Weed Control for Rock Beds

[Pat Germain]

My house has rock beds in the front and back yards. We can get a lot of water restrictions in Colorado Springs which is why the previous owners of my house opted for rock beds over grass. The front yard has two small trees with no trees in the back yard.

The back yard rock beds get a lot of weeds in the spring and summer. There is fabric beneath the rocks, but it doesn't appear to do much. Pulling those weeds is endless.

Does anyone have a recommendation for weed control in rock beds? I know the public areas in my neighborhood get some type of granules a few times a year to control weeds. I would like to avoid a chemical option since I would eventually like to plant some small trees and a small vegetable garden in the back yard. One of my neighbors uses vinegar to control weeds, but I don't know if that actually works.

Thank you.

[Brian Runau]

If there is a fabric weed block down with larger rock over it, what soil are the weeds growing in? Brian

[mike stenson]

Best bet is a pre and post emergent. This is the common deal in AZ, at least in the cities. Vegetable garden you could skip the area.

Otherwise, the only thing I've found that's reliable is a hula hoe.. And a regular weeding.

[Rob Luter]

Roundup to kill, preen to prevent future seed germination.

[Lee Schierer]

Maybe it is time to clean the gravel. You will be amazed how much dirt is under it.

[Pat Germain]

Maybe it is time to clean the gravel. You will be amazed how much dirt is under it.

Likely there is dirt between the rock and the landscaping fabric. Clearing out the dirt would involve completey removing the rock. MAJOR project.

[Bill Dufour]

Propane roofers torch.
Bill D.
https://www.harborfreight.com/propan...ter-91037.html

[Pat Germain]

Propane roofers torch.
Bill D.
https://www.harborfreight.com/propan...ter-91037.html

Hey, apparently a weed torch is a thing. Thanks. I had not considered that.

[mike stenson]

Roundup to kill, preen to prevent future seed germination.

That stuff just turned the grass here brown for a week, then it grew 10"

[Pat Germain]

Roundup to kill, preen to prevent future seed germination.

Those are both chemicals.

[Rob Luter]

Those are both chemicals.

So are oxygen and salt. You could do what the Amish do around here, spend two hours a day weeding. Every day.

[Pat Germain]

So are oxygen and salt. You could do what the Amish do around here, spend two hours a day weeding. Every day.

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.

[Jerome Stanek]

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.

That is why they have a lot of kids.

[Bill Dufour]

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

[Bill Dufour]

That is why they have a lot of kids.

Little goats or something else?
Bill D