How to Make a Safe and Nontoxic Weedkiller for a Brick Patio

Weed control is manageable in brick patios.

No matter how tightly bricks are placed together in a brick patio, weeds and grass can eventually find their way through the cracks. Dozens of herbicides are readily available at any gardening supply store, but they may contain ingredients hazardous to humans, animals and the environment. Common household ingredients can make a natural and inexpensive weedkiller for a brick patio. Best of all, the ingredients are nontoxic in the case of human or animal consumption.

Things You'll Need

• Weed trimmer
• Garden sprayer
• White vinegar
• Salt

Instructions

1. Cut the weeds with a weed trimmer. Cut as close to the surface of the brick patio as possible.

2. Fill the tank of a garden sprayer with undiluted white vinegar. If a garden sprayer is not available, you can use a spray bottle, but it takes more time and labor.

3. Spray the problem areas of the brick patio with the vinegar. The weeds must be completely soaked in vinegar for the vinegar to be effective.

4. Keep an eye on the brick in the following weeks. Continue to apply vinegar as often as necessary.

5. Sprinkle a thin layer of salt over the problem areas, if the vinegar does not control the problem after three or four attempts. Keep in mind, however, that salt robs the soil of nutrients and may prevent new plant growth for several years. As long as you intend to keep the brick patio in place, salt is a viable option.

References

• Purdue Extenstion; Conquer Weeds With Vinegar?; B. Rosie Lerner; April 2003
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Killing Weeds With Salt; July 2007
• Colorado State University Extension; Green Gardening: Alternatives to Commercial Insecticides and Herbicides; Kathi Taylor; September 2010