Kill IT!! Deader n' Dead!

[Diggin It]

I have a couple of areas under and around decks, porches and walkways that just get nuisance weeds and grasses, seeds probably blown in on the wind or deposited by birds. I want the dirt essentially sterile so that NOTHING grows. I've tried all the store shelf stuff and it all fails. Even the Ground Clear that used to be called Trioxx that's supposed to be a ground sterilizer and clear everything out for a year. Used some of the stuff double strength, weeds are back in just a few weeks.

I've even thought about a heavy dose of salt in some places, but that leeches and has other issues such as concrete/foundation degradation.

Ground cloths don't work, weeds grow right through it. And they're not inexpensive. Concrete or other paving is out due to the cost, prep and the potential need to dig the area in the future because of buried utilities. Solid surfaces or poly sheets won't allow evaporation either and this area needs to remain dry. While those products will prevent rain from falling directly on the areas, they won't stop water infiltration from other areas. I need to work on drainage also, but that may be another step that will involve some digging.

Paving blocks that can be lifted out might be possible, but they're costly and weeds still find a way through. I see that even in professionally maintained areas.

But it also has to be 'safe' in that it won't leech beyond the applied areas or seep too deep and affect tree roots. It can't poison birds, rabbits, etc.

I've even tried pre-emergents and products like Preen that are supposed to stop seed germination. They don't work and they don't stop weeds that use sub surface root runners.

I might not even be opposed to non-traditional ideas like laundry products or oils.

I know, I know ... a magic product that kills what I want but nothing else, has no side effects and is cheap.

 

[BrokenTrack]

Hydrogen peroxide will kill it, and is safe.

It stops photosynthesis in the plant.

How much to dilute it, would be the real question. Full-strength will give you what you want, but as to how cheap it is, would remain for you to decide as you dilute it with water. If say, you could cut it with 3/4 water, that would be pretty cheap, but if it had to be nearly full-strength, then your cost per treatment area goes up.

You also might want to try vinegar. That makes the soil so acidic that it will not grow.

Or, you can try cutting the hydrogen peroxide with vinegar...

 

[oosik]

We built our current house on the exact same spot as the old homestead house. The homestead house was torn down in '52 - we built in '82. The yards around the old house location became "wild fields" in the intervening 30 years.

It's a slow process but it works. I began mowing these wild fields and would buy and spread native grass seed every year. After five years or so - finally choked out the last of the weeds. Now have about two acres of "country" lawn around the house and outbuildings.

It's not your lawns as you will see in a Scotts advertisement. It's all wild grasses - but it's thick, it's green and is a nice lawn when mowed.

I have found no way to sterilize land that will not also present other hazards. At least, that can be accomplished by a homeowner.

 

[Diggin It]

Hydrogen peroxide will kill it, and is safe.

It stops photosynthesis in the plant.

But for how long? Weeks, months, annual?

It's not your lawns as you will see in a Scotts advertisement. It's all wild grasses - but it's thick, it's green and is a nice lawn when mowed.

I have found no way to sterilize land that will not also present other hazards. At least, that can be accomplished by a homeowner.

I don't want lawn. I don't want anything. Ultimately, there will be gravel, pavers or something else I haven't figured out yet, but NO GREEN anything.

 

[oosik]

Be VERY careful with hydrogen peroxide. In concentrated( commercial ) form is an almost explosive oxidizer. I have used the commercial product - experiment to rejuvenate an old seepage pit. It went ballistic. Created a volcanic eruption of sludge and old sewage.

Spectacular to view - very dangerous to be around.

 

[oosik]

I do not think there is such a thing as a product/method that will permanently sterilize ground. Maybe for a year. But then grass/weed seeds will blow in and begin growing. Even if you lay down gravel. Dust blows into the cracks in the gravel - seeds land on the accumulation of dust and grow.

Sterilize - lay down your gravel - be prepared to make semi-annual trips around with a product such as RoundUp.

 

[kthompson]

It is interesting the difference in success people have with chemicals. Some chemicals if applied to heavy will fail to kill at expected as some chemicals need time to work and if applied too heavy they will basically burn and not kill. Not saying you have not applied per label, just observation.

Maybe you could find a soil PH level that would solve your issue.

 

[Diggin It]

The end plan is to impede growing conditions by keeping the ground dry and reducing sunlight, but yeah I still see future treatments.

 

[Diggin It]

It is interesting the difference in success people have with chemicals. Some chemicals if applied to heavy will fail to kill at expected as some chemicals need time to work and if applied too heavy they will basically burn and not kill. Not saying you have not applied per label, just observation.

Maybe you could find a soil PH level that would solve your issue.

I've tried different products at different rates. I've even got stuff growing in places nothing should, like the side of a concrete fixture. Ever see weeds take hold in the side of buildings or on top of metal light poles? Lots of pictures out there on the web of that kind of thing. Some seeds only need a slight amount of dust to get started.

 

[fruitcakesa]

Maybe 10 years back when I was making home brew biodiesel, I accidentally spilled some waste vegetable fry oil on the lawn outside my shop.
Nothing has grown back on the spot in all that time.