Tiles are one of the most used materials for landscaping outdoor spaces due to their practicality and aesthetics.
But every year, it’s the same thing: In spring and autumn, weeds come back, invade the gaps, and completely destroy the harmony of your paving. Don’t panic—you’ll find here an effective and ecological way to get rid of those unwanted plants.
While we generally love to see new shoots growing in our garden, this is far from the case for the unsightly little leaves that poke their noses out in the middle of the patio slabs or garden paving stones, creating an eyesore.
Thus begins an endless war with the rebellious stems: we uproot, they grow back… Here’s an unstoppable tip to have the last word when weeding—without having to use the hoe.
How to Weed Patio Slabs?
As soon as you see a small plant growing between the gaps between the slabs and paving stones, you need to bend down and pull it out. But unfortunately, in this little game, we are rarely the winners.
No matter what we do, nature always takes back its rights. Here’s how to make a natural weedkiller using homemade products.
1. White Vinegar Spray
Dilute 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water in a spray bottle and spray it on areas where weeds are growing.
The acetic acid in vinegar helps dry out and devitalize plants. It’s best to do this in the morning so that the sun can help.
2. With Coarse Salt
Spread coarse salt over the areas with weeds and wait for rain to penetrate. If rain is not forecast, mix the salt with water and pour it over the unwanted plants.
3. With Baking Soda
Proceed in the same way as with coarse salt.
4. With Boiling Water
Pour boiling water over the shoots to be destroyed. The thermal shock burns the leaves and roots.
Additionally, you can use the cooking water from your pasta or rice instead of pouring it down the sink, as the starch it contains has a herbicidal effect.
You can use these natural and ecological preparations with complete peace of mind, much more easily than manual weeding, without fear that they will harm your other plants.
Magical Tips for Cleaning Slabs and Paving Stones
Slabs and pavers tend to get stained, dirty, and covered in moss. Contrary to popular belief, a pressure washer is not always the ideal solution for cleaning your terrace and can damage certain coatings.
The same goes for environmentally harmful cleaning chemicals like bleach and ammonia, which could also harm surrounding vegetation. To keep your outdoor spaces clean and shiny, follow these steps.
1. Baking Soda
Mix a little of this white powder with water, pour it on your terrace, and scrub with a broom. Leave it to act for 15 minutes and rinse with clean water.
2. Black Soap
Ideal for degreasing and restoring shine to tiles that have darkened over time. Pour black soap with water onto the surfaces to be cleaned, scrub well, and rinse. Black soap can be replaced with Marseille soap. Dishwasher products are also very effective.
3. Land of Sommières
Thanks to its degreasing and stain-removing action, this fine clay powder will allow you to remove grease stains or residue from your terrace, especially after a meal or a barbecue. Simply sprinkle it on the affected areas, leave it to act for a few hours, and rinse. Don’t even bother scrubbing!
4. Wood Ash
Wood ash has cleaning and weed-killing properties. If your tiles are clogged or invaded by moss, cover them with a thick layer of ashes and leave for several days. Scrub with a broom and rinse.
5. Soda Crystals
Mix the soda crystals with hot water and scrub the terrace with this preparation. Your tiles will be like new! Be sure to protect yourself with gloves and goggles when using soda crystals, as they are corrosive.
Now you can fully enjoy your immaculate garden terrace, all you have to do is relax in your deck chair.
