I've noticed vinegar helps too, though it can sometimes fade the stone a bit if you're not careful. Honestly, a few weeds aren't the end of the world...they give your patio a natural, lived-in charm. Keep at it—your efforts definitely show.
Haha, vinegar is great until your patio smells like a salad dressing disaster zone. Learned that the hard way last summer... neighbors probably thought I was prepping a giant outdoor salad bar. Honestly, I agree though—few weeds here and there just means your patio has character. Plus, gives you a legit excuse to skip yardwork for a weekend or two. Win-win, right?
I get what you mean about the vinegar smell—tried that myself once, and my patio briefly became a salad-themed aromatherapy zone. Not ideal, especially when you're trying to enjoy a relaxing afternoon outside.
If you're looking for a budget-friendly alternative without the pungent aroma, boiling water works surprisingly well. Just pour it directly onto the weeds between your patio stones. It doesn't cost a dime extra, and you won't have to worry about chemical residues or strange smells lingering around. Of course, be careful not to splash your feet (speaking from personal experience here...).
Also, I totally understand the charm of a few stray weeds adding character, but if they start getting out of hand, sprinkling baking soda into the cracks can help keep them at bay. It's inexpensive, safe for pets and kids, and won't leave your patio smelling like a vinaigrette gone wrong.
Boiling water's a solid tip—I've used it myself a few times. Just gotta watch out for splashes, like you said... learned that lesson the hard way too. Baking soda's interesting, never thought of trying that one. I've had decent luck with salt sprinkled in the cracks, but I guess too much salt isn't great for nearby plants. Might give baking soda a shot next time the weeds start staging a comeback.
"I've had decent luck with salt sprinkled in the cracks, but I guess too much salt isn't great for nearby plants."
Yeah, learned that one myself—got a bit too enthusiastic with the salt shaker last summer and my poor petunias weren't exactly thrilled. Baking soda sounds promising though, might have to raid the pantry next time weeds invade.
A couple other budget-friendly tricks I've found useful:
- White vinegar diluted with water works wonders on mossy spots. Just keep it off your grass unless you're going for the "patchy lawn" look.
- Old newspapers or cardboard under mulch can help keep weeds down longer. Bonus points if you're recycling junk mail—finally, a use for those pizza coupons I never remember to use...
- Pressure washing once a year (borrowed from a neighbor, of course) makes everything look brand new without spending a dime.
Always nice to find cheap hacks that actually work...and don't end up killing half your garden in the process.
