Weeds on gravel and patios come in a variety of species, but one gardening expert has shared a simple hack to deal with pesky weeds for good – and it’s not vinegarThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Weeds can ruin the look of a gravel driveway(Image: Catherine McQueen via Getty Images)
Weeds on gravel and patios come in many varieties. You’ll encounter grassy nuisances like henbit and purslane, alongside woody invaders such as broadleaf or dandelions – all of which have no trouble appearing in abundance.
The difficulty isn’t simply removing them, but taking action quickly enough to stop them from completely taking hold.
But tackling weeds on your gravel driveway or patio doesn’t mean resorting to dangerous chemicals that might damage your garden or threaten pets.
One of the most commonly suggested natural techniques for eliminating gravel weeds is applying white vinegar.
Whilst vinegar “may well kill some small weeds”, if the goal is to destroy them permanently then “vinegar will not work”, says Chelsey, gardening expert at Good Grow.
She explained that vinegar “simply burns away the visible part of the weed”, and whilst it might look dead and act accordingly, the roots stay untouched and will sprout again.
If gardeners want to utilise a homemade weed killer on their driveways or patios, then “rock salt is the way to go”.
Rock salt is cheap and natural(Image: Hazal Ak via Getty Images)
Although table salt can serve as a weed killer, if your driveway is infested with weeds that you wish to remove for good, you’re going to need to apply rock salt.
It’s the “fastest way to kill weeds on your drive forever”, according to the gardening guru.
Rock salt is also cheap. You can buy a 500g pack for £1.78 at Asda, or buy larger quantities in places such as garden centres.
Gardening experts at Joe’s Lawn Care also agree with using rock salt to destroy gravel weeds. They said: “Rock salt is actually a super-effective and totally natural weed killer that is ace at clearing a gravel driveway.”
Green-fingered gurus are championing a remarkably straightforward trick to tackle troublesome weeds by advising: “Simply sprinkle some rock salt on the ground surrounding any weeds you can see and then sit back and watch as the salt kills the weeds in just a matter of days”.
They noted that “it’s almost unbelievable”.
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They also drew attention to rock salt’s lasting impact, warning that it delivers “long-term results”, meaning it shouldn’t be applied in areas where you intend to grow flowers or vegetables.
They explained: “The salt will gradually seep into the ground where it was sprinkled, preventing any weeds (or plants) from being able to grow there for a while.”
They then offered guidance for anyone thinking about trying this approach: “Now that may sound absolutely perfect for your gravel driveway situation, but just make sure you are conservative with the amount you sprinkle and where you sprinkle it.”
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