Best weedkiller for driveway/patio

kangoora

It's sending me nuts having to continually clear up weeds growing between the patio slabs (18") and driveway (herringbone pattern bricks).

The main problem seems to be the roots(90% of the time get left behind when doing it by hand (plus the skinned knuckles). I've tried pressure washing the cracks and then re-sanding but they just grow back in a few weeks

Is there an easier way around this or decent weedkiller product people can recommend.

Davesnave

You want to buy a product that will persist in the soil/sand beneath the cracks and poison anything that tries to grow there....and so do millions of other people

Governments have decided to ban substances that persist in soil and work by poisoning it. This is because millions of people spreading poisons that end up in water supplies cause problems for wildlife and producing safe drinking water. The last chemical that worked by poisoning soil was sodium chlorate, which was withdrawn in 2011.

So...your basic choice for weedkiller is restricted to a product called glyphosate, which breaks down into non-persistent chemicals as soon as it hits the ground.Sometimes, it has extra additives in branded products, but its action is the same; it prevents plants it touches making food, (photosynthesis) so they die in about 3 weeks. Obviously, this isn't great for people who want instant results and protection from further seed germination.

People will be along with various home remedies shortly, but ever since people have had paved areas there have been weeds growing between the bricks/slabs etc. I used to have a block paved drive and I remember digging out the grot about twice a year, even when sodium chlorate existed. It will be much the same for white vinegar, rock salt or any of the other contaminants people use; they wash away, ultimately into rivers.

In short, it's a maintenance job that comes with the territory.

Tom99

Have you tried a weed burner? I am not saying they are the ultimate solution but they are very easy to use and do give you the satisfaction of an instant result.

[Deleted User]

Hi,


have a read here, similar thread.

martinthebandit

Tom99 wrote: »

Have you tried a weed burner? I am not saying they are the ultimate solution but they are very easy to use and do give you the satisfaction of an instant result.

I use one and, yes it does give a certain sense of satisfaction as you burn the blighters.

Davesnave

martinthebandit wrote: »

I use one and, yes it does give a certain sense of satisfaction as you burn the blighters.

I use one too....for lighting the barbecue! Too slow for me and it still leaves the roots.

There's a large version called the Sheen Flame Gun that runs on paraffin, but it needs a fair amount of faffing-about preparation, as you'll see if you Google a You Tube video of it.

J_B

Davesnave wrote: »

So...your basic choice for weedkiller is restricted to a product called glyphosate, ............

Also known as Roundup.

kerri_gt

Not sure on the effect overall on the roots but I use boiling water to get rid of unwanted weeds / grass in our path

jk0

I use Pathclear, which seems to work okay:


https://www.amazon.co.uk/Weedol-PathClear-WeedKiller-Liquid-Concentrate/dp/B01C60AF1A

J_B

jk0 wrote: »

I use Pathclear, which seems to work okay:

http://weedicide.co.uk/weedol-pathclear-review/


<<Weedol Pathclear contains the active ingredient, glyphosate diflufenican.>>

getmore4less

Get a £6 5ltr sprayer from wilko

Get the reduced(75% off min) price stuff at end of season from anywhere.
(or the strong stuff from other sources)

Spray once a week or as new stuff appears
(dilute less to be more effective)

Little and often works on the rooted stuff even hard like brambles.
New seedlings get them early

Regular cleaning helps to stop new seeds and nutrition(dirt) get into the cracks.