Best Weed Killer?

[happily single]

I have a large patio area that has/had crushed stone that was installed by the previous owner. An occasional weed would pop up and was easily pulled out, but since last year the weeds have taken over and at least 75% of the patio is weeds. I've tried various weed killers and all natural remedies (salt, Dawn Dish Soap and Vingegar) with no luck. I really don't want to use Round-Up.

My goal is to get them under enough control to put down a weed barrier and sand.

Help!

 

[dizneegirl]

Round-up, or the main ingredient in it would be the best week killer.

If you want to stay natural, you can try a couple more things, if you haven't already...

Boiling water. If it's a large area, it would take a while, but boiling water right on them will kill weeds.

If it's all stone, you could also get a propane torch (stores like Lowes sell them). That would at least kill them all off at the surface, so you could put down weed barrier and sand.

 

[Dan Murphy]

If weeds only, Weed-B-Gon. If grasses also, Roundup, or the same of other brands.

 

[Cadiewampus]

I have a large patio area that has/had crushed stone that was installed by the previous owner. An occasional weed would pop up and was easily pulled out, but since last year the weeds have taken over and at least 75% of the patio is weeds. I've tried various weed killers and all natural remedies (salt, Dawn Dish Soap and Vingegar) with no luck. I really don't want to use Round-Up.

My goal is to get them under enough control to put down a weed barrier and sand.

Help!

I have had good luck with Round Up and Weed be gone. Don't waste your time putting down a weed barrier. Weeds will still grow on top of it.

 

[lucas]

We live in South Florida and I've had good luck with vinegar. But, it must be done when the full sun is out, in the heat of the day (and really spray them good). Another thing I've tried is pouring a bunch of table salt on the weeds. If I remember, that worked but not as good as the vinegar.

 

[TippyThomas]

I use KillzAll Grass and Weed killer if I want to knock it all out. It kills everything though so you have to be careful with it.

 

[Clifton Tesh]

Most of your natural weed killers require the roots to be easily saturated. If the salt, vinegar, dish soap, or whatever else you're using can not get to the soil and roots, it will not work.

What makes round up and other weed killers like it so effective is that they are designed to be absorbed through the leaf/blade of the plant so even when the root isn't easily saturated, round up works.

I use RM43 for my customers. It's the same ingredients as round up but works better in my opinion. It only has to be applied twice a year max. Most of the yards I service only require one application every spring.

It's not cheap but it's well worth it. You can get it from tractor supply or Amazon.

 

[_19disnA]

If you are trying to kill everything that grows and it ISN'T a lawn, you can buy various 'vegetation killers' sold at most home improvement/garden stores. In a couple of days you will see results. I don't find that the expensive brands work any better than the other brands. If you buy the concentrate and use a small tank sprayer it is far more economical, particular for larger areas or frequent applications. Salt is NOT recommended since it generally bad for the soil and might end up in places where you do want things to grow.

Have used a weed barrier at a prior house and it worked quite well where we had shrubs. You place your mulch over the weed barrier and very effective in preventing weeds. Make sure to get the type that allows water to pass through it, so you don't end up with water logged areas after a storm.

 

[MillauFr]

Wasn't Bayer sued for hundreds of millions of dollars because Roundup causes cancer? How is it still being sold?

 

[Clifton Tesh]

Wasn't Bayer sued for hundreds of millions of dollars because Roundup causes cancer? How is it still being sold?

The same way tobacco products are still sold.

They slap a warning label on it and if you ignore it, it's your fault.

I spray a glyphosate weed killer and part of the directions tell you to wear a mask while spraying. I also cover the concerns with my customers and give them the choice between the glyphosate weed killer or a natural weed deterrent.

If they choose the glyphosate weed killer I have to make them sign waivers.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Our latest attempt at controlling weeds is the torch thing. It seems effective in the short term, but it appears that it is something that will require regular use.

I have heard such scary things about the chemicals such as Round Up that I would be afraid to use them.

 

[CGB]

We live in South Florida and I've had good luck with vinegar. But, it must be done when the full sun is out, in the heat of the day (and really spray them good). Another thing I've tried is pouring a bunch of table salt on the weeds. If I remember, that worked but not as good as the vinegar.

Agree with the "must". We have a cobblestone driveway and fight new growth every spring. We use vinegar and it works great. It needs to be dry weather and a hot, sunny day for it to work.

 

[_19disnA]

Don't live in Florida, but have used vinegar in the past to kill unwanted vegetation. Maybe depends on what you are trying to kill, but worked fine for me in the early Spring before there was any significant warm weather. Apparently the acidic nature of vinegar kills vegetation.

Depending on how large of any area you are trying to kill, vinegar is probably a more pricey solution compared to buying concentrated 'vegetation killer'.

 

[tony67]

So I tried roundup and it really did not work at all.

Next I got a gallon of concentrated vinegar (30%). I mixed that with 1 cup of salt and 1 cup of dishwashing soap.

I was skeptical but it worked. It was obvious within a few hours - plus it smells much nicer and is a lot less risky.

 

[SteveH]

Noxall Vegetation Killer. It will kill everything, including the roots for a year. It should be put down in fall or early Spring, not summer. But if you're likely to be in contact with it by walking on the gravel I'm not sure I'd use it.

For me Roundup does what I need, Noxall is mostly for commercial properties and farmers.

 

[Kim&Chris]

I've had some very good luck with the salt/Dawn/vinegar solution, but you really have to soak the weeds with it (in other words, just a light spray won't work).

I will never use Round Up.

 

[_19disnA]

Have tried vinegar & dish soap and it works well. The salt is unnecessary and is bad for your soil, regardless of where it ends up. The dish soap helps to keep the vinegar in contact with the weeds so it can kill them. Usually see results by the next day.