Saplings in between patio paving?

Question

Hi a couple of years ago I moved house and the patio area was full of hundreds of self seeded tree saplings. I cut them off and treated with weed killer. It didn't kill them last year they started growing back.how can I kill them without taking up the patio as it is a very large area.

Answer 1

Try pouring boiling water over them. This will kill almost any plant so make sure it doesn't fall onto any plants you're trying to keep.

After 7-10 days they should all be dead and will just come out of the paving with a light brush.

Then fill the cracks with a mix of 4 parts coarse sand: 1 part cement and sweep in between the cracks. Lightly hose in and let it set for 24-48 hours.

You should never have plants growing between your pavers again.

Answer 2

Get your mits on roundup and use a strong mix of the stuff directly on the leaves of the saplings. Roundup works by going through the leaf to the roots of the plant where it does its job. The problem is that any sapling yet to get to leafing stage or hasnt come through the ground yet will be unaffected by the chemical.
Grouting the edges will work for a time but you may find the trees will push through over time. Try it though as it could work. If you live near a farm ask the owner or a worker nicely if you can have a small amount of roundup and explain why you want it. The stuff you can buy in the shops is watered down and useless but the agricultural stuff is good s*%t. But you need a license to have or use it legally. It wont hurt to ask! Good luck

Answer 3

I assume the patio is made from paving stone or some similar type of material, and that the saplings are growing between the brick or stone. You should pull the saplings by hand, and then re-grout the area. The seeds need sunlight to germinate, and denying that, the seeds won't emerge. You could use a weed killer prior to adding new grout for insurance.

Answer 4

You can buy a tool which is specially made for getting in between paving slabs. The blade is a hooked shape. I have one which is brilliant - gets everything out. Buy one from a garden centre or DIY store like Focus. They are inexpensive. After you've finished weeding apply weedkiller or salt, then brush some dry cement into the cracks a couple of days later to stop the problem recurring.

Answer 5

yes and no, don't use raw cement or even a pre mixed sand cement product, the best solution is coarse sand sometimes called river sand. Just brush this into the paving with a stiff bristle broom. By using sand there is no expansion problem or cracking. Cement filler (grout) is only used if the pavers are laid on a concrete slab base.

Answer 6

Try Pathclear crystals dissolved in water and sprayed on by watering can. Garden nurseries and DIY stores sell the product.
Very effective used once a year, usually in Spring.
Anything stronger (organo phosphates) than this could be dangerous to apply and poisonous to pets.

Answer 7

weed killer the long lasting type, and there is no way to prevent cause the seeds keep blowing around

Answer 8

buy some cheap salt in packets from the supermarket and pour it into the cracks,that will kill the lot