Decent Weed Killer

[Banus]

So, we've moved our van onto a permanent pitch. The previous occupant of the pitch recently laid a nice acacia wood terrace. These wooden tiles clip together, look great are guaranteed for 25 years and I believe she bought them from IKEA which she laid on a base layer of gravel. Unfortunately she failed to lay a membrane between the tiles and the gravel and now weeds are popping up through the gaps in the tiles. So, can anyone recommend a quality weedkiller that I can dispense via a watering can that won't discolour / damage the wooden tiles? I'm aware of loads of products like Roundup which I have not used but are wondering if they are any good as weeds seem to be resistant to almost anything and even manage to grow through Tarmac!

 

[otherclive]

I think that you will have to test any weed killer on a small area of wood to see if it’s okay. I’ve used Roundup for years but I use a very fine pressurised spray on a dry day, as a watering can is overkill as you might say. I buy it concentrated and mix it myself. It kills most anything green but it takes time to permeate through the plant to the roots, but it is effective. The other one I use on lawn is Weedol which again is clear and I spray it on, but it is more selective than Roundup. But there is a path and gravel variant of Weedol too.

 

[Banus]

Thanks for that. As you can see in the first image, no matter how careful I am dispensing the weed killer on the weed I'm going to get loads on the wood even if the dispenser comes with a fine sprayer so that's why I thought I'd just go for it and blanket cover the whole area with a watering can so it runs down between the cracks and does a proper / thorough job. I agree that when I've selected a product (Roundup sounds OK) I'll test / try some on a small area first.

 

[otherclive]

Thanks for that. As you can see in the first image, no matter how careful I am dispensing the weed killer on the weed I'm going to get loads on the wood even if the dispenser comes with a fine sprayer so that's why I thought I'd just go for it and blanket cover the whole area with a watering can so it runs down between the cracks and does a proper / thorough job. I agree that when I've selected a product (Roundup sounds OK) I'll test / try some on a small area first.

A pressure sprayer allows better control and you use less product too.

 

[JTQ]

I use Roundup, again a self mixed concentration. It is effective killing, but not stopping a new colony to develop.

One word of caution, don't then after doing the job walk on your lawn in shoes that have been used to tread on any part of the sprayed decking!

Yes, I found out the hard way very many years ago.

 

[borderbilly]

Ask your local friendly farmer for some, they have the good stuff, thats where i get mine. P.S. a membrane is as good as a chocolate fireguard, they just grow through it, and a waste of money.

 

[Hutch]

Ask your local friendly farmer for some, they have the good stuff, thats where i get mine. P.S. a membrane is as good as a chocolate fireguard, they just grow through it, and a waste of money.

I have a small graveled area in our front garden, double covered with membrane, took 3 years for the unplanted BlueBells to come through, looks nice though.

 

[Hutch]

I have used Sodium Hypochlorite, on our block paving , no discoloration,
Sodium hypochlorite

Also Vinegar 50% water 49% washing up liquid 1% , or in any ratio near that, plus a good handful of salt. The washing up liquid help the solution, stick to the weeds leaves.

 

[Jcloughie]

I use Glyphosate based products for my block paving, which seems to be all or most of those available. Lots of concentrates on Amazon. Same as Roundup, but much cheaper.

I have read that there is no advantage in using a stronger concentration than that recommended.

Not instant. Takes about 2 weeks. No idea if it would affect the wood. Have to try a sample.

Nice looking deck.

John

 

[Hutch]

Recently I was listening to Day of the Triffids on Radio 4Extra
Don't look at The Green Northern Lights.
Get that weed killer out.

 

[GUMPY]

Weed killer!
A while ago I had a chat with a friendly farmer and he gave me some granules to make it up.
Glysophate is easily the best.
Remind me I must go and visit him again.

 

[Buckman]

Sadly the only sure fire way around it is to remove all the tiles, remove all the weeds manually, give the area a good soaking with weed killer, lay down a membrane, then a plastic sheet on top of the membrane and the tiles back on top . No more weed issue ever. Got that T shirt many years ago.

 

[otherclive]

Sadly the only sure fire way around it is to remove all the tiles, remove all the weeds manually, give the area a good soaking with weed killer, lay down a membrane, then a plastic sheet on top of the membrane and the tiles back on top . No more weed issue ever. Got that T shirt many years ago.

Why lay down a membrane then an impermeable plastic sheet on top of it? Defeats the purpose of having a permeable membrane.

 

[JTQ]

Sadly the only sure fire way around it is to remove all the tiles, remove all the weeds manually, give the area a good soaking with weed killer, lay down a membrane, then a plastic sheet on top of the membrane and the tiles back on top . No more weed issue ever. Got that T shirt many years ago.

It then requires the site to be inherently water shedding, not necessarily what surfaces for van storage feature, or can retain under the point loading from the tyres.
Otherwise the van can be standing in a puddle with all the damage that damp environment leads to.

 

[Buckman]

Why lay down a membrane then an impermeable plastic sheet on top of it? Defeats the purpose of having a permeable membrane.

Unfortunately the membrane will not be wide enough for the width of the pitch and will need to be laid down in strips. The weeds will grow through where the strips join. Weeds can be very resilient. The thick plastic that we used was more for "insulation" keeping the awning slightly warmer in the winter months. Plus no water rising through the membrane. I was only going by what we did and it worked for us. The difference was is that we did it from day one.

 

[Beachball]

+1 Roundup my wife prefers to use this .

 

[Buckman]

+1 Roundup my wife prefers to use this .

That will only kill the weeds coming through the cracks however it is very effective.

 

[otherclive]

That will only kill the weeds coming through the cracks however it is very effective.

Not many weeds come through the wooden tiles. Glyphosate killls anything that shows green.

 

[Buckman]

Not many weeds come through the wooden tiles. Glyphosate killls anything that shows green.

What happens is the weeds try to grow under the tiles and then die leaving a dreadful musty smell in the awning.