Common Weeds in Patio and Decks

Homeowners that often enjoy sitting outside on their patio or deck or have heavily invested in them, probably do not want to see weeds. They often are an unwelcome sight to anyone as they often make patios and decks appear unsightly and potentially cause damages. 

Weeds such as broadleaf plantain, chickweed, clover, and creeping charlie are most commonly found in or around patios and decks. These unwanted vegetation expand their roots underneath the surfaces of patios and decks causing cracks or breakage of the surface. 

At which point moisture or pests can find their way in leading to greater costly repairs. In this DIY guide, learn the right approach to removing weeds from patios and decks with the suggested methods and products. 

If you are not seeing a weed listed here, then contact our customer service team by phone, email, or in-person at one of our store locations for professional recommendations.

Identification

For a visual reference take a look at the image above: From left to right are the weeds known as broadleaf plantain, chickweed, clover, and creeping charlie. 

Broadleaf plantain is broadleaf weed that grows in a rosette shape. They have thick stems with large oval-shaped leaves that lie close to the ground. 

Chickweed is a broadleaf weed that grows in a semi-tangled mat that has elongated petals. There are three types: common chickweed has small white flowers, mouseear chickweed have red, hairy stems, and star chickweed that has the same flowers and leaves just at a much larger size.

Clover is a broadleaf weed that grows low to the ground in uneven mats. Each leaf is composed of three leaflets with a white “v” mark. They can produce white or light pink flower heads. 

Creeping charlie, also known as ground ivy, is a broadleaf weed that grows in thick mats low to the ground. They also have kidney shaped leaves with scalloped edges. 

Inspection

Weeds are often grown in-between the stone, wood, or brick of patios and decks. If they are elevated then these weeds can also grow underneath these sites as well. 

Treatment 

Step 1: Hand Pull Weeds

Pulling out weeds by hand can work to remove them from patios and decks to an extent. However, it can be time-consuming and laborious. 

Use a type of scraper or weed removal tool that can fit between tight spaces. The aim is to get rid of the weed, its root, and rhizomes to avoid it developing further under patios and decks. 

The results of these efforts will not completely get rid of the weed, but will help to lessen the amount of herbicide used and its effect on weeds.

Step 2: Apply Non-Selective Herbicide

Non-selective herbicides are also an effective and more complete way of killing weeds in patios and decks. 

Eraser 41% Glyphosate is a systemic non-selective herbicide that kills numerous weeds in patios, driveways, and around ornamentals. This product will need to be used with a handheld pump sprayer. 

Determine how much Eraser 41% Glyphosate to use by measuring the square footage of the treatment area. To do this, measure the length and width of the treatment area in feet then multiply them together (length X width = square footage). 

Use 2 ½ fl. oz. of Eraser 41% Glyphosate in 1 gallon of water to treat 300 sq. ft. 

We recommend mixing and applying this product with a handheld pump sprayer. Spray the top and bottom of the weed leaf until wet, but not to the point of runoff. 

Since this product kills all green plants, including lawns you will need to use a cardboard box to act as a barrier between weed and desired plant. This should be done when treating weeds at the edges of patios and decks with adjacent lawns and ornamentals. 

Keep children and pets away from treated areas until spray has dried. 

Key Takeaways

Common Weeds to Appear in Patios and Decks

• Weeds that develop in and around patios and decks are broadleaf plantain, chickweed, clover, and creeping charlie. 

How to Get Rid of Weeds on Patios and Decks

• We recommend using a combination of hand-pulling and application of non-selective herbicides like Eraser 41% Glyphosate. 

How to Prevent Weeds in Patios and Decks

• To prevent weeds from growing in patios and decks, make reseal cracks, crevices, or voids with an appropriate weather-proof sealant. Any openings can allow weeds to grow.