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KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
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KrK

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Cheap & environmentally freindly way to kill grass & weeds?

I have a fairly large driveway, which consists of several large squares of cement with wood between them. Grass and weeds are growing up in these joint areas like crazy.... I'm wondering if someone has a fairly cheap remedy, that's not really bad for the environment and the yard (IE the soak em in motor oil or diesel fuel option!)

Was wondering if anyone has ever used regular household products (eg bleach, vinegar, or similar) to deal with this type of issue? Something that doesn't hurt concrete too would be good, lol....

HRM
God Bless America
MVM
join:2002-02-03
Darien, CT

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HRM

MVM

Boiling water will kill all plants. It removes the protective wax and they dry up.

Also, just covering them with plastic will too, especially when it is hot and can get over 130 or so for a couple days.

tahoejeff
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join:2001-07-01
Wisconsin Dells, WI

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use a flame thrower.
any propane torch will do, but they do make special long handle ones for killing weeds or melting ice.
here's one, but a bit expensive: »www.harborfreight.com/cp ··· er=91037

Greg_Z
Premium Member
join:2001-08-08
Springfield, IL

Greg_Z

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$29.99 expensive? That is pretty cheap for a hose & attachment.

mityfowl
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join:2000-11-06
Dallas, TX

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Really something like Roundup is about the best for your needs and it's relatively environmentally benign. I wouldn't drink it though.

Quote: Human and mammalian toxicity
Glyphosate itself is practically nontoxic by ingestion or by skin contact. The acute oral toxicity of Roundup is > 5,000 mg/kg in the rat.[14] It showed no toxic effects when fed to animals for 2 years, and only produced rare cases of reproductive effects when fed in extremely large doses to rodents and dogs. It has not demonstrated any increase in cancer rates in animal studies and is poorly absorbed in the digestive tract. Glyphosate has no significant potential to accumulate in animal tissue. [15][16]

Not only is glyphosate used as five different salts but commercial formulations of it contain surfactants, which vary in nature and concentration. As a result, human poisoning with this herbicide is not with the active ingredient alone but with complex and variable mixtures. [17]

A review of the toxicological data on Roundup shows that there are at least 58 studies of the effects of Roundup itself on a range of organisms.[18] This review concluded that "for terrestrial uses of Roundup minimal acute and chronic risk was predicted for potentially exposed nontarget organisms". It also concluded that there were some risks to aquatic organisms exposed to Roundup in shallow water. More recent research indicates glyphosate induces a variety of functional abnormalities in fetuses and pregnant rats.[19] Also in recent mammalian research, glyphosate has been found to interfere with an enzyme involved testosterone production in mouse cell culture[20] and to interfere with an estrogen biosynthesis enzyme in cultures of Human Placental cells.[21]

Studies have shown that the application of Roundup on wheat crops a week before harvesting results in higher glyphosate residue in the resulting grain and in the baked flour. [22]

»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ro ··· troversy

cdru
Go Colts
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join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN

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There are a variety of "natural" weed killers available, both commercially as well as home made. Google is your friend for home made weed killers.

If you read and follow the directions, and aren't right next to a body of water, I'd honestly just use Round-Up. While it's not 100% earth friendly, it's pretty stable and breaks down in a relatively short period of time. It's pretty non-toxic in small doses for animals. It is toxic for aquatic animals, but if you use it just for your driveway or around the yard and you aren't right next to a body of water, there isn't really much concern regarding run-off.

Spiral5
No Easy Way To Be Free.
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join:2003-03-04
Baltimore, MD

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I have used a vinegar and salt mixture successfully in the flower beds, but on the concrete you can omit the salt and the vinegar will still work. I have also used straight bleach.
public
join:2002-01-19
Santa Clara, CA

2 recommendations

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said by mityfowl:

Really something like Roundup is about the best for your needs and it's relatively environmentally benign.
If you believe that, there is a bridge for sale
»The World According To Monsanto

mityfowl
Premium Member
join:2000-11-06
Dallas, TX

mityfowl

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All I have to say is California, France and Germany.

ptrowski
Got Helix?
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join:2005-03-14
Woodstock, CT

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Use a pick to scrape them out.

lordfly
join:2000-10-12
Homestead, FL

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said by public:

said by mityfowl:

Really something like Roundup is about the best for your needs and it's relatively environmentally benign.
If you believe that, there is a bridge for sale
»The World According To Monsanto
If you can afford it, buy commercial RoundUp. It does not contain the extra crap they throw in. But you must be patient, it takes a week or so before any sign of it working. Monsanto adds other ingredients in the residential brands to give you the 'instant' kill look.

TJ_in_IL
join:2006-06-10
Winthrop Harbor, IL

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Sidewalk, driveway weeds: Mix 1 cup of brussels sprouts with a little water. Blend till mushy. Mix in a half-teaspoon of liquid dish soap. Pour into cracks where weeds can germinate before they start to.

Lawn weeds: Mix 1 teaspoon each of gin, vinegar and liquid dish soap with a quart of warm water. Spray weeds liberally in the cool of day, when not windy.

Then, take the rest of the Gin, sit in the shade, and enjoy!

natedj
Elected
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join:2001-06-06
Irmo, SC

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You want to kill grass and weeds?
If you want it permanent try salt. Yes salt, its cheap and without side effects.
Its the cheapest but it will leave your soil barren for a long long time.

