5 Ways to Stop Weeds From Taking Over Your Patio With Everyday Kitchen Items, According to a Gardening Pro

Key Points

Natural patio weed control methods are most effective when weeds are small and newly emerged.

Deep-rooted weeds often survive DIY treatments, so repeated applications or hand removal may be needed.

Prevent regrowth with regular maintenance, polymeric sand, or groundcovers over repeated treatments.

Few things spoil the look of a pristine patio faster than unruly weeds pushing through the gaps between pavers. These opportunistic plants thrive in the cracks where sunlight, warmth, and trapped moisture create ideal germination conditions.

If you’d rather control weeds without harsh chemicals, several common household items may be of help, especially when caught early. We asked an expert which natural solutions for patio weed control might be worth trying—here’s what she said.

Meet the Expert

Nicole Sanchez is an associate professor of practice in the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University.

Butter Knife

If you don’t have a specific patio weed pulling tool, the next best thing might be a basic butter knife. Sliding the blunt, rounded blade into the narrow cracks helps lift sprouting seedlings that are too small to pull effectively by hand from between paving stones.

“For really small, tender stuff, it’s likely to be helpful,” horticulture professor Nicole Sanchez says. “But for anything that has a deep tap root, and a lot of established weeds do, it’s probably just going to kill off the top of it, look like it worked to begin with, and then the plant’s going to come back.”

Regular inspections every week or two can prevent weeds from becoming deeply rooted and more difficult to remove. If you can do this task after it’s been raining, the damp soil will be looser and the plant should slide out more easily.

Boiling Water

A kettle of boiling water is one of the simplest ways to tackle young patio weeds without leaving behind chemical residues.

Sanchez explains that while this method can be effective for tender seedlings, it rarely permanently eliminates weeds with deep taproots; the heat that damages plant tissue on contact doesn’t penetrate far enough underground.

For stubborn perennial weeds, you may need to repeat the treatment several times or combine it with hand removal to completely exhaust the root system.

Dish Soap Solution

A simple mixture of 5 tbsp of dish soap and 4 cups of water can help weaken young weeds by breaking down the protective coating on their leaves, drying them out more quickly. It tends to work best during hot, sunny weather.

Sanchez emphasizes that the timing of the application of these DIY herbicides is important.

“A dish soap solution only works when weeds are tiny and don’t have much resilience,” she explains. “You’re going to have to stay on top of things and apply treatment when they are very small.”

Don’t expect miracle results when you’re dealing with established weeds with deep roots.

“Even some of the strong herbicides don’t work as well on things that have a tap root,” Sanchez says. “They’ll kill off the top of it, but there’s enough energy stored in those roots.”

Tips

You can also spray rubbing alcohol directly onto the weed leaves.

Vinegar

White vinegar is a popular natural weed killer because the acetic acid burns exposed foliage. However, it also works best on newly emerging annual weeds before they develop extensive root systems.

Household vinegar is less likely to create long-term soil acidity issues than much stronger horticultural vinegar, which is 30% acetic acid. Sanchez recommends using the highest strength commonly found in grocery stores, which is 5% acetic acid.

Aim carefully when spraying because vinegar is also non-selective and will damage any green plant tissue it touches.

Homemade Essential Oil Herbicide

According to Sanchez, some early research into essential oil-based herbicides has shown promise, particularly when they’re applied during hot weather. This includes blends containing cinnamon, peppermint oil, and lemon-scented eucalyptus.

“However, there isn’t enough evidence there to say definitively this or that is going to be best for individual species,” she says.

According to some studies, you can mix about 6ml of essential oils with 100ml of water and 1ml of emulsifying dish soap, which helps blend the oil and water. Apply the solution directly to weeds only, as they can also damage desirable plants.