Forums Forums Enthusiast Forums A - Z Gardening Patio paving slabs,gaps allowing weeds to grow

We have a patio that has over the years got gaps between the slabs allowing weeds and grass to grow,some of the concrete just crumbles away,what is the cheapest and dog(we have 3)friendly way of sorting this problem?

Use Pathclear or the like. Not normally a problem for dogs/ mogs but to be safer make it up as directed, put it in an old washing up liquid bottle and make sure it goes only into the gaps between the slabs. That will knock off weeds and keep them away for at least a couple of months, usually longer. However, the long term solution is - repoint the slabs

The one weed that seems to survive Pathclear AND which will force it's way back through cement pointing is Mares Tail/ horses tail

Guess which one mum has in her garden ????

Snod

Thanks for that,is repointing easy to do?

Repointing is fairly easy to do get a bag of mortar mix or I think B&Q do a mix specifically for this job, just shovel the dry mix over a few times then add water do a fairly dry mix not sloppy and off you go, oh dont forget to scrape any loose stuff out of the cracks first, get a bit of wood or simmular the width of the gap to push it well down and to finish off and hopefully bobs your uncle

Boil the kettle, pour it in the gaps, about 3 or 4 doses of the hot stuff, over a few weeks will kill most stuff.

K

If it's horses tail growing between the slabs, trim the top off before applying weedkiller. This will make it more effective.

I hate to say it but you will not get rid of mares tail that easily, the roots go way down and you really have to get them out. I don't know of any weedkiller that will shift it.

Thanks for all the advice.

don't dry point and pour or wet the mortar,add the water before you point or it will not set properly.I am a paving expert six months down the line you will be doing it over again.