I use herbicidal vinegar, 20-30% acetic acid. It works for me in my situation. You should evaluate whether it suits yours. Here’s a link to one article - there are many others. LINK
I use herbicidal vinegar, 20-30% acetic acid. It works for me in my situation. You should evaluate whether it suits yours. Here’s a link to one article - there are many others. LINK
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
“If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.”
I've learned over time not to use landscape fabric, stuff composts on top of it and weeds grow. Mulch every year works. I wouldn't worry about using chemicals for spot treatment affecting areas around it. You could remove the rock and add metal edge and grow a ground cover instead. Brian
Last edited by Brian Runau; 03-28-2024 at 9:45 PM.
Brian
I would know more of this "vinegar/epson-salt/Dawn mixture" you speak of . I have moved varmints along with minimally impactive treatments and would love to deal with the gravel area in a similar way. Can you please give ratios? We use old vinegar to kill weeds but it just kills what is exposed. Always open to trying new things.
"A hen is only an egg's way of making another egg".
– Samuel Butler
There are companies in Southern California that will come out and paint your gravel when it gets old and dusty. Some will also paint your dead dry lawn bright green.
Photo is a house in S. California that the owners like a sports team. Can you guess which one?
Bill D.
Last edited by Bill Dufour; 03-29-2024 at 12:12 AM.
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The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...
There are lots of recipes you can find online, but in general, one gallon of white vinegar (higher concentration even better), one cup of epson salt and a tablespoon of Dawn dish soap, mixed well makes for an environmentally safe herbicide for most weeds and grasses. I use a pump up spray applicator. I will only use glyphosate (RoundUp) on something serious like poison ivy. On a patio or other stone surface, I also use a flame-weeder torch. Between the torch and the vinegar solution...pretty good results.
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The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...
For people recommending not to use weed block fabric, what's the alternative? I agree, dirt gets under the rocks and some weeds penetrate the fabric, but still better than nothing, isn't it?
BTW, just noticed today at my Lowe's industrial strength (30%) vinegar in cleaning supplies. I had not seen that before.
< insert spurious quote here >
Along m fence lines I use a product called barrier kills weeds and small tree for up to 4 years
Hemlock is also a chemical. So yeah, as I stated, I'm concerned using herbicides might cause problems in the future when I plant trees and a vegetable garden. The Amish tend to be very resourceful. I'm surprised they haven't developed some kind of natural weed killer. But I supposed pulling weeds every day would work. That doesn't work for me.
I can no longer find any videos but last summer Califonia was testing a brush/grass burning machine. Towed behind a bulldozer it rolls over and burns man sized brush and makes almost no smoke.
Bill D