Cracks in your sidewalk and driveway create pockets of organic materials and soil that are ideal places for weeds to thrive.
Weeds shooting out of these cracks can make your surroundings appear unsightly and affects your curb appeal.
Weeds between cracks may be challenging to remove since you have to attack them at root level to get the best results.
If you prefer to use a trimmer, the filix has a range of products to choose from. Depending on your needs, price comparisons at the filix will help you get the best possible deal.
However, if you prefer to go organic, there are a few practical ways to help get them out.
Vinegar:
Applying full strength vinegar with acetic acid levels of at least 15 to 20 percent is a good line of attack for sidewalk weeds.
The high concentration of acetic acid destroys weeds by reducing their ability to hold in water. With less water, they eventually wilt and die.
The best time to spray on vinegar is on hot, humid days. Spray the vinegar on driveway and sidewalk weeds only, and keep away from nearby plants, since vinegar is no respecter of plants.
After you remove the weeds from these areas, a good after-care plan will help you keep control over future weeds.
Attack Weeds Early
- Young weeds are easier to dislodge than older ones. As soon as the young shoots appear, attack them as early as you can.
- Spray them often to keep them at bay and retard the seeds from spreading.
- For young shoots, a solution of vinegar, salt, and liquid detergent can suffice. Mix 1 quart of vinegar with two tablespoons each of salt and detergent in a spray bottle.
Chemicals
It may be hard to pull weeds between cracks and crevices by hand. Your whacker may get damaged by striking the hard surface as you trim.
Chemicals can be harsh on plants and the environment, so caution is the buzz word. Using any chemical will pose certain hazards.
- Avoid applying weed killer on a lawn that is newly seeded.
- During your weekly mowing, apply the chemical in the midst of the cycle. Give it time to get to the roots of the weeds.
- Spray on days that are less windy to prevent chemicals from blowing down-wind onto other plants.
Chemicals that contain glyphosate are said to be less toxic than other weed killers. Glyphosate is quickly neutralized as it comes into contact with the organic enzymes in the soil.
There are other harsh chemicals that can linger in the soil and destroy plants and animal life; however, glyphosate will not be a threat to these organisms.
Always limit your chemical applications to weeds only and protect your skin and eyes from potential harm.
- Start with small quantities and use the entire application on your weeds. Avoid depositing excess chemicals into the drain where it can affect the water source.
Pull the roots by hand when the soil is moist. First, saturate the soil with water and tug them strongly until they dislodge from the roots.
Other methods include using organic mulch, sand or shredded bark to fill in the cracks to bock the weeds from thriving.