Irony
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| posted on 3/8/11 at 09:09 AM |
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Weeding a driveway
I have a block paved driveway. Lots and lots of small bricks about 200mm x 100mm laid in a weird diagonal pattern. You know the sort of thing. I
and getting a bit sick of the weeds growing through the gaps. I am out there literally ever month at the moment pulling them up. They are starting
to move the blocks slightly making the overall impression not so good.
Does anyone have any tips for weeding driveways?
What cheap weed killer?
Driveway cleaner to use with my pressure washer?
Cheers
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daviep
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| posted on 3/8/11 at 09:20 AM |
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Round up - not cheap but it kills everything. It's absorbed through the leaf so you need to spray on to foliage with a mist so it doesn't
run off. If you use it on anything which doesn't have big leafs or has a waxy surface add a couple of drops of fairy liquid helps it to stick a
bit better.
Davie
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nick205
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| posted on 3/8/11 at 09:21 AM |
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In my experience it's best to let the weeds grow to a reasonable leaf size and then treat with a good weed killer spray, repeating the
application regularly (usually more regularly than specified in the instructions).
You'll never clear them by pulling them up as you'll never get the roots out. You'll also start pulling the blocks up as well.
I'd be wary of pressure washing the drive as you'll wash out the sand between the blocks and risk loosening the grit base underneath.
Once you've killed the weeds, a really good brush with a stiff yard broom. Then use a soft brush to brush in some fresh kiln dried sand to fil
up any voids btween the blocks.
ETA...As per Davie's post, Round Up is very effective at killing pretty much everything, just be careful with any adjacent plants or lawn
etc.
[Edited on 3/8/11 by nick205]
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JacksAvon
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| posted on 3/8/11 at 10:07 AM |
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high strength salt and boiling water solution dirt cheap and kills the sods
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bobinspain
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| posted on 3/8/11 at 10:26 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by JacksAvon
high strength salt and boiling water solution dirt cheap and kills the sods
Seconded ! Bang on the money.
As well as being cheap, it effectively "poisons the soil" and shouldn't need re-treating for at least 12 months.
Make sure you treat it when no rain's forecast as it'll dilute the mix and reduce the effectiveness.
Screwing up the pH of the soil gets to the root cause (literally).
Bleach works too.
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coozer
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| posted on 3/8/11 at 10:48 AM |
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Sodium chlorate is the stuff. You can do a few other things with it as well
1972 V8 Jago
1980 Z750
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Irony
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| posted on 3/8/11 at 11:29 AM |
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So I get a couple of bags of cheap salt and mix in a bucket of boiling water and sweep/brush into the driveway? Sound to easy and cheap to be true.
I have a hedge next the drive - just be careful???
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RickRick
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| posted on 3/8/11 at 11:38 AM |
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Fire?
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mookaloid
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| posted on 3/8/11 at 11:44 AM |
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once they are dead sweep fine sand into the joints to fill them up so that seeds don't get in so easily.
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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russbost
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| posted on 3/8/11 at 12:23 PM |
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Salt is much cheaper & longer lasting after a few applications as nothing will grow back
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bobinspain
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| posted on 3/8/11 at 12:40 PM |
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As I said, the thing about salt/bleach, it screws the pH of the soil by making it sky high, (alkaline). NOTHING will grow. The reason a garden centre
won't recommend it is twofold: 1. It isn't selective. 2. They'd rather sell you Roundup and make money.
Out here in Spain, I use Roundup on established weeds for selective destruction, but for total obliteration/prevention of growth in the entire area,
use salt or bleach. It will leach down into the soil, but go canny if you have cultivated stuff nearby.
At the other end of the scale, acid (low pH) has the same effect. Out here we use "Sulfamen" (HCl) hydrochloric acid to lower the pH of
swimming pools. A couple of litres in the average pool (60,000 litres or 60 cubic metres of water) has a dramatic affect, lowering the pH from 8.0
(alkaline) to about 6.5 (acid).
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Daddylonglegs
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| posted on 3/8/11 at 01:09 PM |
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Defo Roundup, do it once then again a week later. Not cheap as already said but damn good.
It looks like the Midget is winning at the moment......
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britishtrident
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| posted on 3/8/11 at 01:45 PM |
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Round Up (use fairly liquid trick already mentioned) or similar then redose after two weeks, then after a week hit it with anything that will any
burn green bits left --- sodium chlorate, dilute solution of cheap bleach, salt or my favourite a gas weed burner/blow lamp/roofing torch or
electric hot air gun..
Once you have them under control I use a weed burner to control regrowth you, all you need to do is get the leaves to start to curl or the leaf
surface bubble (ie you don't have to burn them) then go round every now and again.
Word of warning if you do you use a weed burner or blow lamp don't go near any conifers with it ---- conifers are very inflammable they
burn like they have petrol for sap -- no kidding.
[Edited on 3/8/11 by britishtrident]
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paulf
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| posted on 3/8/11 at 02:14 PM |
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Sodium chlorate used to be great for killing weeds and other fun but was mixed with with salt and fire suppressants the last time I bought any, and is
no longer allowed to be sold at all now as it was banned by the EU, wonder why '
Paul
quote:
Originally posted by coozer
Sodium chlorate is the stuff. You can do a few other things with it as well
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