No matter whether you have a new or old home, or whether you are a keen gardener, or not, it is almost certain that you have a paved area somewhere. Maybe you want to lay a paved area, or maybe you want to renovate an older area, but one of the most difficult problems is the control of weeds and moss in these areas.

In researching this article, I found one instance where a homeowner was so upset with the beastly weeds in her patio, that she set fire to them with a blowtorch! While this definitely works, I wouldn’t advise such drastic measures.

Luckily, several items provide better service as weeding tools and there are several better alternatives for any brick patio or slasto weed control.

Of course, the best method of brick patio weed control, is proper installation of your brick patio in the first place. Start with an under-lay of pea gravel, topped by a layer of sturdy landscape cloth and cover it with a layer of sand. This will give your brick patio a firm footing, as well as cramp the style of any weeds in the area.

If your brick patio is already installed and running rampant with weeds, here are some tips, to help you succeed in keeping it weed free, without a lot of agonizing work.

First, to make your brick patio weed control plan successful, implement your plan, before the weeds start flowering. This keeps weeds from going to seed and helps make a short-term plan, last for a longer time.

For the following tip and other tips, that involve weed dousing of one sort, or another, use a piece of cardboard, or scrap of Plexiglas, to protect nearby plants.

One of the best ways to kill a plant of any kind, is to cook it.

Boiling water is a natural and very inexpensive weed-wilter and works to kill most forms of annual weeds. It also kills, or weakens many types of perennial weeds.

A kettle is your weeding tool. Fill it with water and bring it to a boil. While you’re waiting, go outside and cut the culprits down to their bases.

When the water begins to boil, take the kettle and pour the water on the crowns of the weeds, holding the kettle high enough to avoid splashing. Killing weeds with boiling water will also scald any biological organisms, that get splashed, but more will return, as soon as the soil cools.

Vinegar will kill most weeds. However, grocery store vinegar is normally a 5 percent solution and is too weak to do the job. A ten percent vinegar solution will kill most weeds and usually is found where canning and pickling supplies are sold.

A 20 percent solution of vinegar kills really stubborn weeds, but is frequently more than twice as expensive as the10% version. Try to control the weeds with the 10% concentrate, before you make the investment in a stronger solution.

Spray the vinegar directly on the weeds, using the shield, mentioned above and taking care not to inhale fumes. You may also want to wear gloves and eye protection, as a further safeguard.

Another very effective and cheap method of weed and moss control is salt. Yes, ordinary table salt! I use this myself. Take a packet of salt and sprinkle over weeds. This can even be used on garden weeds. The salt will brown your lawn, but it will recover. The weeds wilt and brown and then are easy to dig out.

In my experience, these measures will keep all brick patio’s free from weeds and moss, without a lot of back breaking work.

We love to share our gardening ideas and hear yours.

The methods recommended in the above article are all eco-friendly. Vinegar, boiling water and hand weeding are not toxic. If you are one of those who dislike chemicals and prefer natural remedies in your garden you can happily try these methods, without danger to children, pets or wild life.

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Sally Robson is a South African Internet marketer, who together with her husband Derek, have a vision of empowering all fellow South Africans and other non U.S folk, to have equal opportunity and success on the internet, by overcoming the many obstacles facing them. They have started a string of sites, resources, courses and articles, as part of Dersalsites. Sally has a passion for gardening. For more articles and advice on gardening topics, visit Sally at: http://www.dersalsites.com/sallysgardeningtips/ 

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