Weeds are invasive and can make a pavement look unsightly. While some are easy to eliminate, the challenge comes when they grow through the cracks of a driveway. Luckily, there are a variety of ways of getting rid of weeds in driveway cracks. You can use both commercial and home remedies to control them and make your walkway look attractive again.
Unlike the weeds in a garden that you can pull out using a hoe or any other gardening tool, you need to be more creative when removing those that are growing in the cracks of your driveway.
Understand that it is almost impossible to have a weed-free walkway, especially one whose concrete has small holes. So, how do you go about eliminating these plants? The following is what you can do.
Use 20% white vinegar, salt, and liquid dish detergent
You can use vinegar for weeds in a driveway to eliminate these plants. White vinegar has acetic acid, which is toxic for any vegetation.
Although regular home vinegar is useful, the concentration of acetic acid is only 5%. Some homeowners also use pickling vinegar that has 7% acetic acid.
But if you want results fast, consider using commercial vinegar with 20% acetic acid. An excellent example is the Green Gobbler Vinegar Weed & Grass Killer. Here is how to use the product.
- Put one pound of salt in a plastic bucket.
- Mix one gallon of Green Gobbler Vinegar Weed & Grass Killer.
- Mix well until you dissolve the salt.
- In the solution, mix one teaspoonful of liquid dish detergent
- Pour the solution into a sprayer.
- Spray the solution on the weeds until you soak them thoroughly.
The detergent will suffocate the plants and allow the vinegar to kill it. Expect the solution to kill weeds in gravel driveway within 24 hours.
Use a commercial weed killer
Most commercial weed killers have a compound called glyphosate. It works by killing plants and preventing them from producing proteins they need to grow. The chemical is useful for long-term driveway maintenance and is safe to use if you apply it as directed.
An example of a good product to consider is the Compare-N-Save 016869 Concentrate Grass and Weed Killer. Here is how to use it.
- Mix 2.5 ounces of the concentrate in one gallon of water.
- Spray the chemical on the weeds directly.
The above solution will cover an area of 300 square feet. It is useful for tougher weed control in a driveway. Depending on the product you buy, ensure to follow the manufacturer’s directions.
Use salt and boiling water
You can use boiling water to get rid of weeds from the driveway naturally. Hot water produces instant results because the heat destroys the plant itself, including the root tissue. It also causes an immediate shock to the weeds and the seeds that are dormant in the soil.
Salt is also useful because it restricts the moisture intake of the plant’s root system. It will then dehydrate the leaves and kill the plant, as a result. While normal salt can work, Epsom salt does a better job. Here are the directions for use.
- Boil some water in a pot.
- Use a 2-to-1 ratio of water to salt to make the solution.
- Pour the hot salty water onto the plants.
When you saturate the ground with saltwater, the damage to the plant will start immediately. Hot water wilts the weeds, eventually killing the roots within days of the application.
Use gardening herbicides
Herbicides destroy the plant tissues that come in contact with the chemical. You can use them to give you a faster result. Some herbicides have a compound called pelargonic acid. It is an acid present in many plants.
When used as an herbicide, it will prevent the growth of weeds by killing its seeds. However, the chemical does not translocate to the leaves of the plant. Therefore, you will have to use it every time you see the unwanted plants growing in your driveway.
The Roundup Weed & Grass Killer III is one of the best herbicides that you can use. To apply it:
- The Roundup Weed & Grass Killer III is a ready-to-use product. You do not have to mix it with anything.
- Pour some of the liquid in a sprayer and spray it on the weeds.
Most herbicides with pelargonic acid are post-emergent herbicides. In other words, they only work on weeds that have already grown. Apply them as directed by the manufacturer.
You can permanently kill weeds in driveway cracks by using various methods. If you want natural remedies, consider using boiling water and salt or a mixture of salt, white vinegar, and soap detergent. Alternatively, use post-emergent herbicides or any other commercial weed killer.
IW’s Chief Editor and a lover of green spaces.