Best way of dealing with weeds

[Squire Haggard]

I'm just after measuring glyphosate weed killer and diluting it with water. I was raging because the fucking spray wont spray in a stream like it did last year. Maybe there's a blockage somewhere. I don't like using the stuff at as its banned in France and probably elsewhere too. I've searched and see that there's electric weedkillers which I've never heard of before. A gas one might do instead. Has anyone tried them?

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[MilleMiglia]

I remember the burners in mail order catalogues as a child; I assumed that they must have been banned, as I hadn't seen mention of them in a very long time.

[David1970]

Where are the weeds on a drive way, a lawn?

[Squire Haggard]

Where are the weeds on a drive way, a lawn?

A driveway and patio, so no worries about burning a lawn. 

[Squire Haggard]

I remember the burners in mail order catalogues as a child; I assumed that they must have been banned, as I hadn't seen mention of them in a very long time.

Its the chemicals that have been banned.

[LLPunting]

A driveway and patio, so no worries about burning a lawn. 

I've got one of the electric ones, basically a repackaged (slightly cooler blowing) paint-stripper on a long handle, no more unwieldy than a lightweight, cordless, upright vacuum.  Can be quite a slow job (minute or two) depending on how succulent the weeds are (drier, less substantial sprouts will wither in a few 10s of seconds) but it's pretty untaxing as you can wander around your paving "torching" the unwelcome shoots whilst using your freehand for better things.  A bit noisy but you can probably enjoy some good tunes if you have some half-decent earbuds or over the ear cans.  There's the added pyromania of torching ant and termite nests.  Can also be mildly rewarding when you set light to dry grass.

[David1970]

A driveway and patio, so no worries about burning a lawn. 

A mate of mine used to put bleach on his drive way using a watering can late at night and washed it off the next morning, he claimed it killed all the weeds and cleaned the driveway.

[Squire Haggard]

I've got one of the electric ones, basically a repackaged (slightly cooler blowing) paint-stripper on a long handle, no more unwieldy than a lightweight, cordless, upright vacuum.  Can be quite a slow job (minute or two) depending on how succulent the weeds are (drier, less substantial sprouts will wither in a few 10s of seconds) but it's pretty untaxing as you can wander around your paving "torching" the unwelcome shoots whilst using your freehand for better things.  A bit noisy but you can probably enjoy some good tunes if you have some half-decent earbuds or over the ear cans.  There's the added pyromania of torching ant and termite nests.  Can also be mildly rewarding when you set light to dry grass.

Thanks for that. I think that I'll get one on Ebay, a few pounds cheaper than the same model on Amazon.

[Squire Haggard]

A mate of mine used to put bleach on his drive way using a watering can late at night and washed it off the next morning, he claimed it killed all the weeds and cleaned the driveway.

Not a bad idea, as the slabs could do with a clean. 

[winkywanky]

Glyphosate is good because it kills down to the root, it's systemic. But you have to be very careful with your hygiene while using it, nasty stuff, and never breathe in anywhere near the spray.

[cunningman]

Glyphosate is good because it kills down to the root, it's systemic. But you have to be very careful with your hygiene while using it, nasty stuff, and never breathe in anywhere near the spray.

But now have masks! Err ....  I normally use the goggles I use for routing as well but its horrible, especially in weather like this.

[Logamimo]

I remember the burners in mail order catalogues as a child; I assumed that they must have been banned, as I hadn't seen mention of them in a very long time.

Burners still available from hardware stores, I've got one, saves bending down to pull the blighters out.

[Squire Haggard]

Glyphosate is good because it kills down to the root, it's systemic. But you have to be very careful with your hygiene while using it, nasty stuff, and never breathe in anywhere near the spray.

Mine would not spray in a stream today, another reason for stopping using it altogether. I'm going electric and set some grass on fire as well. 

[Adoniron]

I've got a gas burner. It's OK. Obviously it's only really for use on the drive or paths. I suppose you could say it's not environmentally friendly but is chemical weedkiller?

[RandomGuy99]

Agent Orange or Napalm.

[latecomer]

Another simple and cheap answer, if the surface is asphalt or concrete is to pour boiling water on the weeds.  Pour it on the leaves and it kills them down to the roots.

[King Nuts]

You need to find a witch. Wait until the fourth phase of the Moon, and then get her to piss on the affected area.

I'm telling you, it works like magic.

[Blackpool Rock]

Mine would not spray in a stream today, another reason for stopping using it altogether. I'm going electric and set some grass on fire as well. 

