No Pulling Or Digging: The Quicker Tool For Removing Weeds From Gravel Driveways

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Weeds are an ever-present annoyance in spring and summer, and they can be especially tricky to deal with when they sprout from compacted gravel rather than the soft soil in your garden. The job of removing them can quickly become a huge headache if your home has a large stretch of gravel driveway. However, weeds aren't something you should ignore, as these invasive plants can break down the structure of your gravel driveway if they get out of control. You can easily spend hours pulling or digging up weeds by hand or with tools (like this rake-and-pickaxe combo), but this may not be ideal depending on the size of the job.

If you've got a lot of weeds to tackle, don't break out the chemicals just yet, because there's another solution: the wheel hoe. This wheeled gardening tool is traditionally used for small plowing jobs and turning up soil. With the right attachment, however, a wheel hoe is also very effective at slicing through weeds — even ones embedded in a gravel driveway. If you're looking for an easier way to get rid of stubborn weedy growth, protect your driveway, and keep it looking great, a wheel hoe might be just the ticket.

Since wheel hoes are typically used for plowing and churning soil, they're more than capable of slicing through weeds –- provided that you have the right attachment. You'll need a simple, flat blade that cuts through the roots just below the surface. Some models, like the Lowe's Adrinfly 2-in-1 manual wheel hoe garden cultivator, include a weeding blade attachment right out of the box. For others, like the Hoss single wheel hoe, you'll need to buy the weeding attachment separately, such as this Hoss 12" oscillating hoe. A bladed wheel hoe attachment is particularly useful for growth that's sprouting up from a gravel driveway. Roots nestled under a layer of compacted rocks can be difficult to get at with your hands. Of course, this method of weed removal will still kick up soil and gravel, so be prepared for some clean-up afterwards. That's generally unavoidable with any tool for getting at the roots, whether you're using a wheel hoe or a garden knife to remove weeds.

There are a few limitations to using a wheel hoe to remove weeds from a gravel driveway. First, this method is most useful for tackling small weeds and recently sprouted growth, when the roots are not too deep or thick. Secondly, while it may be faster and easier than using your hands or other manual tools, it may not be ideal for tackling a wide area of weed coverage, where you'll be turning up a lot of soil. For a driveway with a lot of weeds, however, you may want to consider other methods, too, like this DIY weed killer made with vinegar and salt.