The most common complaint we hear from our clients is “the weeds are growing in the cracks between the pavers and I’m sick of dealing with it!” Contrary to popular belief, they don’t grow from under the pavers. Instead, airborne weed seeds blow around and drop to the paver surface. They find their way into a crevice where they can germinate and begin to grow and spread quickly. Weeds in your pavers are not just unsightly, but will eventually cause structural damage to the patio or walkway.
Weeds will grow almost anywhere; the best defense is proper maintenance. It’s important to prevent weeds from growing in the joints between your pavers. Since 2000, the industry standard solution to this problem has been polymeric joint sand.
Here’s what you need to know about the joint sand…
The sand in between the pavers plays a crucial role in the complete pavement system. It creates an interlock that gives the pavement strength and keeps the pavers from moving. This keeps all the joints tight, and leaves no place for weeds to grow. There are really only two options to successfully create this interlock. The most widely recommended solution in today’s market is polymeric sand. This product is a mixture of sand with polymer (plastic) particles that will harden when activated with water. When properly installed, this product creates a superior bond that stays in place and resists erosion and weeds for many years.
The other options is to use a common “mason” sand that is of the proper gradation-meaning each particle is the correct size & shape. It’s important that the sand meet the proper specifications and should be treated with a joint stabilizer to bond the particles together. This will harden the sand in the joint, and can be an appropriate alternative to polysand in some applications.
Here’s what you can do…
If the sand in your joints is missing, soft or turning into organic matter, it needs to be replaced. Weeds will be a never-ending problem until you have something solid in the joints. If the sand is still in good shape and you only get the occasional weed, spray them with an herbicide such as Roundup to kill the entire plant as soon as you notice it. There are also some homemade remedies using salt and vinegar if you prefer a more natural solution. But, if you let the weeds continue to grow, they will root into the sand and rapidly destroy the joint. Addressing the problem quickly will save you money!
You can also have your pavers cleaned and sealed. Sealing your hardscape will add an additional layer of protection to keep your patio, walk or driveway weed free. For more information about the benefits of sealing your pavers, visit our website.
Click here to find out how The Paver Savers can deter your weed problems as part of our comprehensive restoration program.