Does Sand Stop Weeds? What You Need To Know

Weeds can create a mess with debris around the garden. What if we use sand to stop these weeds from transforming your adorable garden into a messy battleground?

The texture of the sand creates a challenging situation for weeds to thrive in that area.

So, go through this article to learn about the best sand types to stop weeds and other methods to get rid of them permanently.

Does Sand Stop Weeds Growing Through? 

Sand will not stop weeds from growing through your lawn, but still, you can suppress their growth using sand.

It’s because sand does not retain moisture like soil. Also, the nutrient content is very low in sandy areas.

However, if the sand in your lawn is rich in organic matter, you can still see weeds growing through the sand, too. Organic matter in the sand helps to flourish the spread of weeds.

Although sand can be a good barrier for weeds as they cannot establish roots in sandy areas, some weeds have a better adaptation to growing well, even in sandy land.

So, depending only on sand is not a good idea if you want your garden to be weed-proof. If you have no options other than sand, use a thick layer of sand free of organic matter at a depth of about 2 inches.

What Kind Of Sand Is Best For Stopping Weeds?

If you use regular sand, it may not be an effective barrier for the stubborn weeds. So, you must use sand that is not too coarse like the regular one.

There are many kinds of sand, but the best one is Polymeric sand, as it binds tightly when it comes in contact with water.

So, tight packing prevents the weeds from growing the roots deeper. Gradually, the weeds start dying.

However, Masonry sand is not as effective as Polymeric sand. Also, you must replace the sand more often to suppress the weeds.

Thus, if you want to buy sand under your budget, choose Masonry sand; otherwise, go with the permanent solution, Polymeric sand.

How Do You Permanently Stop Weeds From Growing?

Weeds can adapt to difficulties and always find ways to grow, even if you try several methods. You have to change the methods regularly to create a difficult environment.

However, you cannot totally get rid of weeds as no methods are weed-proof. Here are some effective ways to stop weeds from your garden permanently.

• Manually remove the weeds along with their roots to decrease the population.
• Apply a thick mulch layer over the weeds to block sunlight and other essential requirements for their growth.
• Cover the weed population with a clear plastic trap during summer if the weed population is very large. The soil will solarize and kill the weeds.
• Use weedicides or herbicides to kill the weeds if you cannot control them with natural methods. 
• Moreover, a flame weeder can be the better option, as weeds cannot easily survive the flames.

You can combine all these methods to get the best result. Depending on only one method won’t help in getting rid of weeds.