Weeds on patio

starstreamer8

Looking for some advice on a permanent fix to weeds growing between slabs on a small patio. I've dug them out a few times but every couple of weeks they come back as bad as ever.

Is the best option to lift them all, clear underneath them and put some kinds of grout between them? If so what would you use? Simple sand/cement mix?

Not sure how long they have been down and when they were last jointed or even whats under them.

Picture of patio attached.

Thanks for any advice.

Harry Palmr

Don't even think of that! Weeds love a challenge and they'll simply push through even the tiniest crack that appears due to temperature fluctuations.

I just use a weedkiller - the sort you mix into water and then pour along the joins. The hard work alternative is to lift the whole lot and put down something like Mypex

BrokenArrows

Least labor intensive is to just be ween killer spray the area every few weeks.

Weeks just grow.

EmoCourt

I think you're supposed to lay a sheet of plastic under the patio slabs to prevent weeds from growing.

http://www.thegardenshop.ie/weed-control-fabric/

_Brian

Weedkiller is the solution.

But use the right one.
A roundup type is useless for this as it has to be absorbed through leaves to lill a weed, it won't prevent any weeds from growing.

Use something like pathclear and it will not only kill existing weeds but prevent the next weeds from coming up.

Pkiernan

Woodies and BNQ sell weed inhibiting sand for patios.

Seve OB

You have no pointing between the slabs!
I had similar slabs, with a dry mix between them and proper weed control fabric underneath, they still grew. I changed it up to a wet mix and it deffo stopped them growing as much. I would recomend it. As above posters say though, whatever you do, the weeds will still grow, Use pathclear every so often. If you have a powerhose, they are great at getting rid of the weeds all the way down to the roots

starstreamer8

Great info, thanks for all your replies.

@Seve Not sure did someone powerhose the old pointing out or was there just never any in the first place! I'll try a fabric and wetmix and then I'll use pathclear and powerhouse as necessary.

biko

On a dry and sunny day pour pure white vinegar over the weeds.
Vinegar from a shop close to me sells it for 7 euro for 5 litres so pretty economical.
It won't last forever tho..

Plus it makes you feel like going for a chippie (don't worry, the smell passes quickly)


More info
https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/home-and-family/hands-down-the-best-way-to-kill-weeds-and-its-not-roundup/

El Kabong!

A fabric is not needed under a patio.
Weeds spread from the air/ground above and drop into cracks.

Most weed killers including Roundup use Glyphosate. It is convenient, but not a nice material. Unfortunately the world is being polluted with it.

If I was you I would have that well grouted and then manually clear whatever grows every few weeks. It will only take a few mins every few weeks which is probably a lot less effort that what you are currently doing.

But are the slabs just loose??? If so then if you grout there will be movement and cracks will appear.

_Brian

starstreamer8 wrote: »

Great info, thanks for all your replies.

@Seve Not sure did someone powerhose the old pointing out or was there just never any in the first place! I'll try a fabric and wetmix and then I'll use pathclear and powerhouse as necessary.

Wouldn't bother doing all the work if your going to use pathclear anyway, just use the pathclear and it will be weed free, save your money and your back.

CJhaughey

Clean the joints and use Rompox brushed into the joints.
Once set you will have no further problems with weeds and no poison leaching into the groundwater either.

wait4me

CJhaughey wrote: »

Clean the joints and use Rompox brushed into the joints.

Any stockists that you know of in the Dublin area?

CJhaughey

Mcmonagle stone are the agents in Ireland . Try calling them and find your local stockist.

Spanish Eyes

I wait until around end of May when the weeds are pushing up between the cracks. THEN I douse them with roundup. That acts on the growing leaves and lasts until next year.

Looking out at it now. Not a weed to be seen and I put down the weedkiller about ten days ago when it was looking like the Day of the Triffids out there!