Removing weeds from joints: These are the best tricks

Practical tools
Removing weeds from joints: This is how you can fight dandelions, moss, etc. quickly and effectively

It grows and grows: Weeds are not welcome guests as they spread between paving stones and concrete slabs without being asked. There are effective removal methods to remove dandelions, moss or even grass from joints without any problems.

Wild herbs and flowers have a bad habit of spreading quickly and extensively. And especially in the joints of paved paths: in the driveway, in the garden or on the terrace. If wild growth is a thorn in your side, you have no choice but to remove the weeds regularly. In this article you will find out how this works best, which methods are particularly effective and why you are not allowed to use poison to combat wild herbs in Germany.

That’s why you shouldn’t use poison against weeds

According to the Plant Protection Act (PflSchG), the use of weed killers containing glyphosate is prohibited on sealed surfaces such as paved walkways and sidewalks, terraces and driveways. If the poison – also known as herbicide – is used anyway, you could face a fine of up to 50,000 euros. But why exactly? In fact, the toxic chemicals would get into the groundwater through rain and completely unfiltered. However, its use is permitted on areas used for agriculture, forestry and horticulture, as the ingredients first flow through several layers of earth in which the active ingredients are broken down before they reach the groundwater. Important to know: Organic preparations and homemade weed killers as well as home remedies (e.g. vinegar or salt) must not be used around paving stones.

Removing weeds from joints: The best tools

1. Manual tool

A simple tool that you can use to easily remove unwanted wild herbs and flowers from the cracks is the Joint scraper. The pointed tool goes deep into the soil to get as many roots as possible. To make the work easier on your back, you can use the joint scraper with a Telescopic handle extend. Alternatively, a special one is available for superficial treatments Grout brush made of wire, but a so-called one is suitable for wider gaps between the paving slabs Weed cutter. Please keep in mind, however, that the tools mentioned do not completely remove the weeds (a few seeds or roots always remain stuck in the soil), so they are unfortunately only temporary solutions.

2. Electric joint scrapers

If you want to remove weeds from joints, you can also use one electric joint scraper use one that – ideally – is even height-adjustable (and therefore easier on the back). The device should also contain different brushes that are suitable for different applications: A metal brush is used if you want to remove uncontrolled growth from insensitive surfaces, such as paving joints or sidewalks. However, for sensitive floors that can be easily scratched (e.g. wooden floors on the terrace), a plastic joint brush is recommended. The application is the same in both cases: push the tool over the ground so that the bristles reach into the joints and loosen the weeds quickly and efficiently.

3. Weed burner

In contrast to the electric weed killer, it fights Weed burner the wild growth not with electrically generated heat, but with fire. Burning out the joints not only destroys the weeds, but also any seeds that are still in the soil. This effectively prevents unwanted wild herbs and flowers from growing back quickly. It almost sounds too good to be true – because this method also has a catch: When using gas-powered weed burners, a lot of carbon dioxide (CO2) is emitted, which pollutes our climate. For this reason, this tool is unfortunately not an environmentally friendly product.

4. Electric weed killer

To clear weeds from the joints of sealed surfaces, you can also use technical aids, such as one electric weed killer. This works with heat, which – depending on the model and manufacturer – reaches up to 1000 degrees. However, according to experts, the device should reach at least 600 degrees in order to effectively combat weeds. What all models have in common is that they do not require the use of chemicals or carbon dioxide. To remove the wild herbs, switch on the weed killer and run it over the overgrown joints.

5. Pressure washer

Another, albeit by far the most expensive, method for removing weeds is offered by High pressure cleaner. Apart from the water consumption, which you can control yourself, this is also an environmentally friendly way to free your joints from uncontrolled growth. Many models come with a brush for paved surfaces, but this can also be purchased separately. The water pressure generated literally blows out moss and weeds, including seedlings and seeds, from the joints – but also the soil. For this reason, you must then fill the cleaned joints again with sand (preferably a special joint sand for prevention, which is described in the next section). You can see how to use a high-pressure cleaner correctly here.

Prevention: How to seal joints with Dansand

After the joints have been cleared of weeds, you can take preventative measures to avoid new overgrowth. The best way to do this is with Dansand for joints, because it has weed-inhibiting properties: its low pH value makes the growth of wild herbs and flowers more difficult. In addition, the special sand compacts the joints, but still remains permeable to water, which means that the roots of weeds cannot find hold. It is therefore important that you fill the cracks between the paving stones – in the truest sense of the word – to the brim and compact them well. Here you can support one Earthmasher insert.

Source: My beautiful garden

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