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Weeds in Driveway Cracks? What Kills Them and Keeps Them Gone

Pulling clears the top, but roots and seed in the crack bring weeds back. Clear them by hand, kill the roots, then fill the crack so nothing can grow.

By Jamilur Rahman Updated November 5, 2026 · 6 min read

Time
30 min
Cost
$20-$50
Difficulty
Easy
Green weeds and a dandelion growing out of a long crack in a gray concrete driveway
In this guide
  1. Quick answer
  2. Free vs. permanent fix
  3. What you'll need
  4. Why it happens
  5. Try this first (free)
  6. When free fixes aren't enough
  7. Buy the fix
  8. Weeds in a driveway of pavers, gravel, stone or rock: what changes
  9. What to skip
  10. FAQ
  11. Related problems

Quick answer

To get rid of weeds in driveway cracks, pull them after a rain with the root, then kill what is left and stop new seed from sprouting. Pulling works, but weeds regrow from broken roots and windblown seed. A driveway weed killer is the faster, longer-lasting fix, and filling the crack afterward takes away the soil they grow in.

Free fix vs. permanent fix

Free fix · 30 minutes

Pull, scrape and scald

  • Pull after rain, when the soil is soft
  • Scrape out roots and packed dirt with a crack weeder or old screwdriver
  • Pour just-boiled water on what is left
  • Sweep the crack clean so seeds have no soil to land in

How long it lasts: Four to eight weeks in the growing season. Leftover root and new seed bring the weeds back.

Most readers choose Permanent fix
Driveway and crack weed killer (illustration)
Illustration

A driveway weed killer that reaches the roots

Pulling leaves root pieces behind, and a crack always holds enough dirt for new seed. A weed killer that moves down into the roots clears what you cannot reach. Sealing the crack afterward closes the door on the next batch.

What to get: Driveway and crack weed killer

How long it lasts: Most of a season. Longer if the crack is also filled, because there is no soil left to sprout in.

Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

What you'll need

  • Work gloves

    For pulling and handling the tool

    You have it

  • Kettle or pot

    Just-boiled water scalds small weeds in cracks

    You have it
  • Crack weeder tool (illustration)
    Illustration

    Crack weeder tool

    A hooked blade that scrapes roots and packed soil out of narrow gaps

    Check price
  • Our pick
    Driveway weed killer (illustration)
    Illustration

    Driveway weed killer

    For the roots you cannot reach by hand

    Check price
  • Crack filler or sealant (illustration)
    Illustration

    Crack filler or sealant

    Closes the gap once it is clean and dry

    Check price

Why it happens

1

Soil packs into every crack

Wind, rain and tires push dirt into the gaps. A thin line of soil is all a weed seed needs.

2

Deep roots that survive pulling

Dandelions and plantain send a taproot down the crack. Pulling snaps off the top and leaves the root, which regrows.

3

Seed that keeps arriving

Birds, wind and the neighbor's lawn drop new seed all season. A sunny, warm driveway edge makes it sprout fast.

4

Cracks that keep widening

Water seeps in and freezes, and roots pry the gap wider. A wider crack holds more soil and more moisture.

Try this first (free)

Do these in order, starting with the simplest.

  1. Pull after a rain, root and all

    Tool used: Work gloves

    Wet soil lets roots slide out. Grab each weed at the base, twist and pull slowly so the root comes with it.

  2. Scrape the crack clean

    Tool used: Crack weeder tool

    Run a crack weeder or a flat screwdriver along the gap to lift roots and packed soil. Sweep it all out and bag it.

    Crack weeder tool (illustration)
    Illustration

    Tool for this step

    Crack weeder tool · A hooked blade that scrapes roots and packed soil out of narrow gaps

    Check price on Amazon

  3. Scald what is left

    Tool used: Kettle or pot

    Pour just-boiled water slowly onto any green growth. It kills the top of small weeds on contact. Keep it away from lawn and plant roots.

  4. Treat the roots on a dry, calm day

    Tool used: Driveway weed killer

    Spray a driveway weed killer on the weeds and into the crack, following the label. Skip it if rain is due within the label's rain-free time. Keep kids and pets off until it dries.

    Driveway weed killer (illustration)
    Illustration

    Tool for this step

    Driveway weed killer · For the roots you cannot reach by hand

    Check price on Amazon

  5. Fill the crack once it is dry

    Tool used: Crack filler or sealant

    Sweep out the dead weeds, then fill the gap with a crack filler made for your surface. Follow the label for dry time and temperature.

