Can Mulch Glue Prevent Weeds From Growing In Gravel? Here's What We Know

A pristine driveway and landscape provides a welcoming entry to your home and can be a relatively straightforward way to upgrade your curb appeal. Gravel driveways are particularly cost-effective but not without their drawbacks. One day you have a clean and stylish surface, and the next there are weeds sprouting up all over. Okay, you can dig them up or rake through once a week to try to prevent seeds from germinating, but it soon becomes a chore.

One idea that hopes to provide a more long-term fix is to use mulch glue to bind the surface together. If you're not sure what mulch glue is or whether it's safe, products like the popular Landscape Loc are designed to be sprayed onto things like bark chips, straw, pebbles, etc., to stop them from being disturbed by wind, rain, or pet activity. One of the main purposes of mulch is to suppress weeds, and mulch glue is perfectly safe, so can it also be used to prevent weeds from growing in gravel paths and driveways? Perhaps not.

The first drawback is that Landscape Loc's documentation tells us their product works best on rocks ½" or smaller. A lot of gravel is larger. It also takes 24 to 48 hours to dry, so if you're using it on a driveway, your car may have to spend a couple of days on the street. Most telling, they say that the strong bond may deter weeds, but that's not what it's designed for. Although we haven't checked, you can expect rival products to be similar.

A quick check of customer feedback at one leading retailer shows that people are generally happy with the product for mulch control, but nobody talks about it for weed suppression. At around $36 a gallon, it can soon become expensive for large driveways or extensive paths, and it usually needs to be applied annually.

Alternatively, there are at least a dozen ways to get rid of or prevent weeds in your driveway. One of the most effective is to lay landscape fabric underneath the gravel to prevent them growing up through. It can be very effective, but it won't prevent new seeds blown on the wind from settling and germinating. However, these are unlikely to develop strong root systems, so removing them should be a breeze.

In truth, weed control with any gravel surface is an ongoing process. You can drastically reduce them, but it's almost impossible to eradicate them completely. That's not altogether a bad thing. It's nice to get out in the fresh air from time to time, the exercise is good for you, and wandering around your driveway or garden taking a close look at the landscaping can help you spot small problems before they develop into something more serious.