How to manage weeds on hard surfaces

If you have an existing area of hard surface, you can rid it of weeds in one of the following ways - but always check for insects in the area first:

1. Carefully pour boiling water over them.
2. Remove them by hand with a sharp knife or trowel.
3. Flame or thermal weeders are acceptable for occasional use. These are particularly effective on young weeds, however, you should check the area first to avoid harming ground beetles or other ground-dwelling insects. Electric thermal weeders are much more widely available and more targeted. They heat up the weed underneath, rather than using a large flame.
4. Try sowing other things into cracks of paving to stifle weeds and attract wildlife. Good choices include chives, or Mexican fleabane (Erigeron karvinskianus), which is resilient and low growing.

You will need to repeat methods every so often to keep on top of the weeds.

If you are creating a new path or patio, to minimise weed growth in future, make an impenetrable foundation layer: a geotextile membrane or a substantial mix of hardcore rubble and sand, firmly flattened to exclude all light and reduce moisture.