A Few Easy Steps to Make Your Flagstone Patio Look Brand New Again
Love your flagstone patio but tired of pulling weeds out from between the slabs? Is the patio starting to look a little run-down? Unfortunately, when the filler material between the stones breaks down, it’s easy for weeds and moss to grow. You can do a few things to eliminate the open gaps and make the rocks look fresh and new again.
Start by removing weeds from the flagstone patio or walkway.
Your first step to achieving a “like new” patio appearance is to remove the existing weeds. Rather than purchasing powerful weed killer chemicals that may also harm
your yard and planting beds, you can use some natural solutions that will work just as well.
Step 1: Remove any large weeds by hand. If you’ve got giant dandelions or other significant weeds in between or near the flagstones, pull them out by hand. Make sure you pull out the entire plant, including its roots. Weed puller tools will make the job much easier for you.
Step 2: Pressure wash the patio carefully to clean the surface and remove loose material from between the stones. Any remaining sand should be removed. Be careful not to use a nozzle strength that will break apart the edges from your flagstone, and take it easy near your grass line.
Step 3: Use a natural herbicide solution to kill the remaining vegetation between the stones. A few examples include pouring boiling water over the weeds or spraying the weds with a 20% horticultural vinegar solution (regular white vinegar is not strong enough.) It’s always easiest to kill weeds when it is hot and dry outside, but beware, these materials will kill any plants they touch, including your lawn and flowers.
Step 4: Let the surface dry for several days. Brush out any remaining dead material. If needed, powerwash the dead weeds out of the rocks and then allow the surface to dry again.
Step 5: Using your choice of material, refill the gaps between the stones. Using sand or sand-like material, sweep the material into the cracks using a 45-degree angle. Carefully compact the stones to encourage the material to settle and refill again. Repeat until all the gaps are filled.
Step 6: Sweep the surface to remove loose sand or gravel, and then lightly spray the patio with water to help the filler set well between the stones.
Which materials work well for filling the cracks between your flagstones?
There are many options for you to choose from.
- Sand is the most common material used for filling joints between pavers and flagstones, but it tends to disappear relatively quickly. Homeowners end up refilling joints every 1-2 years.
- Crushed rock works well for larger cracks or spaces.
- Bark mulch works well between flagstones in stepping stone-style pathways.
- Polymeric stone dust contains an adhesive material that is activated by water. The result is a sand-like filler with longer permanence than regular sand.
And, of course, some homeowners avoid regular weeding and refilling simply by planting greenery between the stones or rocks. There are a variety of mosses and “walkable” foliage that will create a beautiful green border to the stones.
If you’re looking for solutions to spruce up an existing hardscape patio, or you want to build one from scratch, visit the professionals at Hilton Landscape Supply.
Our professional team at Hilton Landscape Supply can help you outline your project and select the best materials to do the job. We have a variety of flagstone and pavers for you to choose from to create a look uniquely your own. We’ll even deliver your materials right to the worksite. Visit us today to learn more about the possibilities.