Box Blade and Weeds in Gravel

[Tom_H]

Most of you probably already know this, but for those who may not, Glyphosate is pretty expensive because rather than being a poison, it is a synthesized hormone. It is only taken into a plant through the leaves and it works the same way the natural hormone does that turns off the root functions. Like the natural hormones in all plants, it breaks down and decomposes fairly rapidly. For me, the issue is not environmental, but financial. I'd go broke if I used the stuff everywhere I'd like to.

 

[jdonovan]

Glyphosate is pretty expensive because rather than being a poison, it is a synthesized hormone.... it breaks down and decomposes fairly rapidly.
For me, the issue is not environmental, but financial. I'd go broke if I used the stuff everywhere I'd like to.

Sure there are much more low cost herbicides... you could use 2,4 d. Its about 1/3 the cost of Glyphosate, and if I needed bulk application, it would be higher on my list.

Its more toxic, and the operator needs more PPE than with a Glyphosate product.

 

[countrybumpkin]

Gives you a idea of what you can do with a drive.

How to use a 3 point land leveler

 

[lzicc]

I did see that video, that attachment is nice, but it is twice as much as a box blade. The box blade seems to be more versatile and cheaper.

Gives you a idea of what you can do with a drive.

How to use a 3 point land leveler

 

[countrybumpkin]

Just gives you an Idea of what can be done to a road in poor shape with a little work.

 

[Jay4200]

I have a gravel driveway and in the summer on the sides of the driveway where you don't run over all of the time, the weeds and grass will grow in the gravel. Would running over the area with a box blade dig up the weeds then spread the gravel back down?

Sounds like a job for waste oil.

JayC

 

[KU Gator]

The 2, 4, d works on broad leaf weeds, but is not effective on grass. The Glyphosate purchased in generic through the TSC in larger quantities is not too bad and your county extension office may also have it for less. It also helps to add a little liquid dishwashing detergent to the mix to help it stick to the plants better. I found that the generic usually took about 2 weeks to kill the weeds vs the Round up which was a few days, but the cost difference was worth the wait to me.

 

[dennisgw]

JayC.... I hope your well water source is not underneath your gravel driveway. Ouch....

 

[jimmer2880]

JayC.... I hope your well water source is not underneath your gravel driveway. Ouch....

or, within a mile of it. You never know which way the water travels once it goes below grade.

 

[jimmer2880]

I use my BB a couple times a year to remove weeds from my parking areas, and a short driveway. It works great. Like others have said though, you'll need to stop every now and then to remove the clumps.

 

[Haywire]

Sounds like a job for waste oil.

JayC

You gotta be kidding me...

 

[jdonovan]

You gotta be kidding me...

Its like its 1950's environmental practices all over again.

 

[Tom_H]

I have a rear blade, a box blade, and a scraper-grader. You may have the skills to use the box blade well; I find that not having top-n-tilt makes mine a challenge to use effectively. The scraper-grader, on the other hand, is idiot proof. You just drop the thing and drive.

 

[Jay4200]

Its like its 1950's environmental practices all over again.

Just stirring the pot .

OTOH, spraying oil onto dirt roads to keep down dust was common practice around here maybe 30 years ago, if not less, and might very well still be in some places. Considering the hundreds of thousands of gallons spread by every town, how bad could it be....

JayC

 

[jdonovan]

OTOH, spraying oil onto dirt roads to keep down dust was common practice around here maybe 30 years ago, if not less, and might very well still be in some places. Considering the hundreds of thousands of gallons spread by every town, how bad could it be....

There is a big difference between the heavy oils used for say tar and chip vs light oils like motor oil, kerosene, varsol and others that've seen used by non-municipal users to keep the dust down on private roads.