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NFT: Need advice from the yard experts on here

montanagiant : 5/24/2019 2:21 pm
I have a fenced in backyard for the dogs. Part of it we had a landscaped patio area that has areas that are pavers and other sections that are gravel covered. For the past 3 years, I have had a horrendous problem with weeds in the gravel areas. I mean they virtually take over these areas to the point where you can't even see the gravel. It's horrible looking. I have tried burning, spraying, pulling, etc... This works for a short period but they come right back. The areas are large enough that it's an all-day thing.

Any advice at all on how to eliminate these weeds once and for all is greatly appreciated
It’s too late  
UConn4523 : 5/24/2019 2:28 pm : link
but have you done pre emergent before? That should slow them and allow you to spot treat the rest of the season.
could you have laid a weed barrier down before  
xman : 5/24/2019 2:30 pm : link
placing the gravel
After you get rid of them  
pjcas18 : 5/24/2019 2:30 pm : link
through whatever method (burning, spraying, pulling) do you put down preen?

around my pool (in ground) we had a drainage issue. So the pool co and landscaper suggested a drainage path be created abutting the pool deck with river rock that ends up at the fence (where there is a drain) and guides any ground water to the drain.

Looked great at first, but then like with your gravel, weeds started popping up and it looked terrible.

So I pulled them all - took me days, and then I put down preen and they don't come back or when they do it's manageable if I stay on top of it.

My plan though long-term is to get rid of the river rock and just plan grass up to the pool deck.

Maybe you can get rid of the gravel long-term in favor of more hard scaping like an aggregate, concrete, pavers, etc. or even grass.
I weedwack and spray southern states weed killer on it  
mattlawson : 5/24/2019 2:31 pm : link
effective and lasts a while.

What Uconn said  
Bubba : 5/24/2019 2:31 pm : link
We have nearly the exact situation and Preen the mulched and gravel areas in late March early April. Doesn't prevent them entirely but does make it more manageable.
RE: It’s too late  
montanagiant : 5/24/2019 2:32 pm : link
In comment 14455018 UConn4523 said:
Quote:
but have you done pre emergent before? That should slow them and allow you to spot treat the rest of the season.

Yeah, it really limited them but by the end of summer it was almost as bad. I'm thinking my only solution is to take the gravel off, turn the ground over and just plant grass
In my experience  
Bubba : 5/24/2019 2:32 pm : link
weed barriers don't work. The stuff just grows on top of them.
RE: could you have laid a weed barrier down before  
montanagiant : 5/24/2019 2:33 pm : link
In comment 14455022 xman said:
Quote:
placing the gravel

The landscaping Co did do that. worked for maybe 2 years
Don't know where you're at montanagiant...  
Dan in the Springs : 5/24/2019 2:38 pm : link
Montana? I ask because farmers have access to certain chemicals that others cannot buy. If you know a farmer they will often help you out. I've got a very large gravel parking area on my property and the weeds come back every year. We get the chemical from our farmer friends and it kills them, then we hoe them out. They might reappear during the year but we repeat the process. Might be worth looking into. I'd post the name of the chemicals but from what I understand it's better if you don't go asking around for it by name. If you know a farmer just ask them what they use. They'll clue you in.
RE: Don't know where you're at montanagiant...  
pjcas18 : 5/24/2019 2:50 pm : link
In comment 14455035 Dan in the Springs said:
Quote:
Montana? I ask because farmers have access to certain chemicals that others cannot buy. If you know a farmer they will often help you out. I've got a very large gravel parking area on my property and the weeds come back every year. We get the chemical from our farmer friends and it kills them, then we hoe them out. They might reappear during the year but we repeat the process. Might be worth looking into. I'd post the name of the chemicals but from what I understand it's better if you don't go asking around for it by name. If you know a farmer just ask them what they use. They'll clue you in.


Can you tell us?

Is it muriatic acid?

I used that to clean my pool filter cartridge and didn't think about how to dispose of it sl I just emptied the bucket around my pool filter and it killed all the vegetation around my pool filter. So I looked it up and people use it as a weed killer. not sure you're supposed to though - if that's what you were alluding to.

If not, disregard.
RE: Don't know where you're at montanagiant...  
montanagiant : 5/24/2019 3:55 pm : link
In comment 14455035 Dan in the Springs said:
Quote:
Montana? I ask because farmers have access to certain chemicals that others cannot buy. If you know a farmer they will often help you out. I've got a very large gravel parking area on my property and the weeds come back every year. We get the chemical from our farmer friends and it kills them, then we hoe them out. They might reappear during the year but we repeat the process. Might be worth looking into. I'd post the name of the chemicals but from what I understand it's better if you don't go asking around for it by name. If you know a farmer just ask them what they use. They'll clue you in.

