My driveway (which is built with paving slabs) has been somewhat neglected
over the past year, and as a result has a major problem with weeds (some as
big as triffids ) growing up between the slabs. I'm planning on tackling
it in the near future, and wanted to get some advice.

My plan is as follows:

1. Remove the bigger clumps of weed
2. Lift the slabs
3. Put down some very strong weed killer
4. Check the level of the base (allowing for run-off) which I think is
currently just sand on hardcore.
5. Re-lay the slabs, and 'grout' them.

Any advice on what weedkiller to use, and the best (read easiest) way to
'grout' the slabs to stop anything growing back for as long as possible?

TIA

--
/Slugsie

In article ,
"Slugsie" wrote:


Any advice on what weedkiller to use, and the best (read easiest) way to
'grout' the slabs to stop anything growing back for as long as possible?

I had similar triffids in full flower in our back yard (concrete slabs)
earlier. I adopted the following strategy.

1. blitz them with glyphosate, blitz them good and proper, wet them all
over.

2. Wait a week for the glyphosate to kill the roots then get a tool like
I have. It is basically a flat piece of aluminium in a strong hook shape
and a handle. You insert said tool between slabs and scrape out both
plants and accumulated soil.

3. Sweep it all up regularly.

4. scrape the gaps regularly to prevent soil buildup and especially at
the start of spring.

Peter

--
Peter Ashby
School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Scotland
To assume that I speak for the University of Dundee is to be deluded.
Reverse the Spam and remove to email me.

Peter Ashby wrote:

In article ,
"Slugsie" wrote:


Any advice on what weedkiller to use, and the best (read easiest) way to
'grout' the slabs to stop anything growing back for as long as possible?


I had similar triffids in full flower in our back yard (concrete slabs)
earlier. I adopted the following strategy.

1. blitz them with glyphosate, blitz them good and proper, wet them all
over.



There are better thungs than Glyphosate for totall kill. Sodium Chlorate
is one, and there are others (2-4 summat?)


2. Wait a week for the glyphosate to kill the roots then get a tool like
I have. It is basically a flat piece of aluminium in a strong hook shape
and a handle. You insert said tool between slabs and scrape out both
plants and accumulated soil.

3. Sweep it all up regularly.


Agreed totally., Just scrape out the much, or use a pressure washer as well.



4. scrape the gaps regularly to prevent soil buildup and especially at
the start of spring.



Or, as in my case, mae a 6:1 sand cement mixture and brush in to the
gaps. tamp down hard.

It goes off eventually.

Now tyou can simply pressure wash the area any time it gets 'seedy' :-)

After a few years rain frost and cars, it needs doing again. But not as
often as weeding if you don't...


Peter

In article , The Natural Philosopher
wrote:

Or, as in my case, mae a 6:1 sand cement mixture and brush in to the
gaps. tamp down hard.

It goes off eventually.

That sounds like a good idea. I thought of regrouting with sand on my
slabs but being a biologist I realised it wouldn't take long for the
sand to become an ideal growing mix. But with cement it would take a lot
longer.

How hard would it be to scrape this out and redo after a few years?

Peter

--
Peter Ashby
School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Scotland
To assume that I speak for the University of Dundee is to be deluded.
Reverse the Spam and remove to email me.

"Peter Ashby" wrote in message
news
In article , The Natural Philosopher
wrote:

Or, as in my case, mae a 6:1 sand cement mixture and brush in to the
gaps. tamp down hard.

It goes off eventually.

That sounds like a good idea. I thought of regrouting with sand on my
slabs but being a biologist I realised it wouldn't take long for the
sand to become an ideal growing mix. But with cement it would take a lot
longer.

How hard would it be to scrape this out and redo after a few years?

Peter

I know I'll regret asking but... couldn't sodium chlorate be added to the
filling mix or would it just get washed away? Only asking as I have the same
problem on the patio but the gaps between flags are too small to use a
traditional "grout" - 3-4mm so a dry mix brushed in would seem ideal.
Regards, Richard

On Sun, 13 Jul 2003 16:08:48 +0100, "Frisket"
wrote:


"Peter Ashby" wrote in message
news
In article , The Natural Philosopher
wrote:

Or, as in my case, mae a 6:1 sand cement mixture and brush in to the
gaps. tamp down hard.

It goes off eventually.

That sounds like a good idea. I thought of regrouting with sand on my
slabs but being a biologist I realised it wouldn't take long for the
sand to become an ideal growing mix. But with cement it would take a lot
longer.

How hard would it be to scrape this out and redo after a few years?

Peter

I know I'll regret asking but... couldn't sodium chlorate be added to the
filling mix or would it just get washed away? Only asking as I have the same
problem on the patio but the gaps between flags are too small to use a
traditional "grout" - 3-4mm so a dry mix brushed in would seem ideal.
Regards, Richard

Speay the interstices once a year with Simazine weedkiller. Unlike
Roundup which works on growing weeds, Simazine lays on the surface and
remains active in stopping weed growing.

Alternatively Jeyes fluid can be sprayed more regularly and will also
help control moss .

Paul Mc Cann