In search of a cheap way to weed the drive. Can you help?

Hannah_10

I've got a brick paved driveway and there are weeds coming through. Keeping the driveway clear of weeds is part of my tennacy though.

Up till now I have always just got down on my knees with a fork and weeded the whole drive by hand. I can't do that again because my health has changed.

I know you can get weedkillers to do paths, patios and drives, however they seem very expensive on my budget. I bought a spray bottle of weedkiller for £2 from Asda thinking that was a good cheap way to deal with them but it was useless. The weeds are thriving and I will be taking the empty bottle back to complain.

I was wondering if there was some old fashioned thing you could use for weedkiller that's very cheap? Kind of like how on the OS board they tell me white vinegar cleans the whole house. Do we know of anything that kills weeds except expensive weedkillers?

BOGOF_Queen

I put boiling water on the weeds/moss on my driveway - when I cook pasta or rice, I use the water on the weeds instead of putting it down the sink. No chemicals and no cost.

davemorton

Hannah, how long ago was it that you put the asda weedkiller down?

Hannah_10

davemorton wrote: »

Hannah, how long ago was it that you put the asda weedkiller down?

5 days ago, but they're not looking ANY different, it's like it did not happen

davemorton

They can take up to 2 weeks to show results. Systemics break down in the soil so weeds can return so for drives, you could try to use sodium chlorate, which will stop the growth for much longer, (I think it may be illegal to sell as a weedkiller now, but apparently you can still buy if for 'other uses') but I would just give it another week to see how tings come on.

Hannah_10

Thanks Dave, if I did want sodium chlorate where would I get it?

davemorton

Although I thought it had been made illegal, a quick google shows loads up on ebay, also this may be of some use (although I am not recommending any one product or company, as I have not used them, it was just top of google list).
http://www.gardencentreonline.co.uk/Garden-Accessories-Weed-Killers-Bayer-Garden-Long-Lasting-Ground-Clear/2787-PD/default.html
But I would be tempted to wait another week before doing anything else.

Hannah_10

I will definately wait another week before I do anything else, that's good advice. I'll also have a look online so see if I can find out why it was made illegal, just in case it was for some reason that I ought to know about. You don't happen to know the why part do you?

forgotmyname

I used bleach, Salt and boiling water mix. On my pebbled area. Gone within days. Even accidently killed the climbing plant
between my neighbours property.
Rooted their side but grows up my side but spreads like crazy.

It had been chopped back at some point but started growing again. Not anymore.

Cheap bleach, cheap cooking salt and hot water.

stilernin

Salt definitely works. Careful with the 'run off' though. Salty water and 'good' plants won't mix well I'm afraid.

mummyfrugal

Id definately use the salt. We had loads of weeds growing between flags on back patio (used to have birds and all the trill sprouted, dandelions and all kinds of grass and pesky weeds you cant pull out). Thing is seeds like the sandy bits between bricks and paving - its like a little seed bed.

Only thing that worked was to get a knife (better to use one of those weed knife things) get all out what you can (and as much soil as you can) and then pour as much salt as you can between the cracks (you will need a few of the big bottles of salt), brush into the cracks anything left on the bricks, once its done just top up everynow and again - no chemicals, no more bending down, no more weeds. nice