weeds!

[eastybeasty]

I'm sure we all have them and want to rid our nice gardens / paths of them. I've got some crazy paving in the driveway and the cheeky wee weedy swines insist on growing through the cracks. theyve been strimmed so theyre quite low lying but now wondering the best way of getting rid or at least making it harder for them to come back. I'd thought of using weedkiller and then cementing the gaps in the paving or my hubby suggested getting one of those tools with a blade (technical description, no idea what theyre actually called!) and not cementing the gaps. looking for any suggestions. never cemented anything in my life which doesnt help and no idea on cost, doubt it'd be much but still. any thoughts would be good :)

[eastybeasty]

[Tee Gee]

I am not sure about crazy paving but with brick paviours the method was to blast the weeds. / moss out with a power water spray then mix Sodium chlorate with silver sand and refill the joints.

Trouble is; this method has been affected by the  Brussel's Eurocrats because they have banned Sodium Chlorate, and I haven't heard of a "powder" type substitute to take its place!

Using  knife /blade is a soul destroying job with brick paviours particularly because you know you will have to do the same year on year.

Regarding your situation with crazy paving the method can vary subject to the width of the joints, i.e. the " mortar mix"

Would it be possible to see a photo of your path including using something to give some scale e.g. a coin!

[Nomspatch]

Try White vinegar...

[davyw1]

I Have just done a patio with Resolva Weed killer and the weeds were dying back the next day.

[tomatoada]

Sprinkling salt on the weeds in dry weather works well.

[BarriedaleNick]

There is no real need to "cement" the gaps - once the weeds are out (blasting, hand weeding or weed killer) clean out the gaps and brush in a dry sand/cement mix - say 3:1.  You can finish it off with a pointing tool or bit of pipe - damp it down a little first with a very light spray or you can let it go off with the moisture in the air.

[Davidberry]

Rahter than trying to fight nature why not work with her?!  If you accept that things will always grow through the gaps in your paving why not make it something that will look good and or smell nice?  Once the weeds have been removed by whichever method suits you best try replanting or reseeding with something that will give off scent when walked on, or just something that looks good.  Hopefully the new plants will crowd out any weeds that you don't want.  I'm sure people on here could make better suggestions than I about what plants would be most suitable.

[eastybeasty]

thanks everyone for your suggestions, sorry its taken me so long to reply. thanks david, i'd totally forgotten about that idea to get some plants to try out compete the weeds but will look and / or smell more attractive. could anyone give me any plant suggestions? i seem to vaguely remember considering stonecrop back last year but thats only a vague memory and i dont have any other suggestions. got some pics of the paving too :) hopefully the flickr links will work: http://www.flickr.com/photos/57278801@N04/9077527005/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57278801@N04/9079757322/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57278801@N04/9079760454/


by the way, fairly new here so i was a bit confused when you click the box under the boy you type in where it says attachements and other options but cant see how to attach a picture?

[telboy]

eastybeasty,
GLYPHOSATE, nuff said.

[brown thumb]

Treat with weed killer ,clean all nasty  bits out brush in some new compost get some creeping thyme and some caramel seeds sprinkle over the cracks water in, about to do mine in the sitting area at the Lotty .

[eastybeasty]

thanks :) sprry again bout the delay in replying, i'll look into the plant suggestions, think the driveway could look nice and stand out from others that are covered in weeds :)