Interested? read some more here »en.allexperts.com:80/q/L ··· st-1.htm

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
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Tulsa, OK

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Round-Up I was under the impression is 1) Expensive
2) Not environmentally friendly, and 3) Works on weeds but not on grass and stuff (which I need to kill too in the concrete.)
KrK

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Salt + Concrete = Bad idea

Salt helps destroy concrete. Well salt + water + winter but you get the idea.

The Brussel sprouts thing sounds interesting, and the vingar idea does too... Vinegar is super super cheap.

mityfowl
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join:2000-11-06
Dallas, TX

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1) Round-up in concentrate is very cost effective. Especially if applied with a hand sprayer. I've had 1 bottle of concentrate for about 8 years and have a big yard and a long driveway that wants to grow weeds in the cracks

2) I don't have any 3 headed (you name the critter)frogs or toads around here. Been using for 25 years at this house.

3) Glycosphates (brand name Round-Up) work best on grasses but works well on some broadleaf weeds.

4) I don't own any stock in the company
romega
join:2005-11-13
Rome, GA

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After boiling Green peanuts a few years back in a big pot,I found out that salt & water will kill the grass, by error, when I dumped the salty water off my deck killed grass & weeds

Trimline
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join:2004-10-24
Windermere, FL

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I use baking soda. It changes the PH and weeds can't tolerate it (sprinkle on like powdered sugar on a waffle). For grass, just use more. Try some tonight on a small patch, within 2 days, it will be gone (with no stains).

Cheers,

S

powerhog
Stinkin' up the joint
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join:2000-12-14
Owasso, OK

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said by KrK:

Round-Up I was under the impression is 1) Expensive
2) Not environmentally friendly, and 3) Works on weeds but not on grass and stuff (which I need to kill too in the concrete.)
1) depends on what you consider expensive
2) since vegetation is part of the 'environment' and Round-Up kills all vegetation, one could say it's bad for the "environment".
3) it is a non-selective herbicide... kills all plants**

Given our daily chances of rain this time of year, you'd be better off applying one of the consumer products that 'works' quickly vs the slower commercial products.

**some 'woody' plants are somewhat resistant, but I doubt you have many of those growing in your driveway cracks.

stev32k
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join:2000-04-27
Mobile, AL

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A boiling solution of strong salt water will kill all the grass & weeds immediately. The salt left behind will prevent growth for several months until rain dissolves it away. Then just repeat the treatment.

John Galt6
Forward, March
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join:2004-09-30
Happy Camp

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said by public:
said by mityfowl:

Really something like Roundup is about the best for your needs and it's relatively environmentally benign.
If you believe that, there is a bridge for sale
»The World According To Monsanto
Oh, I don't know what you are so worried about. God plans to kill all of us anyway.

If you decide to use Roundup, just use the absolute minimum necessary and apply it very sparingly. Understand how it works and use it accordingly.

There is a BIG difference in using it as a spot treatment and applying it to vast acreages.

Use common sense with chemicals...ALL chemicals.

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
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Tulsa, OK

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I have to avoid salt as it would come into direct contact with the concrete.

Not wanting to destroy the driveway to kill the weeds and grass

Heterman
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join:2004-02-28
Fayetteville, AR

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As already mentioned, Roundup (glyphosate) is a non-selective herbicide. What many don't bother to do is add in a surfactant which helps the product "stick" to the leaves and breaks down the wax, providing for better uptake by the plant. A little dishwashing liquid (Dawn, Joy, etc.) will do the trick nicely.

Brainless
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join:2000-12-15
Nicholasville, KY

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Dog Piss, Yea, I said it. Dog Piss. My dogs have left brown patches all over my yard and nothing will grow there. And the best part.... Its Free!

natedj
Elected
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join:2001-06-06
Irmo, SC

natedj

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said by Brainless:

Dog Piss, Yea, I said it. Dog Piss. My dogs have left brown patches all over my yard and nothing will grow there. And the best part.... Its Free!
And how do supposed to harness this potion. I don't think rover will take kindly to being fondled.

DiscardedVet
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join:2005-04-06
Sturgis, SD

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Another Salt Here

Add another one for regular table salt. I just got done doing my front walkways and "supposed to be a garden" area, heh. It kills it in the cracks of the walkways (brick) as well. Be liberal with it, it's just salt, and cheap. Not one weed left, nor anyting growing back.

Ditto on the "Roundup sucks", all that stuff does is temporarily turn the weeds brown .... they're nice anc green in 5 days.

heels_fan
1.20.09 The start of Socialism
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join:2003-02-07
Columbia, TN

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Re: Cheap & environmentally freindly way to kill grass & weeds?

Round up has ALWAYS worked for me.
I mix mine a little stronger than the direction indicate, but sure enough it kills the weed.
HarryH3
Premium Member
join:2005-02-21

HarryH3

Premium Member

As I moved to different areas of the country over the years, I observed that Round Up works very well in humid climates but doesn't work well at all in arid climates. I don't know if the dry air causes it to dry too quickly or what the problem is, but it didn't work nearly as well for me in Colorado Springs as it did in Houston.

Karride
Slower Traffic Keep Right
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join:2000-04-17
Germantown, TN

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I'll place a 3rd vote in for salt dissolved in water. After making some Ice Cream with my ex I accidentally dropped the brine bucket in the backyard and killed a generous patch of her grandmothers precious zoysia grass, quite quickly too. Her grandmother never did let me hear the end of it, you'd think that grass was made of gold or something.

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
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Tulsa, OK
Netgear WNDR3700v2
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KrK

Premium Member

Guys, you can't use salt on concrete. It destroys cement!

I'm sure salt would work wonders on the weeds tho... I just can't use it on the driveway TY tho for the suggestions!