I live in Northern Iowa and yes I have used the industrial strength Round-up. Problem is the dogs use the backyard. So maybe what I need to do is kennel them for 3 days and spray
Preen is quite effective  
ColHowPepper : 5/24/2019 3:55 pm : link
It should be applied seasonally to the gravel areas you want to retard their growth, and should be applied liberally in mid- to late March and certainly by early April ahead of warmer temps, depending on what your growing zone is. Then, apply it again mid-June before a soaking rain is expected. It's pretty effective but one app at the beginning of the season is not sufficient for an entire growing season.

Sounds as though you might want to renew the gravel and a barrier for a fresh start?
RE: RE: Don't know where you're at montanagiant...  
montanagiant : 5/24/2019 3:56 pm : link
In comment 14455049 pjcas18 said:
Quote:
In comment 14455035 Dan in the Springs said:


Quote:


Montana? I ask because farmers have access to certain chemicals that others cannot buy. If you know a farmer they will often help you out. I've got a very large gravel parking area on my property and the weeds come back every year. We get the chemical from our farmer friends and it kills them, then we hoe them out. They might reappear during the year but we repeat the process. Might be worth looking into. I'd post the name of the chemicals but from what I understand it's better if you don't go asking around for it by name. If you know a farmer just ask them what they use. They'll clue you in.



Can you tell us?

Is it muriatic acid?

I used that to clean my pool filter cartridge and didn't think about how to dispose of it so I just emptied the bucket around my pool filter and it killed all the vegetation around my pool filter. So I looked it up and people use it as a weed killer. not sure you're supposed to though - if that's what you were alluding to.

If not, disregard.

It's industrial grade round-up. Have to be very careful using it
Seems like round up  
pjcas18 : 5/24/2019 4:03 pm : link
in general is on it's way out.

now that a $2B lawsuit was won against Monsanto.

I suspect even the industrial version is gone soon. especially being used on food products.

Of course that amount won't hold up, most of it is punitive, but nonetheless I thought I read after the verdict, that places more formally began pulling roundup from it's shelves (Costco for one).

Something like 15,000 round up lawsuits are in process.

RE: Seems like round up  
montanagiant : 5/24/2019 5:51 pm : link
In comment 14455127 pjcas18 said:
Quote:
in general is on it's way out.

now that a $2B lawsuit was won against Monsanto.

I suspect even the industrial version is gone soon. especially being used on food products.

Of course that amount won't hold up, most of it is punitive, but nonetheless I thought I read after the verdict, that places more formally began pulling roundup from it's shelves (Costco for one).

Something like 15,000 round up lawsuits are in process.

It's going to cost Monsanto a bundle but they can afford it
RE: I weedwack and spray southern states weed killer on it  
montanagiant : 5/24/2019 5:52 pm : link
In comment 14455025 mattlawson said:
Quote:
effective and lasts a while.

See I've been told that spraying them with the leaves is more effective....But who knows
Dig it up, drag gravel off. Remove plants mechanically by digging  
idiotsavant : 5/24/2019 6:07 pm : link
And put gravel back over.

Try rock salt before you replace top
The best recommendation is to start over.  
Diver_Down : 5/24/2019 7:06 pm : link
Remove the gravel (get rid of it as there is soil/weed seed in it). Re-purpose the gravel on a driveway or have a friend take it for free. Don't try and salvage it as you will just be reintroducing the headache.

Lay an industrial weed barrier. FarmTek or Grower's Supply can supply you with a legitimate product. Don't buy a "Pro-Grade" product at Home Depot/Lowes as it really is just crap.

Install the barrier and put fresh gravel down. Maintain it by ensuring soil/mulch/anything organic doesn't settle into the gravel. The weeds will need organic material to grow. Ensuring there is no accumulation of organic material will keep the area clear of vegetation.
Ding ding  
idiotsavant : 5/24/2019 7:45 pm : link
Winner- diver down
Lazy man alternative me  
pmmanning : 5/24/2019 10:45 pm : link
If u want to keep the area like it is throw the weed barrier down it's alsomt like a a screen then river rock (pjcas must have looked nice at first) preen it as suggeste then pretty up around the outside with some plants in a container or ground totally lazy
Chlorox bleach  
blueberry : 5/25/2019 12:29 pm : link
dilute with water- odor lasts for a week or so
RE: Lazy man alternative me  
pjcas18 : 5/25/2019 1:53 pm : link
In comment 14455322 pmmanning said:
Quote:
If u want to keep the area like it is throw the weed barrier down it's alsomt like a a screen then river rock (pjcas must have looked nice at first) preen it as suggeste then pretty up around the outside with some plants in a container or ground totally lazy


Mine still looks nice.

It's just a pain in the ass a couple times a year. And it was expensive.

I wouldn't do it that way again.

I'd have planted grass over a french drain or lived with the water.

In montana's case I'd get rid of the gravel. Gravel as a landscaping solution has very little actual utility to me. It's main draw from what I know is it's cheap.

at some point the inflection point of cheap and how much work I need to do to maintain it cross and it's not worth it anymore.

I'd replace it with grass or another patio with hardscaping - pavers, aggregate, even concrete.

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