gravel driveway weeds, argh!

[clemsonfor]

I have been spraying all 800' of my gravel driveways for weeds this year (as in previous years) and i was going to just burn the dead weeds later....but its never going to stop raining here in Idaho. So yesterday, after a month of looking at dead grass littering the driveways, i put the snow plow on the tractor and regraded all the driveways... took a few hours, but the roads all look like new again......needs a little final raking is all.

its nice not to have all that dead grass. I made the mistake last year of spraying roundup with my 14' tow behind sprayer, didn't work. i think i put it on too heavy (its what Ive been told) only the tops died, 2 weeks later, weeds were worse that before. waste of $$$$

think ill plow them under next time again...least i wont have to worry about killing the neighboring trees and good brush...or the horses, dogs and cats.

now if i could just kill them durn mice and carpenter ants.......

Just to clear some things up. You cant put it on to "heavy" Although there is a point of diminishing returns, that said its the opposite effect that you got. There is a label that has to be followed by law. That said 5oz to the gallon of concentrate will work no better than 8oz both of which are over the labled rate anyway, which will kill at 3oz to the gallon fine.

The straight concentrate will smoke grass in a day no matter the species this is extreamy expensive and illegal, i dont do it unless i wipe the funneel in grass in the drive and its showing signs the next day. To give you an idea 41% GLY is labeld for full strength use on cut stumps to kill (fresh stumps) thats the only place.

Some things that reduce affectiveness. Spraying below 70 degrees, when it hasent rained in a long time and using dye.

 

[SPYDERLK]

We drive on our driveway. Havnt found any weeds able to take root.
larry

 

[clemsonfor]

You still have the center strip which this guy may not want. You dont drive in the center and even so there is no way you can drive enough on it to keep the grass out on the whole thing. Remember different areas of the country grow stuff different.

 

[bellweather]

Thanks for all the useful information guys. I guess I prefer my driveway clear of vegetation. About once a year I groom the driveway was a landscape rake (Landpride with gauge wheels) which does a great job of smoothing out the dips and removing weeds, however it also causes the larger stone to come to the surface and buries the pea gravel. Plus after a few weeks the weeks are reappearing with a vengeance. I think the raking actually promotes weed growth.

All things considered, I think I値l try rigging up a drip boom/tank and using one of the lower cost Roundup substitutes suggested here. I hear a vinegar and salt solution works too, but not sure if that痴 just an old wives tale?

 

[SPYDERLK]

You still have the center strip which this guy may not want.

We dont have a center strip. Part of a trouble free drive is that it be wide enuf that you can put a tire track on any part of it. Our drive is kept free of any growth and well packed and graded by my wife and me driving selectively over the whole surface.
larry

 

[clemsonfor]

We dont have a center strip. Part of a trouble free drive is that it be wide enuf that you can put a tire track on any part of it. Our drive is kept free of any growth and well packed and graded by my wife and me driving selectively over the whole surface.
larry

Thats kind of odd, seeing as most of us are creatures of habit we usually will drive either center or to the side not all over the road in a different spot everytime. I dont doubt you do it, just seems odd. I still also am amazed that yall come and go enough to keep all the grass killed off. Heck some of the county roads around here have grass in them and they get way more traffic than your drive.

 

[clemsonfor]

It's not a big savings. Last year, Monsanto sued the manufacturers of generic glyphosate and won, so now all generic glyphosate manufactured by other companies must pay a royalty to Monsanto.

Business is business and that's fair, in my opinion.

There are much better alternatives available but you need an applicators license.

What was the lawsuit about? Just curious. Roundup does not make Glyphosate, dosent Monsanto? My point is that the generics have to buy the glyphosate from someone? Also the anti competiton patent ran out which is the reason there is generics now?

 

[oldballs]

On my gravel drive, which has about a 10 degree slope, the vegetation holds the gravel in place when a downpour rain comes along. This helps keep ruts and washing the gravel away to a minimum. Thus, mowing the drive in the summer and grading it in the fall is my answer. It might also depend on the "looks" in one's neigborhood. A fine home, in a fine neighborhood probably wouldn't want such a ratty looking approach.

 

[tcreeley]

When my grave gets weedy, I disk harrow it. Looks good- takes out the dips and puddle washboard. I do it every few years in the spring. Every 10 years might add some gravel.

 

[oldballs]

When my grave gets weedy, I disk harrow it. Looks good- takes out the dips and puddle washboard. I do it every few years in the spring. Every 10 years might add some gravel.

I guess you have to rise from the dead to do that, eh?