If you have a patio or path made of paving stones, you know how infuriating the endless battle against weeds is. Every little crack and crevice can harbor a seemingly unlimited amount of both broadleaf and grassy weeds.

Trying to get rid of weeds between pavers is a thankless job that often leaves you with sore fingers and not much actual progress. Using a crevice weeding tool, which can be found on Amazon, can help get rid of weeds, but they often come back with a vengeance.

Let’s dig in and address the best way to keep weeds from growing between pavers so you can keep your hardscaping weed-free for years to come.

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Why Do Weeds Grow Between Pavers?

The first thing we need to discuss is why weeds are growing between your pavers. You worked hard to install a beautiful path, patio, or walkway between raised beds but then a few seasons later there are weeds covering every nook and cranny. This is caused by accumulation of dirt and weed seeds.

Over time, the cracks between your pavers collect dirt, dust, grass clippings and other organic matter. The weed seeds blow in from a neighbor’s yard or are deposited from bird droppings.

Weeds dig in deep and fast. Before you know it, they’re too established to pull by hand. No matter how hard you try, the root system is still lurking deep in between the pavers. Luckily, we can learn to battle weeds more effectively.

How to Prevent Weeds Between Pavers

First, unfortunately, we need to remove existing weeds. Use a crevice weeding tool, a weed torch (I love this Flame King torch from Lowe’s which is super fun to use!), or chemical herbicide to kill weeds. Once they are dead, scrape out the joints between pavers or stones with that crevice tool or even an old screwdriver you don’t mind getting a little damaged. Sweep the area clean to prepare for the ultimate weed solution: polymeric sand.

Polymeric sand, which can be purchased from the Home Depot or other hardware stores, is a joint compound that is easily worked into crevices between pavers and will bind to seal out weeds for up to 5 years. You brush it into the cleaned joints between stones with a push broom. When you wet the sand with your garden hose, it binds to itself and creates a clean look and an inhospitable environment for weeds to grow. It comes in many colors to compliment the look of your pavers or stones.

It doesn’t last forever, but you can say goodbye to intensive weeding between pavers for at least a few years. I’ll take it!

Tips for Using Polymeric Sand

• Always follow the directions on whichever brand of polymeric sand you purchase. Some require slightly different methods of compacting or wetting than others.
• Apply only when the path or patio is completely dry. The binders in the sand are activated by water so they won’t fill in the gaps properly and will begin to bind incorrectly if the work surface is damp.
• Use a sturdy push broom to work the sand into the crevices and then gently sweep away any excess before applying water. You can also use the lowest setting on a leaf blower to remove excess sand.
• Lightly sprinkle the polymeric sand with water to activate. Don’t use your hose on full blast or it will displace the sand. Use the shower setting on your hose wand attachment to gently apply water.
• Don’t use a power washer on your pavers or stones for at least a few weeks so the sand has time to bind and cure.
• Use paver restraint edging, available from Lowe’s, to keep the polymeric sand from running out the sides of your walkway and not setting properly.

With a little hard work this weekend, you can ensure you won’t have to weed your pavers or patio for years to come!

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