Block-paving
Some 12 years ago we had a fair sized area block-paved, front, side and a back patio. A permuable membrance was placed over the soil below the sand. We were and are very happy with the results.
We have once resanded between the blocks, boring work! However, the older it's getting the more green things germinate inbetween the blocks 😲. Budleiha and opium poppies currently trying to take over 😭, not to mention grass and dandelion etc. Being very nature friendly we DO NOT use weedkiller, years ago we tried it once, but too many hassles re weather and no animals walking on it 😲😲 so much against our better judgement. We have used the long handled thin stiff brush, hands and knees with a weeder or when they get to a decent size just pulling them slowy up after a shower (not lately). Does anyone have any tips on keeping it weed free?
To a certain extent I like the worn in established look but it's the tall green growth makes it look most uncared for 😔. If the recent weeks of no rain haven't killed them I despair 😢
Perhaps I should be asking Gardeners Question Time 😉
Comments
-
Yep, flame thrower could be good!
When MIL was alive she used to use a weeding knife type thing, fits between the blocks, plus pulling them out when they appear also works......do not let them get too big.
We only have the blocks on the driveway out front, so these days we use weedkiller every so often. Once it dries it does not affect animals.....not that we get many walking over our driveway.
Ours has been in place 30 years, no membrane below the blocks, we laid it ourselves......80 square metres.
0 -
Personally I would use a weedkiller. Providing it is used in accordance with the instructions the risk to wildlife or pets should be very low according to the Telegraph. The problem with the weeds in block paving and any other type of path is that you need to kill the roots as some of the things mentioned are very difficult to get rid of completely by other means.
David
1 -
Sadly the weed killer did nothing over and above our usual method 😔. We have neighbourhood cats, foxes and hedgehogs that we know of. I like the sound of the weed burner and have just been looking at them. It's odd ones that grow rally, most just lie low - like they've learnt before 😂. OH cut grass today and some diaries and white clover flower below the cut level cheeky things but it leaves them for the bees and butterflies 😃
0 -
Agreed, a nice glyphosate would sort them out in no time down to the root with negligible / no risk to wildlife.
I use it all the time on the gravel and round the fruit trees.
Some people have an aversion to "chemicals" (GMO's, Gluten etc.) though from reading to much 'natural news' and the like!
0 -
Option 1--weed killer 2/3 times when good weather guaranteed. then jet wash all the paving and let it dry, next fill joints with kiln dried fine sand and a very soft sweeping brush and move sand around all over paving. sweep excess of then seal with a good block paving sealer and let dry. then apply a second coat of sealer and let dry. sit back with a glass of what you drink and admire the hard work you have put into it. good for 12/24 months before needs doing again.
Option 2--ring a driveway specialist and pay then to do it and you can drink while you watch them.
0 -
Weed suppressing kiln dried sand is available (try google). I thought about using it when i resanded by front drive earlier this year but thought it was expensive so used normal dried sand and i will continue with the weed killer.
0
