Weedkilling A Large Area of Gravel

Working_Mum

Hello everyone,
Does anyone have a suggestion for killing weeds in a large area of gravel??

It is currently over-run with weeds - I pull a few up every time I get in or out of my car but wonder if anyone has some speedier solutions??

I have a watering can .........

Thank you!

tori.k

Just make up some glyphosate weedkiller, it works as a systemic killer so just water/spray on and leave to do it stuff.

Debbie_Savard

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-85kg-ammonium-sulphamate/173290502026

dunroving

tori.k wrote: »

Just make up some glyphosate weedkiller, it works as a systemic killer so just water/spray on and leave to do it stuff.

Exactly what I do.

Problem with just pulling them is that the roots break off and the plant just grows back.

Gravel is supposed to be a weed-free solution but even with a decent weed barrier fabric underneath, the effect of dirt (often on the gravel when it's delivered, and/or dropped in rain, etc.) means the weeds just eventually grow in the dirt and dust in the gravel.

Davesnave

This is a large area of gravel, so you should consider buying a mid-quality knapsack sprayer like this:


https://www.agratech.co.uk/Matabi-8.39.49-Super-Green-12Ltr-Backpack-Sprayer.html

A knapsack sprayer will use less chemical, saving both time and money in the long run.

Buy your glyphosate on-line, rather than from a garden centre.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/ROSATE-36-360-TF-Weedkiller-1lt-Strong-Professional-Glyphosate-Amenity-Herbicide/679086364?iid=332643689331


Other sizes are available.

Spray only on calm days (early mornings and evenings tend to be best) and you'll be fine. I can be accurate to within a few cm at edges.

Glyphosate works over about 2-3 weeks and needs re-doing at intervals. It doesn't work through the soil, so actively growing plants that are hit are the only ones that will die.

moneyistooshorttomention

Couldnt you just use a pressure washer or a garden hose turned on high pressure to wash the earth out of the gravel? - and then there wouldnt be any earth for the weeds to grow in.

Davesnave

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Couldnt you just use a pressure washer or a garden hose turned on high pressure to wash the earth out of the gravel? - and then there wouldnt be any earth for the weeds to grow in.

Wash it out to where, exactly?


This is a large area of gravel. None of us knows what the sub-base is, possibly including the OP. It may already contain a lot of clay and/or sandy material so OP would be on a hiding to nothing trying to get rid of it.....and again, where on earth would it all go? Down the drains?

dunroving

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Couldnt you just use a pressure washer or a garden hose turned on high pressure to wash the earth out of the gravel? - and then there wouldnt be any earth for the weeds to grow in.

It's only going to swirl the dirt around, it won't disappear. If anything, it might just form a lovely layer of fine silt just below the gravel. Weed heaven.

dunroving

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Couldnt you just use a pressure washer or a garden hose turned on high pressure to wash the earth out of the gravel? - and then there wouldnt be any earth for the weeds to grow in.

It's only going to swirl the dirt around, it won't disappear. If anything, it might just form a lovely layer of fine silt just below the gravel. Weed heaven.

Working_Mum

Thank you for your replies everyone - I think it'll be worth the investment of a knapsack sprayer to be fair - my house is on a quarter acre plot and I have various paths etc which needs regular weed killing/maintenance. I will feel like a professional grown up lol.

My house is up for sale and I am increasing my level of maintenance to try and get it looking gorgeous - we've been here for 17 years and the gravel drive has always been here - I cannot afford to change it and tend to refresh it every few years with a few tonnes of gravel. I am a self employed, single mum to two older teens so now have a bit of time to devote to sorting a few bits out!

We have two ancient Scots Pines which don't help with their constant needle dropping which breaks down and leaves a powdery silt for the weeds to grow in. My trusty leaf blower helps to keep things under control.

It's just a big space for me to keep a handle on without letting it get out of control.

THANKS again for all of your replies, I really appreciate it.

glasgowdan

If you're up for sale i tmay be better to just get someone qualified to spray these areas for you, unless you're moving to a place with a lot of garden to make use of the sprayer too.

I have a solo 456 handheld sprayer for smaller work which would be great for this sort of area. I assume you might be 100-200m2 gravel? Plus paths and various bits and bobs? Proper sprayers typically spray a 1m wide strip very evenly so you can cover ground quickly, and as Dave says they use far less mix than a watering can and don't send it all down into the ground as waste.

100ml of typical 360g/l roundup in 5 litres should cover you each time you do a spray. Costs pennies, at £50/5 litres if you use 100ml each time (say 4x a year) it costs you £1 each time.