Killing Weeds

[saut]

I've been fixing up my family's patio for the past couple of weeks. One thing that I just can't seem to take care of is the weeds, though. They are everywhere, growing out of the cracks between the rocks. I've tried lots of things in past years to kill them, Roundup and all that good stuff, but nothing seems to work very long. Right now my best method of weed removal is the weedwhacker, which is a real pain in the ass because it's a pretty sizable patio and the weeds are fucking resiliant. I'm looking at it out the window right now and I can see that the weeds I whacked out of existance two days ago are already back in full swing. What has everyone had success with? I want to destroy these weeds, whatever it takes. I'm not worried about killing any other plants nearby except for the grass that borders it (on two sides only though). Ideally, I'd get my hands on some Agent Orange, but my Vietnamese neighbors might start to get a little nervous!

[the_marq]

You might try another herbicide called "Wipeout." We tried it last year for the exact same reason, it keep the weeds and grass down between the bricks for the whole season. They're back this year... but it was good for a few months anyway.

Check your local garden centre.

[saut]

I'll have to give that a shot then. As long as it last the summer I'll be happy as a clam in high tide.

[j8ear]

Round up works great too.

Weed wacking weeds does nothing except for make them shorter. If your going to go the non-chemical route you need to at least pull up the entire plant including the root system. Just chopping off the top makes them grow bigger and stronger.

-bear

[WillyPete]

I had a garden maintenance friend swear on thinning some diesel fuel in with some gasoline. You thin it so it's not too pungent and stains the patio. gasoline avaporates too quickly and is a bit volatile.
Don't do it just before a barbecue.
Diesel kills anything, as any motorcyclist on a wet day can tell you.

[saut]

Originally Posted by j8ear

Round up works great too.

Weed wacking weeds does nothing except for make them shorter. If your going to go the non-chemical route you need to at least pull up the entire plant including the root system. Just chopping off the top makes them grow bigger and stronger.

-bear

Right, I'm only weedwhacking as a temporary fix. I kinda figure it'll be easier to kill them with chemicals when they're already fucked up by Mr Whacker.

[frogza]

My grandpa has been gardening his whole life and what he uses to clear an area out is a 50/50 mix of bleach and water. Cleans stuff out good.

[cj2112]

Casoron is an herbicide that will last for about a year, it controls grasses and weeds around Roses, Rhododendrons, Evergreens, Fruits and Woody Ornamentals...make sure you follow the directions carefully if there are desirable plants nearby.

[gonadman]

How about one of those gadgets you attach to a propane tank to make a little flamethrower? I see it sometimes in the gardening and handyman magazines. It'll definately kill the weeds and you'll have fun doing it too!

[slant eyes]

what type of patio do you have?

if you have some sort of raised floor where you can access the bottom, like a wooden deck, you could lay down that landscaping black tarp to totally black out the sunlight. without sun, there can't be growth.

[wdevauld]

You could pour your used motor oil over the patch in question. Nothing will grow there for years!!

Kidding people, just kidding.....

[splck]

Originally Posted by saut

Right, I'm only weedwhacking as a temporary fix. I kinda figure it'll be easier to kill them with chemicals when they're already fucked up by Mr Whacker.

don't whack your weeds before you apply herbicides, they need all the green leafies to drink in the active ingredient.


no chem solution:
let your weeds grow tall next spring, wet them good so the roots are nice and soft and yank em' out.

[saut]

It's a stone patio, not deck-like at all unfortunately. I've been letting the weeds grow in a bit for the past week before I apply any kind of chemical. I'm determined to destroy these things for a just a couple months, really. I'll be moving out in August (and who cares about a patio when it's not summer anyway?).

[canucker]

I've had good luck with Total Wipeout, seemed to do the trick for the summer. I have also heard to use diesel as well.

[THGL]

I've had great success with Roundup, but not the spray-bottle kind you can get everywhere. Buy it un-diluted at a home center and pick up a cheap garden sprayer then mix it yourself (I always add just a tad more solution to the water than what's recommended).

[edmos1]

Originally Posted by THGL

I've had great success with Roundup, but not the spray-bottle kind you can get everywhere. Buy it un-diluted at a home center and pick up a cheap garden sprayer then mix it yourself (I always add just a tad more solution to the water than what's recommended).

I do the same, however I also add about a teaspoon of dish soap, you know the liquid, it helps it stick to the leaves, so it does not drip off as quick.

Also based on the rock patio, this might not work, but they do have a granular pre-emergent, once you kill the weeks, you can sprikle some of that, and keep the weeds at bay for a couple of months

[mxyzptlk]

Plain ole BOILING water works for us.

[chmoo]

table salt, dude. It kills everything.

[bobophil]

hmmm... strong acid? Sub-machine gun? Bleach? Fire? Me and my shoe?