The Ultimate Guide to Weed Control for Gravel Driveways

You want to keep your gravel driveway in tip-top shape, so you’ve implemented a maintenance schedule, made sure to tend to it after winter weather, and restored your gravel driveway when necessary.

Just when you think you’re on top of your gravel driveway type, you see it. Something green and spiky has sprouted along your driveway edges or perhaps right smack in the middle of the gravel — the dreaded weed.

The bain of landscapers everywhere, it seems a weed’s only job is to pop up where you least expect it. If these uninvited guests have got you down, don’t fret. Gravel driveway weed control is well within your reach.

GRAVEL DRIVEWAY WEED CONTROL

From laying down a weed-resistant foundation to targeting weeds as they grow, read on to learn the best ways to keep weeds at bay.

Lay Down a Barrier

If you’re in the process of adding a gravel driveway to your home or business, one of the best ways to go about gravel driveway weed control is to lay down a barrier before adding gravel.

Landscape fabric laid under a gravel driveway can help to keep the soil underneath stable as well as help prevent weeds from poking up through your driveway layers.

However, landscape fabric is often made of synthetic materials which will eventually break down into your soil, leaching chemicals that can be dangerous to other plants, especially edible ones.

Something else to consider before using a landscape fabric under your gravel driveway is that it can impede water drainage and it will need to be replaced eventually.

Treat the Gravel with a Weed Killer

Man spraying weeds on a gravel driveway.

Keep weeds from cropping up by spraying your gravel driveway with a pre-emergent product that kills weed seeds before they can germinate.

There are a number of herbicides on the market, choose the one that works best for your needs.

Kill Weeds at Their Source

If you have weeds that have already emerged, there are several ways to tend to gravel driveway weed control.

The first way is to hand-weed them. Put on a pair of gloves and grab a small spade. Either pull the weed out by its root if it’s an easy one to eliminate, or use the small shovel to help loosen the root at its source.
Worried about your pets and children? Use a non-toxic spray made with a mixture of vinegar and dish soap. Mix one gallon of vinegar with 1 cup of salt and 1 tablespoon of dish soap. Add this mixture to a 1 gallon pressure-pump sprayer and spray the weeds. They will take a couple days to fully die off.
Pour boiling water right on the weeds. This will definitely kill the weed but may not kill off the root. You may need to go dig the root out by hand.
Put salt right on the weeds or prevent weeds from growing by adding salt along the perimeters of your driveway.
Use a weed torch. That’s right, burn the weeds right at their source using a tool that expels high, high heat.