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04/05/11, 07:07 PM
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: KY South Central
Posts: 3,512
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Weeds and grass in gravel drive
I have to admitt I HATE to have weeds and grass growing in my gravel drive. I know it is a petty thing it just bothers me. I have spent my last dollar I am willing to spend on weed killer. Is there a cheap way to kill them? Salt water? vinegar? Anyone have a solution? (besides blacktop or concrete) lol.
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04/05/11, 07:13 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,142
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Torch.
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04/05/11, 07:25 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 227
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Roundup is cheap. Buy it in the big jug at TSC, get their store brand. Then just spray it as needed. About once a month should keep them at bay.
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04/05/11, 07:29 PM
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: KY South Central
Posts: 3,512
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OH Boy
Roundup is cheap. Buy it in the big jug at TSC, get their store brand. Then just spray it as needed. About once a month should keep them at bay.
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Roundup is not that cheap especially when you have a long long gravel drive and gravel area in front of the barn and garage. I have found that the cheaper weed killers don't last as long. You get more weed killer but like you say you have to redo every month or more often.
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04/05/11, 07:48 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Eastern Saskatchewan
Posts: 2,969
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Roundup should be in the 2-5 dollar an acre range. That is cheap! What about a soil sterilant? Also, if they are perennial grasses/weeds, that keep coming back, a shot of roundup in fall a few weeks before dormancy will be a long term solution. Otherwise, keep at it and over time the weed seed bank will be exhausted.
I also don't care much for weeds in our driveway and gravel areas, you are normal!!!
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04/05/11, 07:54 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: iowa
Posts: 2,588
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You can buy a torch that screws onto a 20lb lp tank.Just burn the growth off every once in a while.Generic roundup is cheap if you buy a 2 1/2 gallon jug and are not against using chems.Buy the roundup at an elevator not a farm store.
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04/05/11, 08:04 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Eastern Saskatchewan
Posts: 2,969
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Yeah, my mother bought roundup once in a hardware store. Ready to spray, about a litre for 20 bucks. I have sitting in my shed a couple of pallets of roundup at a cost of about 3 dollars a litre concentrated!!!
I also wondered about the flame thrower idea. I have a tiger torch that would work well for annual weeds. It shoots out a pretty wicked flame.
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04/05/11, 09:17 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Eastern North Carolina
Posts: 34,190
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Quote:
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I also wondered about the flame thrower idea. I have a tiger torch that would work well for annual weeds. It shoots out a pretty wicked flame.
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They do a good job.
You don't have to "burn" them.
You just pass the flame over them slowly and it "cooks" them, causing the cell walls to burst and killing the plant
It's called "Flame Weeding":
http://www.flameengineering.com/Flame_Weeding.html
Quote:
When flame weeding, the most effective method is to catch weeds early, from 1-4 inches. At this small stage, flaming is nearly 100% effective, whereas weeds over 4 inches are more difficult to kill without an extended dose of heat.
By destroying cell structure in the plant leaf, the weed will no longer put energy toward growth, so even on big weeds, you will see a stunting effect or even a kill, depending on how established the root system is and how long the plant was exposed to heat.
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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
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04/05/11, 09:51 PM
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More dharma, less drama.
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Texas Coastal Bend/S. Missouri
Posts: 30,490
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New research on RoundUp is *really* bad. It doesn't 'go away' in the soil as always claimed. It's bad for YEARS, it's bad for the existing plants, and it's bad for humans.
No more RoundUp, folks.
Vinegar, torch. Something else, please.
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Alice
* * *
"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus
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04/05/11, 09:56 PM
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Piney Girl
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Southern California
Posts: 984
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Starjj,
This wouldn't probably work for a long driveway but boiling water will kill weeds.
Put out a request for weed killer on Freecycle.org in your area, someone may have some that is leftover etc...
I have a gravel drive and don't like the weeds, keep your eye/ear out for free gravel, here people advertise on craiglist to get rid of extra gravel
Good luck
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04/05/11, 10:07 PM
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I agree with Pancho
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,970
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I buy cheap bags of rock salt and dump tons of it on the drive. Kills them all in a few days. Now is probably a good time to find it on sale.
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"For if you start dancing on tables, fanning yourself, feeling sleepy when you pick up a book... making love whenever you feel like it, then you know. The south has got you.”
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04/05/11, 10:46 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: W Mo
Posts: 9,269
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Rock salt should work, but watch where it runs off. It might kill more than you intend. We have a "dead zone" where we got runoff from a salt block for the critters.
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04/05/11, 11:42 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Eastern Saskatchewan
Posts: 2,969
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO
New research on RoundUp is *really* bad. It doesn't 'go away' in the soil as always claimed. It's bad for YEARS, it's bad for the existing plants, and it's bad for humans.
No more RoundUp, folks.
Vinegar, torch. Something else, please.
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Roundup is fine. But this just in. The latest research shows that too much vinegar can kill living organisms!!!:smiley-laughing013:
Seriously though, There is land with glyphosate used for 30 plus years with no adverse affects.
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04/06/11, 12:07 AM
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Banned
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: S.E. Ks.
Posts: 5,942
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a neighbor had an old car they drove daily one of those ya fill the oil can check the gas on . their drive looked like it had been black topped from all the leaked oil but it didnt grow weeds or grass. Dont think the EPA would be very happy though
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04/06/11, 01:38 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Ca,AZ,KS
Posts: 547
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It`s not going to make me very popular....but diesel fuel and used oil works pretty good.....in a hudson sprayer.
You do not have to use very much at all, a very fine mist quickly applied.
I would venture to say between the tractors and cars, more gets spilled or leaks than the hudson sprayer uses...once again it takes very very little.
you only need to use it once a year...a small hudson worth will last years.
If you have more than a few weeds here and there , you need another coat of gravel...if 50 percent of the rock is grass do not use the sprayer...get more gravel.
The amount I am talking about using is very minimal..........a gallon sprayer full has lasted 4 years soo far and still has alot left.
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"The OP wasn't saying people shouldn't be allowed to do this; he's saying it grinds his gizzard" -JOSHIE
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04/06/11, 06:42 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: N. E. TX
Posts: 29,592
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10% vinegar works. Do in in bright sun.
Roundup changes in the groundwater to a carcinogen.
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04/06/11, 07:05 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 8,960
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PyroDon
a neighbor had an old car they drove daily one of those ya fill the oil can check the gas on . their drive looked like it had been black topped from all the leaked oil but it didnt grow weeds or grass. Dont think the EPA would be very happy though
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I was going to mention that diesel will kill them, just spray each one.
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Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
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04/06/11, 07:35 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,201
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Box blade behind the tractor.
geo
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04/06/11, 07:59 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: michigan
Posts: 22,570
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Salt
Vinagar
ashes from the woodstoves
Triox
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