Grass in driveway - Removing

BobRip · Jul 5, 2005

For some reason I like grass in my yard, but not in my driveway. I used the snow blade today to scrape the driveway and removed most of the grass. I left the rubber edging on it because I am lazy (It does not have a quick attach). Does any one have suggestions on how to improve on this and their results using various implements?

Bob Rip

KentT · Jul 5, 2005

A landscape rake works pretty well for this purpose, and redistributes the gravel at the same time...

MossRoad · Jul 5, 2005

I'm assuming your driveway is rock or stone. ??

Depends if you are willing to use chemicals or not.

If yes, them something like Ortho Cleanup works well. Kills everything. If you don't want to use chemicals, get a rake and rought it up once in a while but be prepared to do the never ending battle. To help lessen weeds, never mow towards the driveway, as it blows the seeds into the drive in disproportional numbers. Mow towards the neighbor's yard! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

BobRip · Jul 5, 2005

The driveway is gravel. Thanks for the tips.
I have used chemicals, but it takes a lot (the driveway is about 300 feet long, and 30 feet wide for about one hundred feet). Also I never seem to get rid of most of the grass. I will have to borrow ClintBlake's rake and try that.

Bob Rip

FOURTEEN · Jul 6, 2005

( because I am lazy )

 Since, like most of us, you want to use your PT for every possible job, I suggest that you buy a young goat and 15' of rope. Tie one end of the rope to the goat and the other end to your PT. Each day move the PT 15' along the driveway. Come Thanksgiving, rather than turkey, you can have a Jamaican barbeque!!

ClintBlake · Jul 6, 2005

BobRip,

The box blade works very well for this task. By the way, I know someone local that would probably loan you one if you are interested.

Carpenter · Jul 6, 2005

I've had good luck with Roundup. Be sure and get the real stuff that farmers use not the diluted product sold to the general public. I sprayed mine twice the first year and have only had to spot spray since. You can get a 15 gallon sprayer and mount it on your PT; maybe even make up a spray boom from parts from the local farm supply. I mounted mine on my ATV so I could spray really fast. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

BobRip · Jul 7, 2005

I have tried regular Roundup and have had poor results. I am going with the scraping for now and see how it holds up. It took less that an hour to scrape the driveway and no materials to buy.
Thanks,

Bob Rip

JJester · Jul 24, 2005

I like to use fire to keep the grass and weeds at bay. Flame weeding can be a very good alternative to chemicals.

I've been happy with the stuff I have purchased from:

Red Dragon

pajoube · Jul 24, 2005

JJester,
Welcome to TBN.
PJ

BobRip · Aug 12, 2005

I bought a flame weeder yesterday. It works great. How long will the grass stay gone?

Bob Rip

cqaigy · Aug 12, 2005

I bought a flame weeder yesterday. It works great. 

How do you use one of those things? Do you keep the flame on until the plant's completely burned up or do you use it to just scorch the grass?

J_J · Aug 13, 2005

That grass will probably come back in a couple of weeks. You should also use a chemical grass and weed killer, so it can get down to the roots If you want to go cheap, try rock salt on the cracks.

bczoom · Aug 13, 2005

For me, the best process and results are achieved by using a total vegetation killer (round-up or similar) on the weeds then wait a week and then burn off. They burn very quickly once dead.

vetteman · Aug 13, 2005

I use roundup on my driveway. Mix it a little stronger than it says on label and do it on a real sunny day , prferably hot but necessarily, but the sunnier the better the weeds will take the roundup right in and kills the weeds,

SnowRidge · Aug 13, 2005

I just mow the gravel driveway. The grass helps control erosion, IMHO.

Besides, where else would the deer, rabbits, and groundhogs graze together, if we had no grass in our driveway? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

cqaigy · Aug 13, 2005

First off i think that the chemical killers work very good and are a lot easier to apply...But alas, we live next to a creek w/salmon in it and I was just reading a report about water quality. It said that the rivers and creeks around here had a significant amount of pesticides, some from ag and some from residential. I found it interesting that the report thought that the residential contribution was more of a problem, and it was surmise because we don't read and understand the directions so we have a tendency to over apply and at the wrong times. So I'm gonna try the blanket harrow, weed burner....and anything else that come up here /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

oh ya for you diyers
http://www.agronomy.ucdavis.edu/LTRAS/itech/flame.html

pajoube · Aug 13, 2005

Bob,
Here is another idea to consider.
I use Horticultural Vinegar. The product is made by the acetous fermentation of ethyl alcohol (made from grain) containing 20% acetic acid (200 grain food grade vinegar). Yucca Extract (food grade Yucca Schidigera), a sticky carbohydrate substance, has been added as a natural surfactant.
Of the many uses, one is to use as a non-selective vegetation killer. The killing action is a dehydration process. The acidity of the vinegar strips the protective coating off the surface of a plant.
Best used in hot weather. I like this product as you can replant in about an hour.
Product is cheaper than most products but not many places carry it.
I have ordered it through Bradfield Industries, Inc. 417-882-1442. You can also find information on this product at www.bradfieldind.com.
I have no connection with this company so you may find other sources as well. I ran into them at a nursery trade show.
PJ

BobRip · Aug 13, 2005

Thanks for the tips. I am going to see what comes back. My past experience with round up is that a lot of grass is not killed.

According to the instructions you don't have to completely burn up the grass. They say fan over it at a slow walk will do it. We will see.

Bob Rip