Gravel paths are very popular in the garden because they blend in well with any type of garden design. Subsidence, which often becomes a problem with path slabs, is easily compensated for by the gravel surface. However, the loose structure is difficult to control weeds. In this article you will learn how to keep the large area of the gravel path weed-free with minimal resources.

Loose gravel is an invitation for weeds

Weed control with the pendulum hoe

Weeds can be permanently removed from gravel surfaces without chemicals using an almost forgotten garden tool, the pendulum hoe. With this tool, which is also available in an electric version, gravel paths can be cleared of weeds in a relatively short time. With a back and forth movement, the unwanted green is cut off root-deep and can be leveled without any problems. In this way, the weeds are damaged so badly that after a while they hardly grow back and the path remains permanently weed-free.

Prevent weed growth by cleverly laying out the path

Even when you create a gravel path, you can do a lot to simplify later maintenance:

  • Always border gravel paths with a lawn edge. This prevents the green from spreading unintentionally in the gravel.
  • Dig the path about 20 centimeters deep.
  • Place a drainage or weed fleece that is not too thin on the smoothed soil. (21.70€) A grammage of 90 grams per square meter is ideal. This means that weeds that remain in the ground cannot grow through the gravel surface.
  • Put the gravel on top and smooth the surface.

Germinating wild herbs can be removed very easily with this measure. Since the roots are not anchored in the ground, you can pull them out without any effort.

Little effective: The chemical club

It sounds tempting: Spray on weed killer and the green wild plants disappear as if by magic. Unfortunately, the use of herbicides only shows short-term success. Only freshly germinated weeds are reliably killed, but must be removed in a second operation. Larger and strong plants often remain and you have to weed them mechanically. Seeds slumbering in the ground are not recorded at all and no one excludes them. This makes multiple use necessary.

In addition, the sprayed agents not only damage wild plants, but can also cause environmental damage and are also classified as toxic for humans.

tips

The pendulum hoe is also suitable for removing weeds in the vegetable patch. The oscillating movement causes only minimal lateral movement of the earth, so that the growth of tender lettuce plants and freshly planted vegetables is not disturbed.

Category:

Herbs