Gravel drive overrun with weeds-- need advice! (tank, drain, stone)

[JanuaryGirl]

We have a gravel driveway, which is pretty common in our neighborhood. Supposedly, the previous owner put more gravel down last year (according to the neighbors). However, the stones are really sunk in and it is COVERED with weeds and grass. Last fall I weeded the entire thing (took an entire day), they grew back. I tried to be "eco-friendly" using a vinegar/salt solution, which somewhat worked, but they grew back. I just used a chemical weed killer, and it worked, but they grew back within 2 weeks. The chemical stuff is nasty and expensive, I think I would have to apply it once a week.

I've had other homes with gravel drives and never had the weeds this bad! Also, other homes in the area don't seem to have this problem. Do you think the stones weren't put down properly? Will more stones help?

I don't need it to be perfect, but would rather not have it completely covered with 2' tall prickly weeds and grass. Any advice?

[Cattknap]

I would cover the entire weedy area with black landscape plastic mulch (black plastic sheets) - keep it over the area for several weeks during the hot part of the summer and the heat produced by the sun against the black plastic will kill the weed seeds along with any growing weeds.

I would apply pre-emergent weed control to the gravel in very early spring before the weeds come up (assuming you live where it is cold in the winter). If you live in a temperate climate like Florida or California, apply the pre-emergent in the fall.

This should greatly reduce the number of weeds - then keep them controlled with a chemical weed spray and yearly application of pre-emergent weed control.

[JanuaryGirl]

Thanks Cattknap, I had never thought of covering it like that!

I'm not familiar with the landscape cover, is it something we could drive on do you think? If not, I could park the car at the end of the driveway and cover the rest up. (Yes the ENTIRE drive is covered in the weeds)

[M3 Mitch]

It's not organic, but Roundup will kill weeds. We have 13 acres out in the sticks, a backpack type sprayer and some bulk 2-4-D (for broadleaf weeds) and some Roundup (kills essentally everything) is a useful tool.

You can also put down Casoron granules, and/or similar "soil sterilants" although I am a little shy of the latter. Any farm and home, garden, or hardware store should have what you need.

More gravel would not hurt. You have to add some gravel from time to time. If you keep putting down more gravel, the problem will get less severe as the soil is made less attractive.

Would help to know what region you are in. Climate will have an effect on this.

[Coldjensens]

Use triox Nothing will grow there for years.

[JanuaryGirl]

I have tried Roundup, it works but the weeks just grow back right away. I'd rather not use a chemical like that on a weekly basis. I haven't heard of the Triox, maybe I'll look into it if it really will prevent stuff from growing.

Otherwise, I was wondering if a large amount of salt may do the trick and be less environmentally toxic.

Oh, and we live in North Carolina, just moved here last year from the midwest. Seems like the weeds are a LOT worse down here!

[Cattknap]

We live in Kentucky - retired from Southern California. I have never seen weeds like they have here - all the moisture and humidity and rich soil (clay).....they absolutely pop up in large groups overnight - I'm always weeding our large flower gardens even though we thoroughly weeded and put Preen (weed pre-emergent) down and 3 inches of mulch - the weeds are still profuse. Preen should not be used on lawns by the way.

The suggestion to add more gravel is a good one - if you can. We just installed a drain along our lower porch - it is nearly two feed deep and filled with gravel - we are hoping no weeds will grow there. The thicker the gravel, the less likelihood the weeds will be a problem.

[Janecj]

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

Use triox Nothing will grow there for years.

I second that! Although somehow they still come up (probably missed a couple spots or something) but Trioxx is better than anything else out there.

[South Jersey Styx]

I've heard of some homeowners who use a hand-held blowtorch--a small tank with a torch-flame and they can spot-torch weeds and clumps of grass. I'm not sure how quickly, if ever, the weeds return. This, of course, can only be used on a brick or stone area, like your gravel driveway. Good luck!

[Cosmic]

You don't say how big the original gravel cover is. The bigger, the more the problem. Just getting a top cover of much finer gravel usually does the trick, especially if you can get the stuff like a fine limestone that packs itself like concrete. Stuff is not round in size, more like shards of stone.

Lot of it will depend on the climate and what type of materials are available. In Ohio that fine mesh limestone, nothing much can grow thru it. That and a type of grit that you can get from industrial plants like the fine slag out of steel mills. Something pea gravel or smaller.

Used transmission fluid will kill just about anything, including weeds growing out of sidewalks. Spray that puppy and usually it is not a blade of anything in a few dazes.