You Can Banish Weeds Between Pavers With A Salty Solution (But Should You Try It?)

Whether you've used the best paver stones for your driveway, patio, or walkway, or undergone a project that instantly elevates your yard, the last thing you want to see is weeds popping up through the cracks. They not only ruin the whole vibe but can also get out of control quickly, making the area appear unkempt instead of stylish. Luckily, there's an easy solution to eliminate weeds from in between your pavers — salt. But should you try it? The short answer is: Yes.

Salt (sodium chloride) will kill plants springing up in places you don't want them to be. The University of Massachusetts Amherst explains that using salt absorbs water, dehydrating the weed. The plant also absorbs the sodium and chloride, depriving it of nutrients and the ability to photosynthesize. The problem is that salt doesn't differentiate between weeds and other plants and the chemicals remain in your soil for a while — even years. So, only use salt in places where you don't have other plants around, and in areas where you aren't too concerned about the immediate health of your soil. 

Since sodium and chloride are the chemical components that effectively kill plants, you can use either table salt or rock salt in your weed-killing mixture. Combine two parts salt and one part water in a spray bottle and carefully apply the solution to the unwanted weeds between your pavers. Within 10 days, the plants should disappear. And since the salt will essentially render the ground underneath infertile for some time, the plants should not return. If they do, hit them again.

Speaking of salt, you may wonder if you can use Epsom salt in your solution. After all, many people have the product readily available in their homes and it says salt right on the box. While it's true that there are many smart ways to use Epsom salt around your house, its chemical compound consists of magnesium sulfate, not sodium chloride. Since it's the sodium and the chloride that hurt plants, Epsom salts won't do the trick. The fact is, weeds might love it, especially if they lack magnesium.

As we stated, salt can be detrimental to plants, so be sure to only use the solution to get rid of weeds away from your garden beds and grass. Spray directly on the weeds or use a funnel to pour some of the substance directly at the plant's base, making sure to prevent any runoff from reaching other parts of your landscape.

While there's always a chance that a weed will pop up here and there between your pavers, you can minimize the instances by properly preparing the ground before starting your paver project. That said, maybe you didn't lay those pavers and you don't want to rip them up and start all over. In that case or if weeds are a recurring problem, consider using water-activated polymeric sand to fill in any gaps or cracks. Doing so will create a barrier, preventing weeds from ruining the look of your hardscape.