Does Polymeric Sand Prevent Weeds?

Does Polymeric Sand Prevent Weeds?

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Polymeric sand has special additives such as silica that cause it to cure and harden once it has been exposed to water. It’s a special type of sand that becomes rock solid.

For this reason, many people put it in between pavers and use it to fill cracks. That said, a big issue with pavers is weeds growing in between them. So, does polymeric sand prevent weeds from growing in those cracks in between pavers?

Is Polymeric Sand Weed Resistant?

Yes, polymeric sand is indeed weed resistant. In fact, this is something that many people would use to prevent weeds from growing through the cracks in between pavers on driveways and walkways. For the first few years after it has been applied in between pavers you could even say that it is 100% weed proof.

You can think of polymeric sand as outdoor grout. It’s kind of like grout or mortar, in the sense that it becomes very hard and is placed in between joints, usually in between pavers. Once water has been applied to the sand, it becomes extremely hard and durable.

This polymeric sand is not going to be permeable by water or air. This is one thing that helps to prevent weeds from growing through it.

Moreover, polymeric sand is extremely durable and long-lasting too. This substance, when properly mixed, can last for 8 to 15 years. Yes, once it starts to crack, weeds may once again start to grow through the sand. However, for at least a few years after having applied it, it will completely stop weeds from growing through the cracks in between pavers.

6 Additional Things Can You Do to Prevent Weeds From Growing Between Pavers

Besides using polymeric sand, there are at least six other things that you can do to prevent weeds from growing in between those pavers.

1. Use Boiling Water

A good way to prevent weeds from growing in between pavers is to regularly douse the area in boiling water. Boiling water is going to kill all plant life, including seeds and seedlings. You also get to kill two birds with one stone, because you’ll be cleaning your pavers at the same time.

2. Use Vinegar

Vinegar is another big-time weedkiller. You can use it on weeds that have already grown, and you can spray down the cracks in between the pavers with it to prevent weeds from growing. Vinegar is extremely acidic, and it will kill small seedlings, weeds of all sorts, and even seeds too.

3. Use Weed Killer

Of course, actual chemical weed killer will do the trick as well. You can use chemical weed killer on weeds that have already grown. You can also use chemical weed killer to spray in between the cracks of your pavers to prevent weeds from growing in the first place.

4. Use Fire

Fire is another one of these things that kills everything. Some people may use something like a propane torch to burn out any possible seeds and seedlings from in between those cracks.

5. Use Salt

Salt can also be used to prevent plant growth. Sprinkling even just a little bit of salt between those pavers will most likely kill anything growing down in there, as nothing could survive in the salty soil.

6. Sweep Regularly

Regularly sweeping the pavers is a good idea as well. If you sweep the pavers often, you will sweep away small plant seeds and prevent them from getting into those cracks.

7. Fill the Cracks With Other Substances

If you don’t want to use polymeric sand, you can always use regular sand. Some people might even decide to use some kind of grout or cement to seal those cracks.

5 Things to Do If Weeds Grew Through Your Polymeric Sand

Here are a number of ways to get rid of weeds that grew through the polymeric sand.

1. Pick Them

You can always just grab the weeds with your hand and pick them. You can also use weed remover tools.

2. Burn Them

You can use a propane torch to burn the weeds away. This, as mentioned above, is also a good preventative measure.

3. Boil Them

Pouring boiling water on those weeds will also kill them all.

4. Spray Vinegar

Vinegar isn’t just a good weed prevention method, but also a great weed killer.

5. Use Weed Killer

If all else fails, using an actual weed-killing chemical is another option.

On a side note, if the cracks have become so large that weeds are growing everywhere, you may want to consider reapplying a new layer of polymeric sand after removing the weeds.

Summary

Polymeric sand is fantastic for filling cracks in between pavers, especially when it comes to preventing weeds from growing.