Well, why can’t pavements, once well laid out, remain so beautiful forever?… Every year, tufts of grass begin to grow between them and/or moss appears. Let’s talk about 5 ways to effectively eliminate weeds and moss between pavers and you decide which is the best option for you.
In the courses we teach how to save time on maintenance «My garden project». During these you will learn the laws of design, the design process and finally create directly on your plot plan. And you will see that landscaping project is a difficult but definitely doable and very interesting task.
1. Mechanical tool – scraper
An L-blade scraper is the first tool in the fight against frozen spaces between blocks. Let’s immediately agree: this time we are not talking about simple manual weeding, you know this method perfectly even without articles. This scraper is one of the tools that helps remove weeds more easily and quickly without using chemicals.
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What do you need to know to grow healthy rhododendrons? / Yellow wheelbarrowYou can buy a good quality scraper for a few euros, it will last for many years. Don’t look for a cheap one either, because killing weeds and moss between pavers requires strong, durable steel and extremely sharp blades.
The procedure is as follows: with the side of the scraper where the blade is sharp, cut the very yellow areas or areas with a lot of vegetation. Then you turn the scraper and slide the hook-shaped side through the gaps, pulling out all the cut roots and dirt.
If the spaces between the pads are only slightly mossy, you will not need to use the cutting edge. Just slide the hook and then clean everything well.
Important: it is not necessary to bend your back and walk on your knees. A common manufacturer offers scrapers with replaceable shafts. If you choose a long pole, you will perform this work while standing.
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Plot Planning: 5 Common Mistakes2. Remove moss between pavers with a brush
Another tool, the special brush, also has two functions. Its part with stiff bristles is perfect for preventive cleaning of spaces. It takes a lot of scrubbing, but the gaps are cleaned along with all the dirt, moss and small weeds.
For more serious cases it is advisable to use the blade located on the front of the brush, which will be able to remove the coarsest grass, and then finish the job with the brush.
Compared to a normal scraper, the brush would be more suitable for spaces with little contamination, easier cleaning and where the pads are very small, so there are a lot of seams. In cases where the grass has already grown well and when the seams of the pavers are long and straight, you can clean them faster and more effectively with a regular scraper.
It’s true, in most cases you can also change the handle of the brush, choosing either a short or a long one, so as not to have to kneel.
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Weed Puller: Find out how easy it is to pull milkweed3. Electric brush for cleaning the spaces between the bearings
A step further is available with an electric brush designed specifically for this purpose. You drive like a lawnmower and the brush rotates and cleans the spaces between the blocks on its own. The advantage is that the work is quick, the back doesn’t hurt.
But do not be fooled: if the space is empty, then in the most difficult places you will have to bend down and take an ordinary scraper in your hands.
Electric brushes are usually sold with two discs: nylon – for slightly stained areas and metal – for extra cases. When choosing, you need to pay attention not only to weeds, but also to the surface on which you will work.
The disc tries to spin as it knows how to, so sometimes it can overdo it: scratching surfaces, rounding corners too much, etc.
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Ła Marija Bujauskaitė: the gardening office of a talented LithuanianAfter a quick look in electronics stores, I only found brushes with electrical wires. So keep in mind that the treated area must be close to the electrical outlet, and you will have to work with electrical wires tangled under your feet.
At the end of the scraping work, whether you did it with a scraper, a mechanical brush or an electric brush, we finish everything with a simple outdoor brush. All that grass, moss and dirt must be carefully swept away, trying not to get back into the empty spaces.
4. Water jet as a means of combating weeds
Another eco-friendly way is to use a high-pressure water jet. This is a great method, it really effectively secures the seams between the pads. On the other hand, the pavers themselves (or other tiles) are also refreshed, at least some of that muddy, cloudy layer is removed. The high pressure jet is really powerful, so destroying weeds and moss between the pavers is quick and efficient. If there are any giantesses left, then you will end it easily, simply by shouting.
People say that the disadvantage of this method is that everything is washed out of the seams: not only weeds, but also the seam filler. I suggest you stop here. If you already want to have fewer problems every year, you should fill the empty spaces after scraping, brushing and, of course, after cleaning with a jet of water. If there are empty spaces left (and after removing the weeds there really are), they will fill themselves, but you won’t like it: they will bring sand, earth and new weed seeds.
Then, after cleaning, fill it with a new layer of weeds – it will look clean and the weeds will not sow quickly. In addition, there are also special fillers whose acidic environment is unfavorable for the germination and development of weeds.
Well, one disadvantage of high pressure weeding is that special equipment is required. By the way, it can also be rented. Since it is not recommended to carry out such work more than once a year, for many people renting would be optimal.
5. Herbicides and home remedies
Many individuals mention that we don’t consume stones, so what is the distinction, you can also apply chemical methods. However, in gardening classes, we instruct that if you can steer clear of using chemicals like weed killers, then it is advisable to do so. All «Yellow wheelbarrow» course options are available here.
Moss can generally be viewed with tolerance. In shaded areas, they are unavoidable, so fighting against moss is like battling windmills. The green soft patches can also be a lovely part of the surroundings. Ultimately, it is up to you to determine if this perspective suits you.
And in the spaces among the weeds, it does not really enhance the area. If we cannot avoid weed killers, apply them only after carefully following the directions and in the correct amounts. Remember to take safety precautions to avoid breathing it in or getting it on your skin. If you are already using it, aim for effectiveness: apply it directly on the green parts of the plants (not on dry leaves), and not before it rains (to prevent it from washing away too soon). Avoid walking in that part for a while, and don’t drive a car (the products will stick to shoes, tires, and spread to different areas).
Or perhaps you could use natural alternatives? I view them with some doubt. People use salt, baking soda, and vinegar. They mix, dilute, and spray. I must mention that there is effort involved. Even when the grass is dying, it is still smart to clear away the leftovers with the correct tool. So will there be twice the work involved?
Weed-killing methods based on acidity or salt can also damage the surface of the lawns. Some ground cover may get discolored later. Additionally, these methods are not ideal near the edges of paths by the plants, as they can accidentally affect them too.
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