Spring is slowly but surely on its way, and with that comes the return of pesky weeds to your garden and patio.
While some people swear by using vinegar, salt or boiling water to deter these unewlcome plants, Trevor Knight, award-winning expert landscaper and patio and driveway expert at Marshalls, says to proceed with caution – especially when it comes to using them on your patio or brickwork.
He said:”On the surface, these hacks look great and are a quick fix to get rid of pesky weeds, of that there is no doubt; however, using salt and vinegar normally reserved for your fish and chip supper or a sneaky bag of your favourite crispy snack could be detrimental to the quality of many of the primary materials used to manufacture driveway and patio products.
“First, when it comes in contact with paving products, salt or sodium chloride can accelerate the breakdown, especially if the product has a porous mix design.
“Salt gets into cracks, and when it absorbs moisture, the material expands and contracts, leading to cracking and degradation over time.”
Salt can also contribute to rapid corrosion if any metal elements are involved in your driveway or if you have metal components such as rebar reinforcing bars below the surface; this will speed up rust formation if the salts come into direct contact.
Vinegar isn’t any better either.
He said: “Vinegar is acidic, and many paving products, especially limestone, sandstone, or concrete, are susceptible to erosion when exposed to acidic compounds. The acid can dissolve the minerals in the stone, weakening its structure and causing it to break down, leading to surface damage over time.”
If you want to banish weeds from your space but also keep it looking fresh into the summer, Trevor recommends a different solution.
While boiling water, weeding or vinegar can be effective when carefully directed at weeds, there is an easier way.
“You can also use preventive methods like corn gluten meal, a natural organic weed killer or polymeric sand to make it harder for the weeds to take hold and prevent them from returning,” he said.
“Just avoid chemical solutions that could be detrimental to the paving and any sensitive border planting. For maximum effect, try to apply any treatments when the weather is dry and warm.”
