How to clean up joints from paving slabs

However, it shouldn't be our aim today to explain to you the fastest way to weed-free your beds we want the annoying little plants between sidewalk slabs, paving stones and concrete joints on the stems walk.

Weed control as a mechanical growth barrier

Garden owners have little or no trouble with dandelions, piglet weed, crawling quicks & Co. Quiet area paved with mosaic stones with a barbecue area, if you have already thought about combating weeds in a way that is as effortless as possible before construction became. The right laying technique, suitable materials and the targeted introduction of barrier layers can already have a great prophylactic effect and make it difficult for weeds to settle. The use of rot-proof and frost-resistant has proven particularly effective Weed control,(€ 13.47 at Amazon *) which is available in the trade as roll goods or in the form of pre-assembled tarpaulins. The following criteria should be observed when purchasing polyester sheets:

• Material thickness at least 150g / m2;
• High light tightness and water permeability;
• Tear strength;
• As dark as possible to ensure light deprivation;
• Free of chemical binders.

Sealing the joints with synthetic resin

The formation of weeds is all the more encouraged, the more irregular the joint pattern is after laying paving slabs or the very popular natural stone slabs. Wide joints promote growth considerably, and if the accumulating moisture is also added, the uncontrolled growth of weeds can hardly be controlled. Concrete stone and natural stone paving can also be used with paving joint mortar Clinker paving seal quickly, permanently and very inexpensively against all kinds of regrowing weeds. They are self-compacting, have high abrasion resistance, withstand de-icing salts as well as frost and also reduce the risk of accidents caused by protruding edges of the plaster will.

Salt & vinegar- (not) a home remedy for unwanted greens !?

Neither of the two notorious home remedies will curb the growth of weeds in the long term and not at all without negative effects on the neighboring plantings. In addition, according to the reading of the Plant Protection Act, vinegar-salt solutions in the garden are forbidden or not, as the Oldenburg Higher Regional Court recently decided. Nevertheless, it should be noted:

• Salt: Cannot be broken down on sealed surfaces such as driveways, terraces and paths, gets into the groundwater and makes the waterworks difficult to manage.
• Vinegar: Depending on the concentration of the vinegar solution, the cell membranes of other plants in the area are severely affected, so that the use of this home remedy is considered questionable.

Total attack on weeds with flame burners

And the flamethrower or, more appropriately, that Weed burner are right on trend and do a great job with their gas flame, which is around 1,000 degrees Celsius. In different sizes, available as gas bottle or small cartridge devices, they work with a propane-air mixture and fight the weeds to the roots. Important to know: it doesn't have to be held on for so long before the plants burn. A short and courageous swivel of the lance at the target is sufficient, as the cell walls required for growth are in this way already completely and including existing seeds are destroyed, so that your weeds die within a few days will. Relatively quick progress is made in combating relatively young plants where the risk of new weeds growing back is very low. Relatively simple and, because of their design, very light weed burners are available from specialist retailers for less than 20.00 euros. Important when flaming: The devices should only be operated when the weather is as calm as possible, because the risk of fire, especially if there are dry leaves or grass clippings in the immediate vicinity, is quite high is.

Fight weeds with high pressure technology and hot water

Although this environmentally friendly method is still relatively unknown, the hot water technology is convincing more and more garden owners. The reasons are obvious:

• Effective and time-saving weed killing;
• No chemical agents required, the hot water simply seeps into the sand;
• Very precise work possible, neighboring plants are not affected;
• Floor covering (natural stone, clinker, etc.) are also cleaned at the same time;
• Low noise pollution with user-friendly work processes;
• Lasting effect due to the 98 ° C hot water;

The operating principle of thermal weed control

Basically, the biological properties of plants are used to ensure that their protein molecules are slowly but surely broken down from a temperature of 42 degrees Celsius. Garden owners know that when the lawn or certain vegetable crops begin to turn brown during the midsummer weather. Hot water also has the advantage that it can penetrate to the roots, as it has a high thermal conductivity. However, success in removing weeds with hot water does not come immediately. In the first year, this technology requires three to four applications before the plants die completely. After that, the workload is reduced by around half.

Equipment for private users

While the municipalities began to use hot water steam technology on a large scale several years ago To use special vehicles mounted, garden owners who are concerned about cleanliness have to deal with smaller devices content. Market leader Kärcher has brought system solutions of different sizes onto the market, which are also suitable for private users. Much cheaper, but no less efficient, are the steam cleaners from Batavia, which can be had for around 150 euros.