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Weeds - help help help!

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  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    we mow our drive, that makes it like look a lawn but with a solid base, seems to work OK. It's probably much the same base as yours, hardcore and 60 years ago it had some tarmac but has forgotten about that


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    @Dovefromabove right -that weedkiller which you can use on paths/drives will be the best solution. I've not used it so can't say how good or bad it is.
    It's best to apply when the weeds are actively growing though, as already said, and you may need a couple of applications, especially as you'll get some weeds blowing in and seeding too. Weed killers work best when they have adequate greenery to work on.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited April 2023
    What do you mean by "old hardcore"? 

    Hardcore is the usual foundation for a path.  One then puts the final materials on top of that.  I would go for a glyphosate-containing weed killer, they are slower acting than some but kill the roots.  When that has worked put a layer of hoggin on top to the height you want, and than add a thin layer of pea shingle.

    Good drainage is what you need, definitely not impermeable.

    My advice (out-of-date?) is to have the child alongside you in a pram whilst you work. Share your quality time.  Choose warmer weather to start, obviously.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    punkdoc said:
    SALT!!!!  That should kill every living creature in the vicinity.

    A bit OTT.  I hope your medical prognoses were not intended to frighten.

    Sounds a good idea, though, on a pathway.  I think I'll give it a try.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • We had the exact same issue our lane is filled up approx 12 feet at the time we built our home with hardcore and there is a lot of weeds!
    I went to a trusty agricultural wholesaler and got a drum of agricultural round up (sometimes called Gallup) great stuff just be careful if spraying on a windy day as this stuff kills EVERYTHING is touches and you will notice it dropping in a few days 

    we found then by continually driving on it, it kept the weeds down from then on hope this helps!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I should have mentioned that many of the new batches of weedkillers now don't contain glyphosate as it's being removed from sale. I don't know if that affects the one @Dovefromabove mentioned though. 
    I also agree with @punkdoc. We keep saying it, but unfortunately many people don't seem to understand the damage salt does to other, very important, creatures. Just because we can't see them, it doesn't mean they're less important than all the cute, fluffy, flying and pretty ones. They're vital for the food chain and soil health.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Info on what happens when salt is used as a weedkiller 

    https://laidbackgardener.blog/2018/07/27/garden-myth-salt-makes-a-good-weed-killer/ 

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





  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited April 2023
    Don't believe everything you read on the internet.  Or on forums either.

    I used to live on a windy west coast.  Salt blew in by the ton.  Everything continued to grow.  Granulated shells blew in too, so the soil grew blue hydrangeas when further inland on the same soil they were pink.

    Constant winter road salting has altered the soil at the edges, and seaside plants seem to be out-competing.


     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    My brother farms land on the Orwell Estuary .... he had prime arable land out of production for 3+ years following severe saltwater flooding some years ago .

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





  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    bédé said:
    Don't believe everything you read on the internet.  Or on forums either.

    I used to live on a windy west coast.  Salt blew in by the ton.  Everything continued to grow.  Granulated shells blew in too, so the soil grew blue hydrangeas when further inland on the same soil they were pink.

    Constant winter road salting has altered the soil at the edges, and seaside plants seem to be out-competing.



    Going off-topic a bit but aren't shells essentially lime (alkaline), which would make hydrangeas pink rather than blue?

    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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