabric on the ground, which will sit beneath the gravel base layer. This will help prevent weeds and grass from growing from below. Then, add a compacted gravel base layer and some screeded bedding sand (do not use soil). This will help further prevent vegetation growth and also provide stability and allow for drainage.
2. Use Polymeric Sand Between Pavers
After setting the pavers on top of the gravel and bedding sand, you’ll want to fill in the gaps between the pavers with polymeric sand. This is a special type of sand that includes additives (polymers) which serve as synthetic binders. In other words, when you apply water to the polymeric sand, it hardens and helps keep the pavers in place. It also provides additional protection from weeds and grass.
Just be sure to sweep the polymeric sand into the joints before applying water. You may need to reapply more polymeric sand every few years as needed, to keep the pavers stable and in place, as well as to prevent vegetation from growing between the pavers.
3. Apply Chemical Treatment: Weed Killers and Pre-Emergents
After applying polymeric sand, you can use a pre-emergent herbicide to stop weed growth by preventing the seeds from germinating. There are a variety of different pre-emergents on the market, but they all work in the same basic way – they prevent weed or grass seeds from germinating; they do not kill existing weeds.
Note that some are best suited for stopping broad-leafed weeds while others are more effective for grass. So, try to select the one that’ll work best for the specific type of weeds you’ve seen in the past.
You can also treat the area with a non-staining weed killer that is safe for hardscapes. This will eliminate any existing weeds or grass, provided that you select a formulation designed to target the type of vegetation you’re trying to eliminate.
4. Seal the Pavers to Control Weeds
With the pavers installed correctly and a pre-emergent applied (as well as a weed killer, if necessary), it is now time to use a paver sealant. This will help to lock in the joint sand and further prevent weeds from growing. It’ll also help keep moisture out of the joints and prevent the dirt from settling.
Just try to choose a breathable, penetrating sealant that’s specifically designed for paver surfaces. This is the only way to get the best results and avoid damaging your new pavers.
5. Maintain Your Pavers Regularly
By this point, you should be well-positioned to enjoy your new pavers without having to look at unsightly grass and weeds growing up between them. However, you’ll still need to carry out ongoing maintenance from time to time to keep the grass and weeds at bay.
One great way to do this is to simply sweep the area regularly to keep organic material (including fallen leaves, dirt, and seeds) out of the joints. You can also use a hose (or a pressure washer set on very low power) to remove the buildup. Just be sure that you don’t use enough force to blast the sand out from the cracks (or damage your pavers).
Weed and Grass Control: Natural Remedies
Many modern homeowners are interested in adopting eco-friendly practices around their homes and properties. But this can cause frustration when you’re faced with incredibly resilient grass, weeds, and other vegetation growing through your pavers.
Fortunately, there are a few eco-friendly techniques and substances you can use to battle the weeds and grass:
Boiling Water
Simple boiling water will kill many plants and weeds – especially those that are young and tender, as it destroys the plant tissues. Simply fill a large pot with water, heat it on your stove until you’ve achieved a good, rolling boil, and then (carefully) carry it outside. Pour the water between the cracks to kill the weeds, but try to do so gently to prevent washing the sand away.
Vinegar-Based Solutions
Vinegar is a simple, organic, and natural material that can kill some grasses and weeds. You can find commercially prepared versions at big box home improvement stores, which will typically come in spray-on form, or you can make one yourself. However, typical household vinegar may not be strong enough to work – you may have to purchase high-concentration vinegar, which you can then use around your pavers. Do note that repeated vinegar applications may dull the color of your patio stones.
Baking Soda
Mixing a little baking soda with some sand and then sweeping the sand into the cracks between your pavers will provide some degree of weed control. It’s not the most effective method available, but it is another option that eco-friendly homeowners may wish to consider.
Common Salt
Salt will prevent weed growth between pavers, but it’s important to think carefully about the decision to use salt — it’ll kill other plants nearby. And if you use too much salt, it may leach into surrounding areas, compromising the health of desirable plants and trees.
Hand Pulling
You can always just grab a set of garden gloves and some knee pads and pull weeds and grass by hand. This is obviously a labor-intensive approach, but it eliminates the need for any chemicals (whether natural or synthetic) at all, and it’ll kill weeds effectively. Just be sure that you try to remove the entire plant when doing so to prevent future growth.
Preventing Weed Growth Between Your Pavers: FAQ
Still have questions about preventing grass and weeds from growing between your pavers or other spots in your outdoor living spaces? We’ve rounded up a few of the most common questions our customers have about this issue below!
Is grass between pavers a good idea for a paver project?
Grass between your pavers can be a good idea at times. By incorporating patches of grass into your overall paver design, you’ll reduce the chances of water puddling, as the grass will naturally absorb the water. Additionally, some people simply like the way grass looks when grown between pavers.
How do you permanently stop weeds from growing?
There are a variety of ways to stop weeds from growing, but none is effectively permanent – there will always be weed seeds blowing around in the area, so on-going maintenance will usually be necessary.
With that said, using a pre-emergent to prevent weeds from germinating is often highly effective. Additionally, you can add polymeric sand between your pavers to help reduce the amount of space available for their growth and to block sunlight from reaching the seeds.
Is there anything better than polymeric sand to stop weeds?
Polymeric sand (also called polymer sand) is generally the most common choice for filling paver joints, but it is not the only option available. Resin sand is another durable option, and jointing compound is a permeable option that’s ideal for some applications.
What is the best ground cover between pavers?
If you want a ground cover between pavers that are spaced out widely, there are a variety of options to choose from. However, creeping thyme is one of the most common choices, and it works well in a variety of situations and climates.
Can you pressure wash polymeric sand?
You can, but it is important to use care to avoid blasting away the material. You can usually accomplish this by setting your pressure washer on a low-power setting, in the 1,000- to 1,500-psi range. Also, avoid aiming the nozzle directly between the pavers.
Will weeds grow through polymeric sand?
While it is not guaranteed to work, polymeric sand should usually deter weeds from growing between pavers. This is because polymeric sand turns very hard and rock-like after being misted gently with water. This creates an impenetrable barrier, which essentially prevents weed growth.
Get the Professional Paver Services You Need!
There’s one other way to prevent grass and weeds from growing between your pavers: Have them professionally installed or repaired by Pup Pavers & Turf! We’d be happy to take this responsibility off your hands and correct the problem so that you can enjoy the beautiful pavers you deserve!
Contact us today to set up an onsite consultation and receive a service estimate. We’d love to help!
