[Mischief]

Hi

Just wondering if anyone had any advice as to how to kill off grass growing in gravel. I have a large gravel pathway and its pretty much a grass carpet at the moment....me thinks i've left it too long to sort out !!!!

Any advice would be gratefully received

[mumofstig]

You can treat it with glyphosate and wait while it dies back (not pretty) i'd be inclined to pull it by hand...job done. It should come easily out of the gravel...says she fingers crossed

[Mischief]

Many thanks for your advice....I've tried to pull it out by hand but there's about 1/3 acre so I was hoping that there was something quicker

I'll try the other stuff and see how it goes

[mumofstig]

but there's about 1/3 acre

  can understand not wanting to do it by hand then

[Ice]

1/3 of an acre gravel driveway?  Do you live in a palace?

[Poolfield2]

1/3 of an acre gravel driveway?  Do you live in a palace?

Silly, then there would be gardeners to keep it weed free 

[mumofstig]

but they would be busy growing veg nowadays.........

[Salmo]

There are various mixtures on the market, eg Pathclear, which contain chemicals to kill off the top growth and then prevent further germination of weeds for about 2 months.

If there is a lot of grass it might be better to use Roundup to kill it first, rake the dead grass all out and loosen the gravel, then apply Pathclear or similar. You probably need to add more gravel.

[Mischief]

Ice... I wish I lived in a palace and had a full time weed and grass killer person

Will have a go at the roundup and see what happens........ raking the gravel after it dies off is not going to be fun

[tode]

I think the best solution is chlorate: its cheaper than glyphosate, and keeps the gravel clean for most of the season. Theres always quite a bit of grass seed in the gravel, and glyphosate wont stop them germinating after the first shower.
Another advantage is that theres no risk of wind drift.
I usually treat by scattering, after rain, and then go over the bits Ive missed after 10 days.
If you treat regularly every year, the stock of grass seeds will gradually diminish.
Good luck

[mumofstig]

Just to note that sodium chlorate was banned by the EU in 2008 so you shouldn't be able to buy it any more.............but you can use it if you already have it

[DD.]

But only until 10th May next year.

After which time the sodium chlorate police will be after you.

[Casey76]

Just to note that sodium chlorate was banned by the EU in 2008 so you shouldn't be able to buy it any more

Really?  That's strange, because every supermarket, garden centre and DIY store is still selling sodium chlorate here in France for cleaning paths, walls and roofs etc...

[mumofstig]

just goes to show that it's only the brits that take the EU seriously.................everywhere else they just ignore the bits they don't like and carefully 'use' the bits that are to their advantage

[Yorkie]

In the UK Sodium Chlorate is legal to sell until 30 September 2009, and legal to use until 10 May 2010.  There is always a delay between the EU Commission Decision and subsequent Directives, and national implementation.

For further information and a link to the revocation notice, see here