Weeds in your gravel driveway or patio can be a nuisance, but you don’t need harsh chemicals to tackle them
Vinegar won’t kill weeds forever(Image: Getty)
Gravel driveways and patios can play host to a wide variety of weed species. These range from grassy varieties such as henbit and purslane, to woody types like broadleaf or dandelions – all of which have no trouble whatsoever sprouting up in abundance.
Yet the most frustrating aspect isn’t simply trying to eliminate them; it’s acting swiftly enough to prevent them from taking over entirely.
Tackling weeds on your gravel driveway or patio doesn’t necessarily mean reaching for harmful chemicals that could damage your garden or pose a risk to pets.
One of the most frequently recommended natural solutions for removing gravel weeds is white vinegar, reports the Express.
However, while vinegar “may well kill some small weeds”, if the aim is to banish them permanently, then vinegar will not work, according to Chelsey, gardening expert at Good Grow.
Rock salt is the best home remedy for gravel and patio weeds(Image: Getty)
She explained that vinegar “simply burns away the visible part of the weed”, and although it may appear dead on the surface, the roots remain undisturbed and will eventually regrow.
For those seeking a homemade weed killer for their driveway or patio, “rock salt is the way to go”.
While ordinary table salt can serve as a weed killer, if your driveway is overrun with weeds you want permanently removed, rock salt is what you need. It’s the “fastest way to kill weeds on your drive forever”.
Gardening specialists at Joe’s Lawn Care also support the use of rock salt to tackle gravel weeds.
Never use rock salt on weeds near garden plants(Image: Getty)
They said: “Rock salt is actually a super-effective and totally natural weed killer that is ace at clearing a gravel driveway.” Simply scatter some rock salt across the soil surrounding any visible weeds and then sit back and “watch as the salt kills the weeds in just a matter of days”. They claimed that “it’s almost unbelievable”.
The experts noted that using rock salt yields “long-term results” and should therefore be avoided in areas of the garden where you intend to plant flowers or cultivate crops.
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.
“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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