Asked on Apr 16, 2023

What is the best tool for removing weeds between pavers?

Zach Waxer
by Zach Waxer

I am noticing a lot of weeds appearing between my outdoor pavers. I tried removing them by hand but most of the time I am not getting to the roots. I would love to know what tool to use to remove the weeds and any suggestions on preventing them from returning. Thanks!

Tool for removing weeds between pavers



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  23 answers
    • Randall Riley Randall Riley on Apr 06, 2024

      The best way to remove weeds between your paver or seams in concrete, is to pour a small amount of white vinegar around base of the weed. Use enough to soak the ground around the weed. No more than a ounce or two. Regular white vinegar will work, but 10% picking vinegar is better. Generally avaliable at the grocery store. Once you treat the weed leave it alone. Within a few days the weed start to die. Once it appears to dead you can simply put it up root and all. The vinegar will break down in the soil naturally.

  • William William on Apr 17, 2023

    I use one cup of vinegar, one cup of salt to two gallons water in a garden sprayer.

    Saturate the weeds till dripping. Do not use on lawn or in garden.

    Will kill everything. Boiling water on weeds in lawn and garden.

  • I use a spray bottle filled with vinegar. Cover the bottom of the bottle with salt and then fill with vinegar. Works great! After they are dead, they pull out much easier.

  • Kmdreamer Kmdreamer on Apr 18, 2023

    1 at white vinager 1/4. Up of salt and 3 squirts of dish soap the soap makes it stick to the plants soak them use a spray bottle shake each time

  • Catherine Deirdre Rodden Catherine Deirdre Rodden on Apr 18, 2023

    Photo doesn't show if you have something around edges to prevent seepage into whatever is on the sides of the paved area. Boiling water and/or vinegar in a spray bottle will rid the immediate weeds. To prevent future growth, try sprinkling some rock salt between stones about one a month.

  • Dee Dee on Apr 18, 2023

    I have used the vinegar and salt method, but it does not kill the roots the first time. I have also used brush clear by Amdro.


  • Deb K Deb K on Apr 18, 2023

    Hello Nachum, hope this helps you out. You will want to dig out an old table knife or buy one that you can use as a pry. Water the weeds and let them sit for about 10 minutes then, put on some garden gloves and grip the weed and pull while using the knife to loosen the weed while pulling, put the knife in at each side to loosen.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Apr 18, 2023

    A steak knife can get down in there but prevention is probably going to be tough without using a spray of some kind. White vinegar should do the trick.

  • Janice Janice on Apr 18, 2023

    I agree with all those who suggested the vinegar mixture but also recommend the kitchen knife to remove the dead plants and did deeper for instant results!

  • Cheryl A Cheryl A on Apr 19, 2023

    you can make weed killer that is safe around pets, kids


    use a sharp screwdriver


  • Hi Nachum! Fiskars paving brush, patio knife and weed forks are ideal tools for weeding between paving slabs on patios or any other hard to reach areas.

  • Zach Waxer Zach Waxer on Apr 25, 2023

    Thank you, any idea if there are any good tools for weeds?

  • Marty Ayers Marty Ayers on Apr 28, 2023

    Salt and vinegar will work and not be toxic to pets or kids... then sweep course grain (kosher) salt into all of the cracks and lightly water it in.... you DO NOT want to wash it away onto your grass lawn or any flower beds. Once the weeds die and turn brown use a stiff brush to "scrub" them out of the cracks. I would then use a good commercial "pre-emergent" weed spray on all the cracks.... this prevents any new weed seeds from sprouting... most of these are safe for kids and pet ONCE THEY DRY.... you may have to repeat this application every few months depending on how much rain you get in your area

  • Mogie Mogie on Jun 01, 2023

    I put a gallon of vinegar into a pump sprayer then add a cup of salt and a tablespoon of dawn. Mix well and apply on a sunny morning. This dries up the weeds so much that you can use a metal tool and dig out the dried up weeds the following day.

  • Mogie Mogie on Jul 03, 2023

    But most any metal tool that has a point will gouge the weeds out (will work even better if the weeds are dead first).

  • Spray them with vinegar and salt.

  • Deb K Deb K on Apr 06, 2024

    Hi Zach, hope this helps you. White vinegar is readily available, cheap, and an effective weed killer for block paving. It dries out weeds on contact – you can use white vinegar on younger weeds or vinegar with a higher concentration for older weeds, such as weed killer vinegar, which can be picked up at any garden shop/supermarket. You can reduce the chances of weeds growing back by filling joints with polymeric sand can dramatically reduce the problem long-term

  • Janice Janice on Apr 06, 2024

    I too use white household vinegar to kill the weeds/grass between pavers. You can also use an old screwdriver to dig in between the pavers to remove them.

  • Dee Dee on Apr 06, 2024

    You can hand pull them out or try spraying with vinegar and salt water. Or pour salt on the weeds and spray with more white vinegar. I use weed killer.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Apr 06, 2024

    I have never had much luck with any of the combos of vinegar, salt and dish soap.

    For me boiling water in a kettle works best.


  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Apr 07, 2024

    You can buy a tool for just that purpose at DIY/Garden store.

  • Lee114184654 Lee114184654 on Jul 16, 2024

    I find throwing the kids on the street too scrape them out works a treat haha 😂