After the start of the new gardening season, all hobby gardeners are rolling up their sleeves and getting their own outdoor areas ready for the warm summer months. For many people, one of the most important care measures is removing weeds from paving joints. There are a few things to consider. We'll explain to you in today's article which highly praised home remedies don't actually help at all and which control methods are more time-consuming and laborious than expected.
Wild grasses are true survivors and can adapt to all kinds of conditions. They find hold even in the narrowest gaps between the paving stones and can also cope with little water and poor soil. However, you should remove them, especially between the paving stones, because their roots can damage the slabs. But what is the quickest way to do this? Homemade weed killers are the first choice for many hobby gardeners. Everyone now knows that vinegar and salt are prohibited for use in paving joints. But there are several other means that you are also not allowed to use.
Do not use household cleaners containing vinegar against weeds
Household cleaners have no place in the garden. Even organic products can pollute the underwater. Even more so – manynatural household cleanerscontain vinegar. It can effectively clean and remove dirt at home. However, outside it can damage the soil, kill soil life and must not get into the groundwater.
Stone cleaners with bleach or chlorine: Absolute no-go
Stone cleaners also often contain bleach or chlorine. Harmful substances that cannot be used to kill weeds between paving joints.
Washing soda or baking soda against weeds in the joints:
Washing soda and baking soda are often touted as natural weed killers that do not harm nature. Although their use on paving stones is not prohibited by law (unless the local authorities have decided otherwise), it is still not recommended. Basically, it's better not to risk a fine for home remedies with questionable effects. The use of any means between the joints is also not environmentally friendly.
These home remedies for wild grasses between the stone slabs do not work
There are some home remedies that are touted as effective weed killers. In fact, they do little. Example:
Potato water against weeds: The effectiveness has not been scientifically proven
Potato water has been touted as a great weed killer. I myself wrote an article on the topic. The problem with potato water is that:
1.) it only works hot. This means - if you water the plants with cooled potato water, you can achieve exactly the opposite and give them fertilizers. You can also achieve similar results with just hot water.
2.) its effect has not been scientifically proven.
Bark mulch against weeds – unpleasant smell
Mulching the joints, does it work? Bark mulch is intended to block wild grasses' access to sunlight. Theoretically possible, but in reality you have to work some newspaper into the joints first. If they are very narrow, then this is a time-consuming and tedious task. In addition, cleaning the joints is then very difficult.
Bark mulch has another crucial disadvantage: if it has been stored for a long period of time, it has a strong, unpleasant smell and is therefore not suitable for use on garden paths and terraces. Rainwater drains slowly in the joints and the mulch stays moist longer than in the flower bed. Ultimately, it starts to stink after a few weeks. Then comes the problem – getting mulch out of joints is not always possible.
Nettle manure decoction has little effect on moss
Preparing the nettle manure decoction is time-consuming, but one hopes thatHome remedies for weedsis effective. In fact, nettle manure has proven to be effective in practice. But only against wild grasses. But it can't help if there are weeds and moss in the joints. The brew also needs about 2 weeks to achieve the desired effect. If it rains more frequently in the meantime, the nettle manure will simply be washed away and you will wait in vain.
Removing weeds from paving joints: One means, two different results
What worked well for one person didn't work for another. The effectiveness of a home remedy depends on many factors and can therefore vary greatly. Even if you achieved good results last year, there is no guarantee that the remedy would also help next year.
What's more, many hobby gardeners test different methods and hope that at least one will help. However, when you finally get rid of the weeds on the terrace, the question arises: Which method worked?
