Will Weeds Grow Through My Decking?

Your decking area looks amazing when it has just been installed and of course you will want to keep it looking that way for as long as possible! You may be worried that before long - weeds will begin to grow through the drainage gaps. This is of concern to many people who are considering installing a decking area in their back garden, but it doesn’t need to be! Over time, long grass or weeds could begin to sprout and it may come across like you don’t care about your decking area and will ruin its aesthetic appeal.

This article will cover the 5 key steps to halt weeds or grass growing through the drainage gaps in your decking:

1. Remove Grass
2. Lay weed control fabric
3. Add extra protection
4. Use weed killer
5. Be Diligent

Step #1 – Removing Grass

Before installing any type of subframe, it is important to remove any grass or greenery from where your decking area will be sat upon. The main reason for this is that its helps remove any existing roots or weeds that may sprout and come through any weed fabric in the future.

Step #2 – Lay weed control fabric

Once any grass and weeds have been removed, it is highly recommended to lay a weed control fabric down over the whole area, ensuring every part of the ground is covered. This can be easily sourced from various distributors at a reasonable price. The fabric is there to ensure of no future possibility in the future of weeds somehow finding a way through and heading up towards the light. The main reason that weeds grow up through the cracks in the decking is that they are growing towards the light. Remove the light source will mean that the weeds will have no opportunity to grow.

Step #3 – Adding extra protection

Once weed control fabric has been laid, weigh it down with gravel or bark/mulch. This will remove even more light from the ground, making sure that any weeds missed out by the fabric will have no chance of growing.

Still have weeds growing through?

After a couple of years, you may start to see weeds growing through your decking. This may be because of any dirt build-up on top of the weed membrane can be enough for a seed to take foot and grow.  This is not very common, but if it does, here are the two steps to remove them;

Step #4 – Using weed killer

If you’ve spotted some weeds starting to come through the cracks in-between your deck boards. The best thing is to remove them as soon as they are spotted. Pulling them out is basically impossible, so using weed killer is one of, if not the only option to remove them. Ensure you test the weed killer on a small, inconspicuous area of the decking surface to see if it affects it. Once you have found a weed killer which doesn’t damage your deck boards, spray it in-between the deckboards directly at the weeds. You may have to do this often until the weeds have been killed, but always adhere to the guidelines set by the manufacturer.

Step #5 – Keep on top of it

As soon as you see a weed attempting to come through your decking, soak it in weedkiller! The smaller the plant, the quicker you will be able to remove it.

What Now?

Now that you have read all that you need to know whether or not weed might grow through your decking or not, you may begin thinking about using it as an option for your garden. With so many options available, we know it can seem like a big decision to make. Why not begin by ordering one of our free sample boxes to help you choose which style will best suit you? 

You can also call us on 0208 159 2999 or send us an email to sales@ovaeda.com to get quotes, guidance and any technical support with your plans. If you think you will require the help of a professional installer, we are happy to recommend one to assist.