How to get rid of weeds?

wazza2004

In the past I used to pull out the weeds by hand and use a weedkiller from supermarket.  Now in my 60s my back is not what it used to be.  Seen a weedkiller at screw fix which sounds powerful enough.  Comes with a pump etc.  Is it best to spray on weed or pull the weeds out and spray around the area? They grow between paving slabs. 

Have found another post here which recommends dishwasher salt etc.  And a tool which looks like a blade.  There are no pets in the area. 

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Sapindus

You should follow the instructions on the weedkiller.  

Trace-T

I make my own with the following;

• 1 litre of white vinegar ( I buy it in bulk from Amazon)
• 3 large tablespoons of salt
• 3 teaspoons of washing-up liquid/dish soap
• A spray bottle

It's best to spray it on the foliage as it absorbs better right down to the roots.
Been using this method for years, works a treat and saves a fortune vs shop bought.

Emmia

Also weed burners (aka a blow torch on a long stick) work quite well on pavers.

ButterCheese

Traditional weedkillers like ROund-up (glyphosate) can be very effective but a lot of people use them in the wrong way and don't see good results.  Of course, follow the instructions on the product.  But generally, glyphosate works best when the weed is actively photosynthesising / growing.  So if you've got a lot of big established weeds, you might want to partially cut them back to encourage new growth, and then spray them when they're growing.  

When the chemical is absorbed, it causes the sap to become thick so that it can't circulate nutrients around the pant, and it dies.  This can take up to 4 weeks depending on the weed and the size.  There is not much point applying it to bare earth to prevent weeds, as it will break down or wash through the soil before it can be taken up by the weed.

The are also tips like above where you can mix it with veg oil and/or washing up liquid so that the chemical sticks to the weed for longer without running off. 

But if you want quick results, try to get the weed out manually with the root intact, although this is labour intensive

MyRealNameToo

wazza2004 said:

In the past I used to pull out the weeds by hand and use a weedkiller from supermarket.  Now in my 60s my back is not what it used to be.  Seen a weedkiller at screw fix which sounds powerful enough.  Comes with a pump etc.  Is it best to spray on weed or pull the weeds out and spray around the area? They grow between paving slabs. 

Have found another post here which recommends dishwasher salt etc.  And a tool which looks like a blade.  There are no pets in the area. 

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Depends what weedkiller you are using... the one we have is absorbed into the plant via its leaves, the plant then needs to be in place and spraying around after removing the plant will do nothing. 

Dishwasher salt is just salt, table salt is salt plus an anti-clumping agent which will build up in your dishwasher and cause damage overtime hence why you can't use it. Can't see why there'd be any benefit in using dishwasher salt over table salt for poisoning the soil. Obviously use with caution if the edges come up to a planted boarder or lawn. 

We have a concentrate, a 1L bottle lasts years as you only add a small amount into a 5L spray thing of water. The impact isnt instant but the plant dies within a 1-2 weeks and that plant won't come back (though a new one may grow in its place)

-taff

I'd go flamethrower, doesn't poison the ground or run off and poison other things and sounds like a lot of fun.