Get matched with top weed maintenance pros in Scranton, SC

Ultimately, pulling weeds vs. spraying them depends on what’s happening in your yard and your personal preferences. Manual weed removal doesn’t introduce any chemicals into your landscape, targets specific problematic plants, produces immediate results, can be free if you go the DIY route, and is inexpensive with a weed service if you only have a handful of weeds. On the other hand, spraying is often preferable for severe weed infestations and situations involving difficult-to-pull weeds because it treats multiple weeds at once, is usually more effective long-term, is less time-consuming, and costs less when done by a pro.

The best way to prevent weeds is to use polymeric sand, which hardens and blocks weed growth when activated with water. If you're using regular sand, you'll need to refill and compact it more often. Keeping the surface clean and free of debris can also help prevent weed seeds from settling in the joints.

You should get at least one weed control application in the spring, and it’s a good idea for a monthly service through the summer and early fall. The best approach to keeping weeds at bay on your property is to hire a weed control company to lay down a pre-emergent weed killer in the early spring. These herbicides kill weeds before they can root, making your job for the rest of the season far easier. Monthly applications after that point, combined with manual removal or spot treatment, should be plenty to maintain a weed-free yard.

Herbicide application, manual removal, and landscape fabric are common approaches.