Posted: 8/3/2025 9:19:20 PM EDT
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I spray the driveway - usually with glyphosphate rather than a soil sterilizer. But there is enough overspray from the sprinklers and areas of the driveway that just don't get driven over that there is always something poking through the gravel. There's plenty of neighborhood dogs, deer, etc around that chemical warfare makes me nervous. We have black medic, dandelions, spurge, possibly purslane, goats beard, and just plain grass growing out there. So, I'm wondering about using a weedburner. I did a test patch today - roughly 10' by 50' but I really have no idea how long you need to keep the heat on them to kill them. I wouldn't expect that this does anything to the root system. Anyone here successfully use a weedburner for weed control? |
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45% concentrated vinegar, Agricultural Grade Epsom Salt, Dawn dish detergent, and water. Kills any plant. I found the recipe years ago online, but just eyeball it anymore. My 2B stone driveway and area around my garage and out buildings is approximately 2/3 acres total area and I use maybe 3 gallons of the mixture between April and October. |
| I have a 100 yard gravel driveway and large gravel area around the house and shop. I live in the woods surrounded by agricultural fields so it’s a constant struggle. I use real spray like RM and Triamec for most of the drive 2-3 times a year. Around the house and shop I use the vinegar concentrate concoction due to kids and pets. I also use a weed burner to keep everything in check between spraying. It really works well for maintenance as long as the weeds aren’t too mature. I just have the cane type that uses the 1# cans. The time it takes varies so just make a few passes. I do think that I’m going to get the bigger version that uses the tanks and just put it on my little cart. Cost wise it’s looking much cheaper and safer for the kids and critters. |
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In for interest. We live rural and have a lot of Angry weeds. Originally Posted By parrisisland1978: 45% concentrated vinegar, Agricultural Grade Epsom Salt, Dawn dish detergent, and water. Kills any plant. I found the recipe years ago online, but just eyeball it anymore. My 2B stone driveway and area around my garage and out buildings is approximately 2/3 acres total area and I use maybe 3 gallons of the mixture between April and October. I've tried that and it does work, seems like it takes about 3 days to really set in. I feel like the salt is REALLY rough on the sprayer, need to try and make sure the salt is dissolved well and rinse thoroughly when done. Originally Posted By dave5339: I've tried that before. If you don't mind doing it every two weeks it can work. Personally, I'm planning on hitting my gravel drive and some fence lines with RM43 and hoping we don't get any rain. Semper Fi I think if I do a pretty heavy spray I might get 3 months at most out of it. I want something that is a one and done for the season. But I like the idea that the ingredients in the above are not toxic (or not as) to any animals or the water table. |
LARUEMINATI
NRA Endowment Life Member
Originally Posted By Boom_Stick:
""AKs are for villagers you have to tell not to shit in their water supply.""
NRA Endowment Life Member
Originally Posted By Boom_Stick:
""AKs are for villagers you have to tell not to shit in their water supply.""
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There seems to be a fair number of sites saying the vinegar / epsom salt is not good. https://www.southernliving.com/garden/weeds/vinegar-epsom-salt-weed-killer I've read similar reviews elsewhere. Basically: vinegar burns the tops off of the weeds but doesn't kill roots Can damage soil structure, epsom salts may inhibit the soils ability to drain water. Will kill any organisms in the soil - worms etc. Like anything else these days, as many negative assessments as there are positive. Pays your money, takes your chances. |
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I bought one, but still haven't used it. Really don't care much about my ledgepack driveway. It the areas around the house and all my drainage ditches filled with 6" drainage stone I want to keep clear. |
Peace has always been the reign of mediocrities, and pacifism the bleating of a herd of sheep which allow themselves to be led to the slaughterhouse without defending themselves. ~some dead French guy.
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Originally Posted By johnh57: There seems to be a fair number of sites saying the vinegar / epsom salt is not good. https://www.southernliving.com/garden/weeds/vinegar-epsom-salt-weed-killer I've read similar reviews elsewhere. Basically: vinegar burns the tops off of the weeds but doesn't kill roots Can damage soil structure, epsom salts may inhibit the soils ability to drain water. Will kill any organisms in the soil - worms etc. Like anything else these days, as many negative assessments as there are positive. Pays your money, takes your chances. That has been my experience with the vinegar solution, tops burn off then come right back. Weed burner seems to do the same thing but I read recently to just damage the plant with fire and it dies trying to repair itself, I had just burnt them to a crisp before so I’m game to try it again. |
Life's battles don't always go to the stronger or faster man. In the end, the one who wins is the one who thinks he can! - SCI, NRA
Team Ranstad
Team Ranstad
| There are a number of Amish Farmers using organic methods of weed control near where I live. They use propane fired weed burners since most chemicals are not permitted under their organic certifications. It seems to be used as a supplemental method used in addition to manual methods such as hand weeding, hoeing or tilling. I get the impression that it is used out of necessity, not because it works well. |
It's true no matter who you are, the worst thing you can do for someone is give them something for nothing. - 3rdpig
Do not handicap your children by making their lives easy. - Heinlein
Do not handicap your children by making their lives easy. - Heinlein
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"The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there."
L.P. Hartley
L.P. Hartley
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Ooooo, a binford 3000 weed burner! Awesome! |