Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Managing weeds on gravel

tracey.amasstracey.amass Posts: 7
in Problem solving
Help!  We have recently moved to a new house and the front of the house is a quite large gravelled parking area.  The weeds are taking over and it feels like it will be impossible to keep on top of it but I really don't want to resort to chemicals.  Any ideas on less dangerous ways to deal with this would be gratefully recieved.

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    This looks useful https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRb-8KDcK1M

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    A flame gun or manual pulling would be the only way. Its the only bit in my garden I use weedkiller unless I want a full time job pulling!
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    A fork, a bucket, a kneeling mat and some perseverance!
    I speak with authority, as this week I have just cleared a large area of my front yard which had been completely neglected  for some time and was very weedy :) 
    I did a bit every day, not all at once. 
     Kneel on mat.  Slide the fork in almost parallel to the ground, wiggle,  (the fork, not you :) ) and raise slightly to loosen all the roots. Pick up all the weeds and rake lightly with the fork for any that may have escaped.  You might need a trowel if there are any dandelions or other things with tap roots. Move on to the next patch.
    Repeat until done (or done in!)
    If you rake the gravel from time to time, not necessarily in a zen way, unless you want to, new weedlings will be disturbed and not get established . If you can do it on a hot sunny day, they will get frizzled too, so doubly sure.
    It feels good when you've done it :)
  • tracey.amasstracey.amass Posts: 7
    Thanks everyone!  Wish me luck........
  • didywdidyw Posts: 3,573
    Good luck @tracey.amass - think how satisfied you will be by the end.
    Gardening in East Suffolk on dry sandy soil.
  • CharlotteFCharlotteF Posts: 337
    My patio and paths are gravelled (intentionally, as I want some things to grow in them), and once you've got it manually cleared little and often is the way. Keep a sharp eye out and don't let anything flower (which can happen very quickly for some things!)
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    Stirrup hoes, such as @Dovefromabove mentioned above, are good for all sorts of weeding. It is the type of hoe that is mainly used in France where I live a lot of the time.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Wolf multi head tools offer two sizes of this kind of hoe in the UK - 4"/10cms wide and a bigger 6"/15cms wide.   My favourite garden weapon for weeds where ever they are, in gravel, raised veggie beds or flower and other ornamental beds.

    https://www.worldofwolf.co.uk/categories/multi-change-tools/page=2 and handles of different lengths to suit doing the work standing up for larger areas or down on hands and knees for close work in amongst treasures.  
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
Sign In or Register to comment.