If it was spraying OK last year before you put it away then the chances are whatever you were last spraying has dried out and any solids have then crystallised somewhere in the mechanism causing a blockage.
Try flushing through with warm water with perhaps a small amount of detergent, alternatively flush with alcohol.

After using next time if you flush it before putting away and then spray any liquid residue out so that it's pumping air then there shouldn't be any solids left to dry out next time 

Alternatively just get the previously mentioned flame thrower   

[Blackpool Rock]

You need to find a witch. Wait until the fourth phase of the Moon, and then get her to piss on the affected area.

I'm telling you, it works like magic.

Just dig up Maggie Thatcher and sit her in the corner of the garden, nothing will grow and I mean absolutely fuck all, keeps cats away too 

[Squire Haggard]

If it was spraying OK last year before you put it away then the chances are whatever you were last spraying has dried out and any solids have then crystallised somewhere in the mechanism causing a blockage.
Try flushing through with warm water with perhaps a small amount of detergent, alternatively flush with alcohol.

After using next time if you flush it before putting away and then spray any liquid residue out so that it's pumping air then there shouldn't be any solids left to dry out next time 

Alternatively just get the previously mentioned flame thrower 

You're probably right. I have since thought that it could be what you have mentioned above. I'll flush the nozzle through with warm water.

Flame thrower has been ordered, as I dont like using banned chemicals anyway.   

[Happylad]

I hope that this reply is not too late to be of use, but after so 80 years or so of battling weeds in all sorts of situations I have had some experience, and have lost count of all the weedkillers that have had their very successful day and then been banned.

Currently one of the best you can use is Roundup, which you can buy in a variety of concentrations, and which will kill (roots and all) almost all weeds - although there are one or two that are now becoming tolerant of glyphosate which are not likely to appear on your drive or patio anyway.

As to burning, since 1950 I have had a flame gun - one of the old paraffin models -which is excellent at clearing off top growth and also for burning off the seeds or disease spores of various types from the soil surface before replanting, but although burning will kill off all top growth and the roots of annual or soft weeds it does not kill the deeper roots of tap-rooted weeds such as dandelions, thistles, bindweed, etc. These were taken care off by dribbling a solution of sodium chlorate along the paving joints, but sodium chlorate is now banned (which also means I can no longer make my own fireworks), so I now use Deadfast (applied from a Fairy Liquid bottle) for the same purpose.

Sorry if this is a bit late, but my computer broke down in April and I`ve only just got it back repaired)

[Doc Holliday]

Sorry if this is a bit late, but my computer broke down in April and I`ve only just got it back repaired)

Good to hear you are still with us. With your sudden and continued disappearance I feared the worst?

[Waterhouse]

Was thinking of getting a long-handled propane burner for this purpose, that is until our neighbour around the corner did his about back in April..!! 

Long story short, some weeds near his shed, the one next to the fence and where he keeps the bbq gas bottle and the burner, kept smouldering late into the evening, the shed caught fire, the flames from the shed spread to the fence and between the two they set fire to the roof eaves of the neighbouring house, completely destroying the roof just before the gas bottles exploded and took out the kitchen and some bedroom windows of our friends house.

Took six fire engines, including one of those special fire platform trucks, bit like something out of Thunderbirds, two to three hours to put out the roof, shed and fence fires.  Water damage to the house means the upstairs was completely ruined.  Our friend has had the repairs done to their flooring and windows now, but the house is covered in scaffolding and plastic sheeting and won’t be finished until early next year, or so we're told.

Suspect I’ll be sticking to conventional weed killer.

[WASA38]

Was thinking of getting a long-handled propane burner for this purpose, that is until our neighbour around the corner did his about back in April..!! 

Long story short, some weeds near his shed, the one next to the fence and where he keeps the bbq gas bottle and the burner, kept smouldering late into the evening, the shed caught fire, the flames from the shed spread to the fence and between the two they set fire to the roof eaves of the neighbouring house, completely destroying the roof just before the gas bottles exploded and took out the kitchen and some bedroom windows of our friends house.

Took six fire engines, including one of those special fire platform trucks, bit like something out of Thunderbirds, two to three hours to put out the roof, shed and fence fires.  Water damage to the house means the upstairs was completely ruined.  Our friend has had the repairs done to their flooring and windows now, but the house is covered in scaffolding and plastic sheeting and won’t be finished until early next year, or so we're told.

Suspect I’ll be sticking to conventional weed killer.

-and i bet the weeds have recovered !

[Happylad]

Was thinking of getting a long-handled propane burner for this purpose, that is until our neighbour around the corner did his about back in April..!! 

