Weeds find a way to grow even between rocks and gravel. Luckily, you can deal with them like any other unwanted plant - you can spray a chemical herbicide, weed them by hand, or use various common products to keep your garden free of these plant pests.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Spray Chemical Herbicides
Step 1. Purchase a liquid spray and not a granular herbicide
Granular products usually cover larger areas than expected, especially if there are other plants in the area. Purchase a liquid herbicide to easily treat just the weed spot.
You can find ready-to-use liquid sprays or in concentrated form, to mix with water. In this case, both products are fine
Step 2. Choose the herbicide based on the weeds present
The various species react differently to the substances contained in the products. Some formulas only target certain plants, then determine which species are present among the rocks.
- Broadleaf weeds, such as dandelion and ragweed, can be targeted with a specific herbicide without harming other species.
- Generic herbicides fight red weeds and other weeds, but they're not selective, so they'll kill your lawn too.
- Sedge specific herbicides counteract the growth of dogwood-like weeds. Many plants of this type are formed from bulbs, so it may take multiple applications of the spray to remove them completely.
- Non-selective sprays eliminate all plants they are applied to, including those you have planted and your lawn, so use them with caution.
Step 3. Cover yourself with specific clothing to protect your skin
Cover as much skin as possible before applying herbicide. Wear closed shoes, long sleeves and long pants. Also protect your eyes with normal, sun or work glasses. Don't forget your gloves!
To make sure you are using the herbicide safely, always read the product label before starting
Step 4. Spray the product on a sunny day when no rain is expected
Usually, late summer and early autumn are the best times for this operation, as the weather is quite stable. Check the weather to make sure it doesn't rain for 6 hours following the application.
If you want a weed-free garden all summer, apply herbicide in late spring or early summer. This will reduce the presence of weeds before they get out of control
Step 5. Pour 10 ml of herbicide for every liter of water into a spray bottle
Mix well by shaking the container.
Always follow the instructions on the label carefully to determine how much product to pour
Step 6. Apply the liquid to the plants with the sprayer
Spray the weeds well until the leaves are completely wet. The herbicide will penetrate through the leaves and go deep into the plant.
Some weeds will die after a few hours, others will last for a few days
Step 7. Repeat the application after a week if the plants are still alive
Some weeds are hardy and you need to spray the herbicide several times to get rid of them completely.
Method 2 of 3: Weeding by Hand
Step 1. Water the weeds to loosen the root system
If you don't remove all the roots, it is possible for the plants to grow back and return. Wait 1-2 days after watering or after heavy rains so that the soil has time to absorb the water.
Pulling weeds out of wet soil will result in less disturbance to surrounding plants
Step 2. Put on knee pads and gloves to protect your body
Instead of kneeling on hard ground or rocks, put on knee pads to avoid pain later on. Gloves allow you to avoid skin irritation and blistering from working days to weed out all the weeds.
- If you don't have knee pads, put a folded pillow or towel on the floor.
- Wear gloves made of non-adherent and breathable materials.
Step 3. Loosen the weeds with a pitchfork or shovel
This will make the weeds easier to weed out. Use the tool to dig the earth around the plants. This way you will be able to tear even the most deeply rooted specimens.
Step 4. Grab and pull weeds individually, rather than in groups
If you don't, you may not pull the main root out of the soil, which absorbs more water. It is undoubtedly more boring, but to prevent the plants from growing back you will have to weed them up one at a time.
Step 5. Pull the weed from the base with an upward twisting motion
This way you will be sure to grab it by the main root. Rotate it to break up smaller roots and pull it out more easily.
- Do not pull with a jerk as you may leave the roots buried, which will continue to grow.
- Put all the weed up material in a bucket so it can't germinate again, then throw it in the trash. Don't put it in the compost.
Method 3 of 3: Use Common Products as Alternatives
Step 1. Pour boiling water over the weeds for a topical treatment
Boil the water and pour it over the plants. To avoid splashing and better control the flow, use a teapot.
Make sure you only pour the water on the weeds and not the plants you want to keep
Step 2. Use vinegar to get rid of isolated weeds
If they are not close to other plants, you can sprinkle them with white wine vinegar. Make sure the vinegar has at least 5% acidity.
Vinegar is not a selective herbicide, so it will also eliminate any plants you want to keep
Step 3. Sprinkle rock salt on stone or asphalt driveways
The salt will absorb moisture from the soil, killing weeds in the area. However it will also affect surrounding plants, so use it carefully.
Salt is very useful for eliminating weeds on the pavé or between the concrete slabs
Advice
Prevent weeds from growing between rocks by spreading landscape fiber. Make holes large enough in the fiber to put the plants you want
Warnings
- If you are worried about inhaling the herbicide, use a mask or respirator as well.
- When using chemical herbicides, allow them to dry before allowing pets to go out into the garden.
