Weeds starting to grow through the stones on the driveway

Hey, got a big problem. I have been given the task this Spring to get the garden ready for Summer. I have been stuck it at now for 3 days.

Day 1 was spent getting these weeds out of the stones, and even then only managed a 10 foot square patch. There so little its hard to get them out!

Anyone know the best way to get them out and what to do to keep them from coming back?

Many thanks

 

Hi BP welcome to GC. You can get a butane/propane weed 'flame thrower'. Very effective. I think Wilkinson's used to sell them. WOO has the details and may come in if he spots this. Stop them coming back? Well you can either put a thick layer of concrete down with absolutely no cracks, which isn't 100% effective or you could move to either the North or South Pole:D

 

Why not use some weedkiller? Pathclear I think is suitable. It kills the existing weeds, and keeps them away for a ~ 6months. It kills all the plant life, so don't get it on the lawn or borders.

I haven't used a flame gun but I've always assumed that it would just kill off the top of the weed, and deep rooted weeds - dandelions etc. - would just grow back.

 

No. If properly used it kills the weed - dead. I've never found Pathclear very effective. Except I nearly bigamously married a nurse.:rolleyes:

 

Try Sodium Chlorate Weedkiller from Wilkinsons, it kills everything for quite sometime.....

 

BostonPatriot to the forum.

I think like all things to do with the garden no matter what you use to try and sort out your weeds you will still have to have some kind of maintenance rountine that you have to go through just to control your problem. Hel.xxx.

 

'Mefinks' weeds are a necessary and unfortunate part of gardening :(

 

Hi Boston, and Welcome!

I have just spent the last day and a half lifting a whole area of gravel, replacing the lining with wee-proof membrane, then putting the whole lot (plus a few more) back again. Bit drastic, but much tidier for me now (the old lining was showing through all over), and hope the weeds stay away for a while.

Not sure if this is the solution you're after. Some 'weeds' are quite pretty! My front gravel has ivy leaved toadflax growing in it - I quite like it!

 

Jarbax. Weed-proof membrane is only weed proof for about the first year (don't know if wee proof is any better :D Sorry.)

Although it stops them coming through upwards, it doesn't stop them dropping roots through downwards, so they are marginally easier to pull out, at first. I think Whis4ey is right - Where there's a weed there's a way.:eek:

 

:o Oops! LOL

I know that wee is good for the lawn, but it can play havoc with the gravel!

 

Agree with john regards membrane, It creates more work than it solves and traps silt causeing a perfect area for weeds to germinate. When i lay gravel I always do it using a base of compacted hardcore followed then by the gravel, this method is farr better and the membrane never surfaces.

With membrane the more you walk or trafic on it the more the gravel seperates out leaving bare patches or tears the fabric, with a hardcore base it compacts in forming a better surface.

As for the weeds, spray with roundup ( sprayer not watering can). if you go around every two months youll have very little actual spraying needed. i manadge four acres of gravel parking using this method.

 

Hey guys, thanks for the welcomes. And thanks for the replys.

I been working hard all today getting them up, and going to get a good weed killer, going to B&Q tomorrow and i will look for some of the things mentioned.

Is roundup the best one to get then? And is B&Q he best place to get this?

thanks

 

The weeds need to be growing before you apply roundup as it works systemicly (absorbed via the roots)

As youve cleared them by hand, wait till they come back then spot spray them.

B and q or a garden centre will be fine (obviusly I get mine trade elswere)

 

Weeds remind me of the mother in law you can never get rid of um

 

Actually BP Wilko's do an 'own brand' systemic with identical chemical make up to Roundup. (I think PG must be on commission from Roundup.:D) Wilko's own is made by Bayer and is about two thirds the price.