Grass Growing in the Driveway

Lilith · Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 1:50 pm Post subject: Grass Growing in the Driveway

I have a new driveway, with several loads of gravel on it, finished in late Winter. Now there's tons of grass and assorted other plants growing in it, mainly up the middle and on the sides. On some areas on the sides, I'll be mulching deep as extensions of plantings, but the rest is a dilemma.

I'd appreciate any ideas for getting rid of it without chemicals or hand weeding. I can do some of the latter, but the driveway is a quarter mile long, so hand weeding isn't practical.

Maybe I should just get sheep again. They were great mowers, weeders, fertilizers, but also pruned the shrubs in odd shapes and ate some of them right down to the ground.

Bugs · Ash Tree Joined: 03 Jul 2006 Posts: 210 Location: Dublin

Hi Lilith ,
I've never tried this , but seemingly vinegar is used as a total weedkiller in some places . Why not try some on a very hot day , from what I've read the hotter the better , hope this works
Cool

Bugs
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Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.
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Lilith · Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 5:52 pm Post subject:

Oh, Bugs, that is just brilliant. We're in perfect weather for that right now, and I just bought 2 gallons of white vinegar, so I'm going out right now and try it.

Will let you know.

Lilith · Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 9:57 pm Post subject:

By the end of the day, all the leaves splashed with vinegar were brown and shriveling up. I also poured some on the base to soak to the roots, but that may take some more time. Probably, if I use my sprayer, I could coat the plants more thoroughly and if it doesn't kill them outright, it might aggravate them enough to go away.

Will keep you posted on the others with the vinegary roots.

inishindie · Posted: Sun May 27, 2007 7:34 pm Post subject:

Hi

White vinegar can be used neat as a weed killer. It is extremely effective. Spray it on as you would any weedkiller. Buy industrial packs though or it will cost a fortune!

Cider vinegar can be used effectively as a fungicide as well. Mix two tablespoons full into four pints of water mix and spray.

There is another recipe that uses baking soda. Mix in the same amount into water as with the vinegar. Stick to one mixture, if you mix the two together you will have a foaming mixture that would clean the plants instead!

Ian
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www.gardening.ie

shefra · Hawthorn Tree Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 50

inishindie, where could I get industrial packs of vinegar also does it have to be white, better still what is the difference between white and red?

inishindie · Posted: Mon May 28, 2007 2:44 pm Post subject:

Hi Shefra

The white and brown or red(?) vinegar are both distilled but the brown vinegar has malt extract in it. This doesn't effect the result though. Industrial packs or gallon containers could be picked up in wholesale cash and carry companies (where chip shops get theirs from! ) Failing that you could get the stuff that is used for pickling.

Ian
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