The Tool You Need To Remove Weeds In Driveway Cracks & Prevent Them From Coming Back

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Driveway cracks are, unfortunately, a prime spot for weeds to grow. Small seeds and bits of soil can easily get caught in the cracks, where they receive ample direct sunlight and benefit from the water that collects in grooves of your driveway. Due to these growing conditions, if you want a weed-free driveway, you will find yourself removing weeds and trying all kinds of prevention methods. For a manual weed removal method, it is important to remove the whole root structure so that the root does not resprout from the parts of the plant left underground. There are plenty of common household items that can be repurposed to help control weeds, but to achieve the goal of fully removing the root from driveway cracks and preventing them from coming back, there is one tool you need: a hook knife. 

A hook knife is a tool with a curved or angled blade. Curved hook knives are commonly used in carpentry and woodworking. Both the knives that are curved and have a right angle can be effective for dealing with driveway weeds. The narrow shape of the blade makes it good for digging into driveway cracks and removing more of the weed than a regular knife can. This must-have tool is easy to use and has many benefits, so it's worth a try to get rid of your pesky weeds.

There are many ways to get rid of and prevent weeds from growing in your driveway, but some are simpler than others. Luckily, using a hook knife is a straightforward solution. All you need to do is insert the tip of the blade in a driveway crack containing a weed. The pointed, curved blade fits in the cracks and gives your knife the perfect angle, allowing you to pull up the root systems of plants, which means there is a lower chance of the weeds regrowing. Remember to wear gloves and safety glasses to protect yourself from the blade and any debris from using this tool or any other manual weed remover.

While this tool works great for many types of weeds and is a generally effective way to remove more of the weed root structures, it still requires the proper technique. For example, using a hook knife but not removing the whole plant can disturb the seedbank of the plant, which can lead to more problems if it is not treated after. Disturbing the seedbank can stimulate the seeds to germinate, meaning new plants will grow. So, you might want to follow with a chemical treatment of some sort to help prevent resprouting just in case you miss any plant structures.

If you are ready to try out a hook knife, you can find them at home improvement and woodworking stores, typically costing between about $10 and $15. Online has various options like this IRWIN Linoleum Knife. Then, check out more weed removal hacks to get the gorgeous yard of your dreams.