Reclaiming the gravel drive and lot

[Mat4644]

Vinegar works for most weeds but you have to buy the high strength.

Horticultural vinegar weedkiller test results - YouTube

 

[mmancuso13]

I use Ag vinegar with gray results. Amazon has 30% up to 45% from different vendors. If you keep an eye out they have sales on 4 gal bulk packs.

I dilute it 50/50 a sit works fine!

 

[strantor]

What a pretty lot!

If you want a perfect driveway then Id suggest digging out about 4-6 inches, lay down landscape fabric and go with 4-6 inches of new 3/4 crusher run crushed limestone and pack down. Wait a year then add another 1 inch of 1/4 crusher run limestone.

If it was my driveway Id probably embrace the grass and keep cutting it really low on the driveway. Nature will always take over so to keep it clear you will need to either keep working it or use chemicals. If I was experiencing issues with drainage and pot holes Id dig it out and regrade.

For maintenance I use a modified blade with tail wheels and side wings, sort of like a modified box blade. I use it every spring after the ground has thawed and firmed up to regrade as needed. Its impossible to keep the grass from re-growing without a lot of work.

The drive I made 2 years ago, I did as you recommend here. I didn't use landscape fabric (the toilet paper thin see-thru stuff from the home depot garden section) i used "road fabric" or "geotextile." Its about 1/4" thick reinforced felt-type stuff that goes down before highways are laid. Roll is 12ft wide by 330ft long, and takes several men to move. Then 6" of crushed concrete and limestone. It did not stop the grass/weed growth. I cannot believe that grass will grow in what amounts to just rocks and dust. What nutrients is it thriving on?! There's nothing there! WTH?!

I avoid chemicals when possible. I've tried pouring boiling water, propane flamethrower, pouring used cooking oil, etc. and most of it does nothing. Burning it with open flame seems to actually encourage new growth. Initially the growth recoils (slowly, as plants do) but within a few days it's coming back with vengeance. Oil works better but leaves ugly stains.

I've resorted to using glyphosate. It works well but it is a regular chore, keeping new growth at bay before it gets established.

 

[fried1765]

I have no shortage of equipment (Harley Rock Rake for One), but this is a battle that is almost impossible to win.

Farmers use Evil chemicals on our place already. I was thinking of Roundup for the driveeay vegetation issue.

I still have a picture in my mind of an 80 something year old friend on her knees removing the growth from her gravel driveway. That level of dedication and time, seemed to work.

Glysphosate two or three times each year works great!

 

[Mat4644]

Around the home roots can't penetrate good landscape fabric and it's very easy to pull them when they grow since the roots are very shallow. It doesn't stop weeds and I pity the person that pulls weeds and grass in a long driveway. I currently have a pile of clean washed gravel for landscaping. There's weeds growing out of it.

 

[LouNY]

I'm finding some of this almost humorous especially the desire to use high strength vinegar for weed control.
People that don't want to use chemicals but think that vinegar is not a chemical, the part that is killing weeds is the Acetic acid in it.
Acetic acid is a chemical, or is dilution the solution for it but not other products.
You all have a good day and have fun.

 

[Mat4644]

Personally I don't use vinegar for weed control. For people like my sister it's a matter of picking and using a lesser poison.

 

[deezler]

I'm finding some of this almost humorous especially the desire to use high strength vinegar for weed control.
People that don't want to use chemicals but think that vinegar is not a chemical, the part that is killing weeds is the Acetic acid in it.
Acetic acid is a chemical, or is dilution the solution for it but not other products.
You all have a good day and have fun.

Think critically here. Natural acidic vinegar is harmless. Roundup (glyphosate), conversely, is a synthetically engineered chemical that is now costing Monsanto billions, with a B, of dollars in legal liability, since people were finally able to prove that high exposure causes cancer. It's so backwards that a chemical mega corporation doesn't have to test the human health effects or safety of their products before pushing it on the marketplace. People have to get sick and die over years and years before anything changes. Everything in life around you is technically a chemical molecule - its the synthetic vs. natural origin, and the known health effects that matter.

 

[CoyPatton]

Great thread, as I now have the same problem at my place. I have a good 3-6" of clean limestone 21A on my 3-4 year old driveway. But with way less guest traffic this year (darn you, covid), and great grass growing weather, I've watched my gravel disappear below a carpet of grass and weeds in many spots. Also not going to put chemicals on my driveway near my well, yard, gardens, etc.

Thanks for the link, Lou. I just printed a few HF coupons for other tool/camper needs right now, so I'll pick one of those up soon and go to town! I should have done this sooner, as now I'll have dead thatch and the dirty root ball clods to contend with. Oh well. After I kill it all, I will probably use my box blade ripper to scratch it up a bit, then switch to my rear blade to pull it out smooth again. If my budget agrees, another thin top layer of clean limestone would be awesome. TBD.

I would recommend you avoid the clean limestone. Get the crusher run! It will pack fairly solid, which will REDUCE the grass growth (not sure anything stops grass growth). A frequent ‘regrading’ will help to disturb the grass growth also.
If a redistribution of crusher run is needed, you will probably need to run the BB rippers to break it lose (for wash outs and ruts for instances).

 

[deezler]

I would recommend you avoid the clean limestone. Get the crusher run! It will pack fairly solid, which will REDUCE the grass growth (not sure anything stops grass growth). A frequent ‘regrading’ will help to disturb the grass growth also.
If a redistribution of crusher run is needed, you will probably need to run the BB rippers to break it lose (for wash outs and ruts for instances).

You're definitely right about that. But I specifically chose clean, for a few reasons. 1) crusher run with fines packs so hard that you get standing water on top. This sprays up on your vehicles and makes them dirty. Clean stone doesn't do this.... I like my cars to stay clean and look nice. 2) fines also tends to make potholes form more easily, which again hold water. 3) clean stone is easier to regrade and move around as needed. This is also a downside, of course 4) Aesthetics, I like the look of clean stone more than smooth dirt pack. But now I have grass, so, also reconsidering everything, haha.