How Do You Get Rid Of Weeds W/out Chemicals?

[walking burp cloth]

So, now that the snow is gone in our yard, you can see the lovely brick courtyard on the side of our place. The only problem is that it has way too much growth, and our house is on the market. I am trying to make everything look perfect of course, but do not want to use chemicals to get rid of the weeds. My kids play there. Any natural suggestions on how to get rid of the weeds?

[yeahwhat]

If the weeds are growing between bricks, pouring boiling water on them will kill them. It will also kill plants you want to keep, so only do it for weeds in places you don't want any plants.

[walking burp cloth]

Yes!! It is for between the bricks!! I didn't realize it was so simple!!

[yeahwhat]

Straight vinegar will work too I think.

[SquishyKitty]

Rent or buy a high pressure hose for the in between stuff. We pull throughout the year, with one or two big days of high pressure washing everything. Really gets things clean, and washes all the dirt and roots out of the bricks.

We bought one that we use on the outside of the house, and on the rims of our cars, and the sidewalks and stuff, too. We just washed the garage doors and lo and behold, they're white, not green!

[Pogonia]

And it's a double-whammy on weeds if you pour the hot vinegar from cleaning your coffee pot on those pesky weeds.

[RosemaryS-F]

Yup, boiling water. Only trouble is...it's boiling, so it's hot, so you have to be really really careful!!!! Also, boiling enough can be tricky.

[bigteamug]

There is also a thing called a weed dragon - basically, you roast them with a propane flame. I can think of at least one DH who would get a real kick out of that as a toy. I'd be a little worried if I lived in a dry area and the fire issue, though. We had mixed results with the boiling water ourselves, maybe try the hot vinegar.....

[mattemma04]

Hot water.Salt.Or vinegar.

[walking burp cloth]

Thanks for all the replies!! The courtyard is currently under about a foot of snow so I will have to wait a while.... but the best news is that our place is under contract, so I am not even going to worry about it anymore!! But I will keep all of these ideas in mind for our new home to be!!

Thanks agian!!

[mamaredbird]

Salt, salt, salt!

Ok, I know I'm a little late to the party, but I buy regular table salt from Costco and let my 5 year old pour salt in all the cracks. He LOVES it (and uses too much, but oh well) and the weeds are gone gone gone for months (probably because he uses so much!) Beware thought that salt will kill ANY plant, so be sure to set the boundaries well. Hope that helps!!!

[Mom2Camryn397]

Will vinegar work for weeds mixed with grass or will that kill the grass too?

[kcparker]

Is the salt really okay in the long run? I am just thinking that conceptually, at least, salting the land is a Biblical-level no-no. What if you want to remove the bricks and put in turf or a garden in 5 years? Will the salt still be a plant-killer, or will it percolate down into the ground over the years and disappear?