Long story short, some weeds near his shed, the one next to the fence and where he keeps the bbq gas bottle and the burner, kept smouldering late into the evening, the shed caught fire, the flames from the shed spread to the fence and between the two they set fire to the roof eaves of the neighbouring house, completely destroying the roof just before the gas bottles exploded and took out the kitchen and some bedroom windows of our friends house.

Took six fire engines, including one of those special fire platform trucks, bit like something out of Thunderbirds, two to three hours to put out the roof, shed and fence fires.

I seem to remember that the Chinese gentleman who invented roast pork used a somewhat similar method with his pigsty to produce it.

[scutty brown]

Was thinking of getting a long-handled propane burner for this purpose, that is until our neighbour around the corner did his about back in April..!! 

Long story short, some weeds near his shed, the one next to the fence and where he keeps the bbq gas bottle and the burner, kept smouldering late into the evening, the shed caught fire, the flames from the shed spread to the fence and between the two they set fire to the roof eaves of the neighbouring house, completely destroying the roof just before the gas bottles exploded and took out the kitchen and some bedroom windows of our friends house.

Took six fire engines, including one of those special fire platform trucks, bit like something out of Thunderbirds, two to three hours to put out the roof, shed and fence fires.  Water damage to the house means the upstairs was completely ruined.  Our friend has had the repairs done to their flooring and windows now, but the house is covered in scaffolding and plastic sheeting and won’t be finished until early next year, or so we're told.

Suspect I’ll be sticking to conventional weed killer.

FFS I hope he had public liability insurance..........normal house insurance won't cover the neighbours damage

[Waterhouse]

FFS I hope he had public liability insurance..........normal house insurance won't cover the neighbours damage

I'd assume so, as a apart of his insurance.  As far as I know both households are claiming off of their own insurance (I could be wrong) and the family who lost their roof and upstairs aren’t suing the family we know. I'll have to remember to ask how things are going and what's what with insurance and legalities when I see them next. 

[Steve2]

Its the chemicals that have been banned.

This is the replacement with slightly refined ingredients

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[redmist81]

Are you using a spray bottle with a shoulder strap that you carry on your
Unscrew the lance it all comes apart the nozzle will be blocked
Gardeners at work recommend rosetta weed killer

[bronson24]

I just buy a large bottle of vinegar and a large  bottle of table salt . Mix them together. And then add some bleach to the mix and then put it on the weeds. And it works and kills them. And it all costs less than £1.50

[catweazle]

As I mentioned elsewhere, I have been busy moving house, got all clogged down in lockdown, but finally got moved in at the end of July.

While l love my new house, the garden was a wilderness, never having been touched since the house was built 5 years ago.  The garden was overrun with what l finally identified as horsetail weed, which springs back up almost literally overnight.  In places it was a metre high.

gave up trying to sort it myself. Got the professionals in, they dug the whole garden out (with a mini digger) four foot deep, then dolomite, then lime, then gravel, then sand and finally top quality artificial grass. (No more pushing a mower, I'm too old for that lark)

[Squire Haggard]

As I mentioned elsewhere, I have been busy moving house, got all clogged down in lockdown, but finally got moved in at the end of July.

While l love my new house, the garden was a wilderness, never having been touched since the house was built 5 years ago.  The garden was overrun with what l finally identified as horsetail weed, which springs back up almost literally overnight.  In places it was a metre high.

gave up trying to sort it myself. Got the professionals in, they dug the whole garden out (with a mini digger) four foot deep, then dolomite, then lime, then gravel, then sand and finally top quality artificial grass. (No more pushing a mower, I'm too old for that lark)

Sounds like the nuclear option.

[WASA38]

I just buy a large bottle of vinegar and a large  bottle of table salt . Mix them together. And then add some bleach to the mix and then put it on the weeds. And it works and kills them. And it all costs less than £1.50

Not without a health and safety risk. Acidifying bleach generates chlorine so it would be wise not to breathe in in the proximity of the mixture. especially for anyone asthmatic or with senitive lungs

[Ahalfa Carling]

Been looking at the salt & vinegar route myself - I want something that is fairly permanent but will be pet/cat friendly.

[hungrypunt]

I bought a gas version, and after realisiing it would take me half a morning to what the spray did, it got binned, arm ache stood holding it like a lemon for ages too. My mum used to do the bleach thing and seemed to work somewhat but left a white residue ( I was young)

Ill try the salt and vinegar with bleach trick though cheers

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[WASA38]

I bought a gas version, and after realisiing it would take me half a morning to what the spray did, it got binned, arm ache stood holding it like a lemon for ages too. My mum used to do the bleach thing and seemed to work somewhat but left a white residue ( I was young)

Ill try the salt and vinegar with bleach trick though cheers

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Neither of these clips use bleach; both liquid soap. I repeat my warning.

