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PaperclipPerfector  10d ago (text post)   2619 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for December 8, 2024

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

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I have a gravel drive I’ve been weeding by hand whenever it got out of hand. Obviously, the best solution would have been to put down landscaping fabric before graveling over it, but it’s kinda been there for a while.

So, what are some non-toxic(for people and animals) solutions? I am unwilling to use glyphosate on my property, and I’m hesitant about dumping gasoline over it due to flammability concerns, and I’m worried about the undercarriage of my truck if I just keep dumping salt- I’ve had good results with brine on individual spots, though. Is boric acid my best option? Vinegar?

In Russia dumping gasoline on the ground is criminalized, not sure about the US.

Can you just pave it over? You already have gravel, you only need cement to make a concrete driveway.

It may or may not be illegal, but it’s very unlikely to be caught unless you’re dumping thousands of gallons.

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em: replace it with a lawn.

Roundup and crossbow are wonderful, and it takes a tiny amount to kill stuff poking up out of gravel.

A weed burner on a 20lb propane tank is another good solution. It can also sear steak.

Allow me to reassure you on one point: landscaping fabric would have solved this problem for you for a year or two, but it breaks down over time and bits of dirt accumulate in the gravel on top, and before you know it your driveway is growing weeds again. I've got a gravel walkway at my house with landscaping fabric underneath, put in by a previous owner, and it does absolutely nothing to deter weeds now.

Torch it man -- a big unit that goes on your BBQ tank is about 30 bucks.

It's not like, a final solution -- stuff comes back. But less and less every time, and so long as your driveway isn't yuge (or weed infested) it's like half an hour spring and fall?

Vinegar, salt, and dish soap. The soap will reduce surface tension so the vinegar and salt can more rapidly dehydrate the plants.

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