WHY WEEDS ARE HARMFUL
Nothing is more unpleasant than when you start to see those pesky weeds popping up in your new yard, making their way down your driveway or invading your sidewalk. Besides being visually unsightly, they can also create problems.
When these weeds start 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 of requiring you to redo your sidewalk or patio. In order to prevent this eventuality, 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; the environment around it is surely too hostile for anything to grow there. Unfortunately, it is not the case.
In fact, the cracks between sidewalks provide an ideal environment for weed growth. These cracks contain an abundance of soil and nutrients, creating the perfect breeding ground. Indeed, these cracks create a micro-environment, because moisture and heat are retained there more than in any other area of your garden or your pavement.
TIPS FOR CONTROLLING WEEDS GROWING IN SIDEWALK CRACKS
Despite the bad news that it’s actually very easy for weeds to grow through the cracks in 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 THE YEAR
Although you can choose to implement your weed control at any time of the year, spring or fall is the best time to do so. These are the times of the year when the weeds are at their strongest growing point, allowing them to absorb the weed killer more quickly.
PREPARE THE TERRAIN
Before you start using your weed pulling method, make sure your ground is properly prepared. Clear your driveway, path, or sidewalk of anything that shouldn’t be affected.
USE A TRADITIONAL WEED KILLER
One of the options available to you to prevent grass from growing in the cracks of 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 treating lawns .
NATURAL REMEDIES TO CONTROL GRASS GROWING IN SIDEWALK CRACKS
Traditional weeding 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 clothes and cause health problems. Fortunately, there are eco-friendly alternatives and natural weed killers that do the job just fine.
BOILING WATER
Hot water is one of the cheapest and easiest options to help keep weeds from growing in your soil. Simply pour boiling water directly into the cracks at the top of the weeds to kill them slowly.
The weeds themselves cannot withstand the intense heat and die. It may take a few treatments for this method to be really effective, but if you stick with it, the boiling water will eventually kill the weeds from the root.
VINEGAR
Another solution you probably have in your kitchen is vinegar. The acidic nature of vinegar makes it the ideal solution for controlling weeds. Just mix vinegar with a concentration of 5% acetic acid (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 kill weeds is a handy method if you have weeds growing near your plants, as it can be an extremely localized method or a more widespread method, 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 all over the surface.
WEED PULLING
Pulling weeds by hand is a great 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.
HOW TO IDENTIFY WEEDS ON YOUR LAWN
THE PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE
While there aren’t many things that can go wrong when removing weeds on a small scale in your garden or on the sidewalk, there are still a few things you need to be aware of in order to do so. in the safest way possible.
NEIGHBORING PLANTS
Be sure to ensure that weed removal does not affect nearby plants. If your weeds are surrounded by plants, be sure to use a spot removal method. You can be more reckless in your application if the weeds cover a large area or are between concrete cracks, as there is less chance of destroying the plants around.
TOXIC PRODUCTS
It is important to be fully aware of what you are putting on your grass and plants. It is therefore advisable, if you are using a store-bought weedkiller, 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 the substance is applied, you let it dry completely.
HOW CAN I PERMANENTLY GET RID OF WEEDS IN MY DRIVEWAY?
The best way to permanently get rid of weeds in your driveway is to use a material that creates an environment that is hostile to weed growth. A good example is a resin driveway , as the process involves deep digging to remove any existing weeds while laying down layers of material that block their growth.
If you don’t have the budget to completely redo your driveway, just cover the cracks. Once you’ve removed the weeds from the cracks, just fill them in with a suitable material. There are a range of different options you can use to seal cracks, from concrete to sand, find the one that works best for you.
OVERVIEW
Although they are annoying and can easily ruin a perfect lawn or driveway, there are several things you can do to control weeds or make them disappear completely.
You must first be ready to do the preparatory work and analyze the best time of the year to do this little bit of gardening. Spring and fall are the best times.
Also keep in mind that there are many weed control solutions you can find in your home. Although these methods are recommended, if you must use a traditional weed killer, be careful when applying it.
Finally, to prevent any regrowth, try to cover the cracks that provide a breeding ground for weeds. If you can’t seal the cracks or can’t afford to redo your driveway, be careful not to let those weeds grow back.