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By: Hans Dekker
Brick Patio Weed Control
In researching this article, I found one instance where a
homeowner was so incensed by the weeds in her patio that she
set fire to them with a blowtorch!
Luckily, several items provide better service as a weeding
tool and there are several better alternatives for brick patio
weed control.
Of course, the best method of brick patio weed control is
proper installation of your brick patio.
Start with an under-layment of pea gravel, topped by a layer
of sturdy landscape cloth and cover with it with a layer of
sand.
This will give your brick patio a firm footing as well as
cramp the style of any weeds in the area.
Nevertheless, if your brick patio is already installed and
running rampant with weeds, here are some tips to help you
succeed in to keep it weed free without a lot of agonizing
work.
First, to make your brick patio weed control plan a success,
implement your plan before weeds flower. This keeps weeds
from going to seed and helps make a short-term plan last for
a longer time.
For the following tip and other tips that involve weed dousing
of one sort or another, use a piece of cardboard or scrap
of Plexiglas to protect nearby plants.
One of the best ways to kill a vegetable of any kind is to
cook it.
Boiling water is a natural and very inexpensive weed-wilter
and works to kill most forms of annual weeds. It also kills
or weakens many types of perennial weeds.
A teakettle is your weeding tool. Fill it with water and
bring it to a boil. While you're waiting (because a watched
pot never boils, you know!) go outside and cut the culprits
down to their crowns.
When the water begins to boil, grab the kettle (using a potholder)
and pour the water on the crowns of the weeds, holding the
kettle high enough only to avoid splashing. Killing weeds
with boiling water will also scald any biological organisms
that get splashed, but more will return as soon as the soil
cools.
Vinegar will kill most weeds. However, grocery store vinegar
is normally a 5% solution and is too weak to do the job. Ten-percent
vinegar will kill most weeds and usually is found where canning
and pickling supplies are sold.
A 20% solution of vinegar kills really stubborn weeds, but
is frequently more than twice as expensive as 10%. Try to
control the weeds with the 10% before you make the investment
in a stronger solution.
Spray the vinegar directly on the weeds, using the shield
mentioned above and taking care not to inhale fumes. You may
also want to wear gloves and eye protection as a further safeguard.
In my experience these measures will keep all brick patio's
free from weed without a lot of back breaking work.
We love to share our gardening ideas and hear yours.
About the author:
Hans is an enthusiast gardener. He is one of the authors
of :
http://www.gardening-guides.comand
http://www.patio-furniture-ideas.com/
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