Getting rid of grass and weeds in a driveway

[rjkobbeman]

I have an 800 foot gravel drive that gets grass/weeds in it. To remedy, I bought a 15 gallon sprayer that I throw in the little garden trailer and tow behind my riding mower. The sprayer is 12 volt and hooks up to the rider's battery.

The sprayer is very controllable. I spray all over the drive, yet have nice grass on either side. I use the local farm supply house's generic round-up.

If I were to buy one today, I would buy an actual tow-behind unit... but you get the idea.

 

[bal0123]

Honestley, I was not aware that it was illegal to spray oil on your drive. I do it this way because this is the way my dad did it and the way his dad my grandfather did it. It works. Our water level starts at about 160 feet down and to water tastes real good. The grass on both sides of the drive is lush and green, who knows, this has got my "Thinker" to thinking. I will look into doing it a different way.
But still what is different from spaying oil on the drive, compared to Round up. They are both a chemical that can run off from rain, and are both deadley if ingested. Any chemical over a length of time sprayed in the same area can't be good.

 

[Ford850]

Roundup attaches itself to organic or mineral matter and does not runoff. It locks on and breaks down fast. The instructions even warn not to mix with muddy water due to this, since the chemical would latch onto the suspended matter in the water and it would not be effective when sprayed.
I'm not saying you can drink the stuff, but as far as chemical sprays go I think it is one of the safer varities.

 

[kidr]

Hey I'm surrounded by hundreds of cows. They pee all over the place including streams and ponds. Should I be worried about cow urine in my well?

 

[melonhawg]

One time my roommate ran out of ant spray and pucked up the Hornet spray (the type that spray far). I don't know how much he used, but we had a big dead spot in our yard for two years.

 

[charlz]

In the chemical control vein, I have had good luck with Roundup Extend... but it is pricey.

I have a 15 gallon ATV sprayer and a 'boomless' setup. Essentially it is just a single nozzle 'boom'. One of the nozzles is sort of a 'half pattern' it sprays straight down and over to one side. With the flow the 'spot sprayer' gives me that means a swath about 3 feet wide with a nice clean edge on one side. I use this setup to 'cut in' my driveways. I put the nozzle all the way to one side on the back rack and hold the wheels about 4" from the edge of the grass. Have to do this 3 or times a year but it is fast and efficient.

 

[SARG]

Just for info sake ..... the wife just bought a 1.33 gal spraying jug of Roundup at Wallyworld for $15.

 

[SARG]

Honestley, I was not aware that it was illegal to spray oil on your drive. I do it this way because this is the way my dad did it and the way his dad my grandfather did it. It works. Our water level starts at about 160 feet down and to water tastes real good. The grass on both sides of the drive is lush and green, who knows, this has got my "Thinker" to thinking. I will look into doing it a different way.
But still what is different from spaying oil on the drive, compared to Round up. They are both a chemical that can run off from rain, and are both deadley if ingested. Any chemical over a length of time sprayed in the same area can't be good.

And just for giggles... most of us are old enough to remember the county trucks spraying the ditches with diesel fuel to kill off the weeds ...... and it is suppose to be a super secret ...... but on some occasions still do.

 

[archerm3]

I get a 2.5 gal jug of generic roundup (30oz rate) for 25 bucks....at the coop. good enough to kill off 7 acres of weeds/grass for a reseed, and probably 1 quart left over....i don't see how anything else you might try can beat that cost.

You just need to get your boom sprayer set up better. 100 ft of driveway? Thats like less than halfway around the house, try 1/4 mile of driveway!


You guys gotta stop buying glyphosate at Wallyworld and TSC and check out some of the "real" farm supply stores. The prices will shock you. In a good way.

 

[wupham]

You might try tank mixing glyphosate and oryzalin (Surflan or Weed Impede). Oryzalin is a preemergence herbicide that helps prevent weeds from coming back. Usually have to spray a couple times a year.