Weeds that invade gravel and patios come in a wide variety of species. There are grassy weeds such as henbit and purslane, alongside woody varieties like broadleaf or dandelions — all of which have absolutely no trouble sprouting up in abundance.
Yet the worst part isn’t simply trying to pull them out — it’s acting swiftly enough to prevent them from completely taking over.
Tackling weeds on your gravel driveway or patio doesn’t mean you have to reach for harmful chemicals that could damage your garden or put your pets at risk.
One of the most widely recommended natural remedies for removing gravel weeds is white vinegar, reports the Express.
View 4 ImagesVinegar won’t kill weeds forever(Image: Getty)
However, while vinegar “may well kill some small weeds”, if the aim is to eliminate them permanently, then vinegar will not work, according to Chelsey, gardening expert at Good Grow.
She pointed out that vinegar “simply burns away the visible part of the weed” and, while it may appear dead, the roots remain fully intact and will eventually regrow.
For gardeners seeking a homemade weed killer for their driveway or patio, “rock salt is the way to go”.
View 4 ImagesRock salt is the best home remedy for gravel and patio weeds(Image: Getty)
While ordinary table salt can serve as a weed killer, if your driveway is overrun with stubborn weeds you want gone for good, rock salt is your best bet. It’s the “fastest way to kill weeds on your drive forever”.
Gardening specialists at Joe’s Lawn Care also back the use of rock salt for tackling gravel weeds.
They said: “Rock salt is actually a super-effective and totally natural weed killer that is ace at clearing a gravel driveway.” All you need to do is scatter some rock salt on the soil around any visible weeds, then sit back and “watch as the salt kills the weeds in just a matter of days”. They claimed that “it’s almost unbelievable”.
View 4 ImagesNever use rock salt on weeds near garden plants(Image: Getty)
The experts added that while rock salt delivers “long-term results”, it should be kept well away from areas of the garden where you’re hoping to grow flowers or cultivate crops.
They explained: “The salt will gradually seep into the ground where it was sprinkled, preventing any weeds (or plants) from being able to grow there for a while.
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“Now that may sound absolutely perfect for your gravel driveway situation, but just make sure you are conservative with the amount you sprinkle and where you sprinkle it.”