    Crack filler or sealant (illustration)
    Illustration

    Tool for this step

    Crack filler or sealant · Closes the gap once it is clean and dry

    Check price on Amazon

When free fixes aren't enough

If the weeds return within a few weeks, the roots are deeper than your tool reaches. Boiling water kills the top growth of small weeds, but it does not reach a taproot that runs under the slab. A weed killer that travels down to the root is what ends the cycle, and filling the crack stops new seed from rooting. If the slab is sinking, crumbling or shifting, water is getting under it, and a paving pro should look at the base.

Buy the fix

Still stuck after the free fixes? These are the products we would look at.

Our picks compared
PickProductFixesWho it's forBuy
Best pick
Driveway and crack weed killer (illustration)
Illustration
Driveway and crack weed killer
weeds that regrow from roots after pulling Anyone who has pulled the same cracks more than once this season. Check price
Budget pick
Crack weeder tool (illustration)
Illustration
Crack weeder tool
roots and packed soil you cannot pull by hand Anyone who prefers no chemicals, or has only a few cracks. Check price
Upgrade pick
Driveway crack filler or sealant for your surface (illustration)
Illustration
Driveway crack filler or sealant for your surface
the open gap that lets soil and seed settle Anyone with narrow cracks who wants them to stay clean after clearing. Check price
Best pick
Driveway and crack weed killer (illustration)
Illustration

Driveway and crack weed killer

Fixes: weeds that regrow from roots after pulling

Look for: Label lists driveways, walkways and cracks; Kills the roots, not just the leaves; A rain-free time that fits your forecast; Optionally, a residual that blocks new seed for weeks.

Who it's for
Anyone who has pulled the same cracks more than once this season.
Honest downside
The crack runs beside a lawn, flower bed or tree roots. Overspray and runoff can harm them. Pull or scald those spots instead.
Check price on Amazon
Budget pick
Crack weeder tool (illustration)
Illustration

Crack weeder tool

Fixes: roots and packed soil you cannot pull by hand

Look for: A hooked or flat blade that fits narrow cracks; A long handle so you do not stoop; Sturdy steel that will not bend on stone.

Who it's for
Anyone who prefers no chemicals, or has only a few cracks.
Honest downside
The driveway has long cracks full of matted roots. Scraping every one by hand will wear you out.
Check price on Amazon
Upgrade pick
Driveway crack filler or sealant for your surface (illustration)
Illustration

Driveway crack filler or sealant for your surface

Fixes: the open gap that lets soil and seed settle

Look for: Made for your surface, asphalt or concrete; A pourable or caulk-tube form that fits the crack width; Dry time and temperature range stated on the label.

Who it's for
Anyone with narrow cracks who wants them to stay clean after clearing.
Honest downside
The crack is wider than the label allows, or the slab around it is sunken or crumbling. That needs a patch or a pro.
Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We don't show prices because they change, so use the button to see today's price.

How we picked: How we picked: this page is based on weed-control and driveway care guides from extension offices, product labels from weed killer and crack filler makers, and the problems and fixes owners report in reviews. We do not test products by hand.

Weeds in a driveway of pavers, gravel, stone or rock: what changes

  • Pavers: sweep out the joints, pull and treat the weeds, then refill the joints with polymeric sand so seed cannot settle in again.
  • Gravel, stone or rock driveway: weeds root in the dirt that builds up between the stones. Rake first, treat with a weed killer labeled for gravel, and top up the stone. A weed barrier fabric under new gravel slows regrowth.
  • Concrete or asphalt: follow the steps above. Fill the crack so there is nothing left to grow in.

What to skip

Salt and bleach

Rock salt kills weeds for a while, but it washes into lawns and garden beds and can damage concrete. Bleach is not made for weeds, harms soil and is not safe to pour outdoors. Skip both.

Frequently asked questions

How to get rid of weeds in driveway cracks naturally?
Pull the weeds after rain, scrape out the roots and pour just-boiled water on what is left. Household vinegar burns the leaves but often leaves the roots alive. Natural methods work on small weeds, so repeat them every few weeks.
How to get rid of weeds in driveway permanently?
Nothing outdoors is truly permanent, but this comes close: kill the roots, fill the crack and sweep seed off the surface. Fill cracks in spring or fall when the label allows, and treat any new sprout the week it shows.
How to stop driveway weeds from coming back?
Remove the soil they root in. Scrape out the crack, fill it with sealant, and keep dirt and leaf litter swept off the edges.
Is driveway weed killer safe for pets?
Follow the label. Most say to keep pets and children off until the spray has dried, and some give a longer wait. Never spray where runoff can reach a lawn, a garden or a pet's water.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure

Driveway and crack weed killer (illustration)
Illustration

Our pick: Driveway and crack weed killer

Check price