Weeds on drive

[Longshanks]

Hi again

May have posted on this before but so long ago can't recall now.

Gist is need to remove nasty and resistant weeds from middle section of drive. I've used the most powerful weedkiller I can find but weeds always seem to come back. I normally:

• Apply weedkiller
• Remove dead weeds and roots
  
• Remove surrounding soil

I've attached pictures to show condition following removal of dead weeds. In addition to pebbles you will see copious amount of soil left. Is it necessary to remove all this as well? I wonder as neighbour has exactly same design and never gets a single weed with no maintenance!!

Thanks for your time.

 

[Brigade77]

I use grit salt, the sort of stuff you put down in winter. I think most effective weedkillers have been banned from Joe Public's grasp now.

Comes in handy 20kg bags & never fails to raise an eyebrow when purchased in August.

I spread it out straight from a bucket & brush it into any nooks & crannies. If you leave it a few days until it rains it goes a long way to killing 'the green'.

 

[Longshanks]

Thanks. I was also querying the amount of soil in this section of the drive. Would that have built up over the years and therefore supporting the weeds? Would it be beneficial to remove this?

 

[endecotp]

Yes, remove the soil.
Weed seeds blow in. They will gow even without soil, to some extent. Strength of weedkiller doesn't really matter as more seeds will blow in eventually.

 

[Longshanks]

Many thanks. I think there was grass there initially and previous owner must have only done minimal work to remove this before adding pebbles!

 

[Longshanks]

Sorry have one last question if I may. Once majority of the soil has been cleared there are the crumbling remnants of the concrete previously laid (soil coloured). Can I just add the grit to this or would I need to clean away the last vestiges of the soil before proceeding?

Hope these pictures help.

 

[Tigercubrider]

Weeds grow in a tiny amount of soil

My concrete drive originally was two tracks in concrete with either grass or large stones in the centre run.
The previous owner filled the gap with Tarmac .

My neighbour fitted paving slabs

 

[Longshanks]

Thanks. Take your point and will do whatever to keep weeds at bay. However neighbour has small stones on centre run and never had a single weed as far as I could observe.

 

[endecotp]

I would sweep it out.
Don't add grit. Just add stones. The bigger the better.

 

[Longshanks]

Ok thanks. Will let you know how I get on.

 

[Longshanks]

Hi

Update

Have started digging out stones and soil. I've reached the stage now where the soil is very compact and mixed with original gravel. I've been digging out as much as I can but it seems to be an endless task. I assumed I get down to original concrete fairly quickly but not case.

I've updated photos below. Would you say I need to physically remove all the existing soil and gravel or can I get away with putting new stones on this as it is?

Many thanks

 

[lostinthelight]

Weed membrane with gravel on top or ask your neighbour how he does it??
litl

 

[Longshanks]

No good asking her. She doesn't know what day it is. Now divorced so job done by ex husband. Get your drift though. Are you saying that weed membrane will negate need to keep digging??

Thanks

 

[lostinthelight]

No good asking her. She doesn't know what day it is. Now divorced so job done by ex husband. Get your drift though. Are you saying that weed membrane will negate need to keep digging??

Thanks

we had it in the centre of our drive that was not ran over and was only covered by a couple of inches of chippings. As dirt washes into it over the years the weed seeds that blow in started to germinate but can be delt with or yank the membrane up and re lay as theres not too much weight on top .
litl

 

[Longshanks]

Ok ta.