My husband and I put in a flagstone patio three summers ago. We wanted a natural look but now it is just messy with weeds growing up between the stones. We?re tired of battling them and thought we would put in pea gravel but aren?t sure this would work. Any suggestions?

?Susan Bojarzin, Cobourg, ON

Dear Susan,
Pouring boiling water around the stones will kill the weeds but will also destroy a lot of the microorganisms in the?soil. Pea gravel is an option but, before putting the gravel down, lift the stones if you can and cover the soil with horticultural cloth. This will discourage weeds and stop the gravel from migrating down into the soil. For a softer look, add some compost to the crevices and plant little fillers such as Scotch moss (Sagina subulata) or woolly thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus).

?Marjorie Harris, Editor at Large