Weeds growing in gravel are difficult to remove, let alone control. Of course, some weeds can be hand removed, but often they will return with a vengeance and in greater numbers.
Pulling those weeds that are just about to bloom will aid in reducing the number by preventing the nasty plant from going to seed.
Luckily, there is a natural way to remove them that doesn’t need to involve the use of vinegar – and that’s rock salt.
Although generally something to avoid on your plants, rock salt can be used as a natural, nontoxic herbicide to get rid of gravel and patio weeds.
The gardening pros at The Ground Guys claim that salt will “certainly” kill weeds between gravelled areas and pavers.
They instructed: “Use a spray bottle with two parts salt to one part water and spray between the pavers or on the grass or weeds trying to come through a gravel pathway or a paved driveway. The weeds and unwanted grass will die out within 10 days.”
Although salt is “most effective” as a herbicide when it is mixed with water. The recommended strength of the saltwater mixture depends on where you plan to apply the herbicide.
For example, if you are applying the salt mixture to weeds in a garden bed with other plants that you don’t want to kill, you should start with a weaker mixture, such as a one-to-two mixture of salt and water.
Alternately, if you are applying the salt mixture in an area where the long-term health of the soil is not an issue (like between pavers, patio stones, cracks in the driveway, etc.) a much stronger mixture can be applied such as a two to one or three to one salt to water ratio.
The amount of salt will affect the pH level of the soil over time and could cause it to become infertile.
Founder and editor-in-chief here at the gardening blog Good Grow Chelsey, also noted that salt can be used to remove weeds.
She said: “Salt is one of the safest and most natural herbicides you can use. Alongside hand weeding, we recommend you try it before using any other herbicides.
“Salt can be used on most kinds of weeds however it is non-selective so it will kill grass, moss and other small weeds.”
However, when it comes to deep-rooted perennial plants, like ivy, nettles and brambles, Chelsey urged: “Don’t use salt, it won’t work, you can only use salt against small grassy weeds.”