[winkywanky]

Neither of these clips use bleach; both liquid soap. I repeat my warning.

You're quite right to repeat it, mixing bleach (sodium hypochlorite) and acid will indeed liberate chlorine gas (thinks back to O Level Chemistry 45 yrs ago) which is very nasty.

They used it as a weapon in WW1 and if you breathe enough of it in then it forms hydrochloric acid in your lungs. Even just a whiff of chlorine is a nasty irritant for the lungs.

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I once foolishly mixed two types of toilet duck in the bowl at once, one ran out so I continued with the other. Big mistake. Instantly acrid on the palate, and opened window immediately.

Be very wary of home made concoctions and amateur chemistry.

[Blackpool Rock]

You're quite right to repeat it, mixing bleach (sodium hypochlorite) and acid will indeed liberate chlorine gas (thinks back to O Level Chemistry 45 yrs ago) which is very nasty.

They used it as a weapon in WW1 and if you breathe enough of it in then it forms hydrochloric acid in your lungs. Even just a whiff of chlorine is a nasty irritant for the lungs.

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I once foolishly mixed two types of toilet duck in the bowl at once, one ran out so I continued with the other. Big mistake. Instantly acrid on the palate, and opened window immediately.

Be very wary of home made concoctions and amateur chemistry.

Yeah mixing harsh chemicals together can have all sorts of nasty and unexpected consequences, isn't bleach one the the ingredients you can make a home made bomb with when mixed with a couple of other freely available household items 

Not sure if they have changed the ingredients of some cleaners etc these days to stop it happening but I heard a story 30 yeras ago from a fireman who claimed they regularly got called out to toilet fires. 
Prompted a laugh but apparently different cleaning agents / chemicals react with each other and oxidise giving off fumes then the reaction get hot and spontaneously combusts

[winkywanky]

Yeah mixing harsh chemicals together can have all sorts of nasty and unexpected consequences, isn't bleach one the the ingredients you can make a home made bomb with when mixed with a couple of other freely available household items 

Not sure if they have changed the ingredients of some cleaners etc these days to stop it happening but I heard a story 30 yeras ago from a fireman who claimed they regularly got called out to toilet fires. 
Prompted a laugh but apparently different cleaning agents / chemicals react with each other and oxidise giving off fumes then the reaction get hot and spontaneously combusts

It is, but don't say any more on an open forum because the security services routinely surveil all websites and you're liable to have your front door kicked in by men in masks   

I frequently have noxious, inflammable gases in my toilet but it's normally more to do with what I had for dinner the previous evening  .

[Doc Holliday]

I once foolishly mixed two types of toilet duck in the bowl at once, one ran out ....

I'm glad one of the poor creatures managed to escape through the door.

[winkywanky]

I caught the other one and had it with a nice cherry sauce 

[MilleMiglia]

I caught the other one and had it with a nice cherry sauce 

Goes well with venison too.

[scutty brown]

I accidentally got gassed with chlorine when I was aged around 18 - took around 20 years before I stopped feeling the after effects in my chest when working hard.

As for weeds, had to chase around ten of the little shits away from the parlour I was trying to have a massage in today.
Bunch of Irish diddikai teenagers kept banging the front window and door. They fucked off when they saw me walking toward them after the punt - I had to go that way to get to the car anyway, but they didn't know that.
PITA though - never had puntus interruptus before

[holeymoley]

Bit late in the day, but the guy who did my drive used a powder in a spray it’s serious stuff and it’s called Paradise - very expensive but I think about a teaspoon full in 5 litres. Apparently it keeps weeds away for around 6 months. I also believe you can mix a small amount of glyphosate with it but not sure why. He is “ old school “ btw but it has been very effective on my drive so he definitely knows what he is doing.........

[Blackpool Rock]

Bit late in the day, but the guy who did my drive used a powder in a spray it’s serious stuff and it’s called Paradise - very expensive but I think about a teaspoon full in 5 litres. Apparently it keeps weeds away for around 6 months. I also believe you can mix a small amount of glyphosate with it but not sure why. He is “ old school “ btw but it has been very effective on my drive so he definitely knows what he is doing.........

As soon as I hear stuff like this I just think Dodgy 
I've known of someone who was given adhesives to work with by his "Old school" employer not knowing that the bloke had a garage full of the shit he bought cheap 10 years prior due to it being banned as carcinogenic, the guy is now dead 

Mmmm yeah so he uses this magic powder from an old looking box marked DDT 

[bushman]

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I use it all the time. But we have a agricultural business where this is needed.