Non-motoring > Moss and weeds in block pave	Miscellaneous
Thread Author: bathtub tom	Replies: 65

Mon 25 Apr 11 15:45   Moss and weeds in block pave - bathtub tom

I'm thinking of tidying my driveway. I'm forever pulling weeds out of the gaps between the blocks. I've seen something like this used: tinyurl.com/68ve4cv on the end of a broom handle. Any advice or experience? ISTR advice about mixing salt with the kiln-dried-sand, any ideas as to the ratio? Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 25 Apr 11 16:03   Moss and weeds in block pave - Clk Sec

tinyurl.com/68ve4cv They work very well indeed; most of my neighbours have one. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 25 Apr 11 16:36   Moss and weeds in block pave - L'escargot

Chemical warfare is the way to go. Sodium chlorate used to be my favourite, but it's now been banned. In its place I use glyphosate systemic weedkiller. Cheapest is Wilko own brand, but there are several other brands. It comes in liquid form which you mix with water and apply with a watering can. Don't be disappointed if it appears to be taking two or three weeks to work its way through the system of the weeds down to the roots. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 25 Apr 11 16:49   Moss and weeds in block pave - CGNorwich

The wire brush will do the job quicker,cheaper and more effectivley Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 25 Apr 11 17:19   Moss and weeds in block pave - Runfer D'Hills

I like these. Good for ants too. They make a satisfying crackling noise... :-) ferndale.hostserver1.co.uk/im/pd/SUFLA13391_3.jpg Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 25 Apr 11 17:28   Moss and weeds in block pave - CGNorwich

Good fun but on the sort of ground in the picture you would do just as well and a lot quicker with a hoe! Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 25 Apr 11 17:31   Moss and weeds in block pave - R.P.

Works well, ours is a Yeoman brand from Amazon. Amazingly simple to use and you can clear a large area very quickly, cheaper than chemicals in the long run. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 25 Apr 11 17:48   Moss and weeds in block pave - Zero

wonder if BobbyG would mind if his neigbour used one.... Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 22:54   Moss and weeds in block pave - BobbyG

You're getting as bad as Dave!! Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 14:03   Moss and weeds in block pave - helicopter

Kettle of boiling water does just as well Humph. The resultant boiled ants are greatly appreciated by our tame blackbird ..... they make a change from the raisins which he takes from my hand to feed his two demanding chicks..... Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 25 Apr 11 18:40   Moss and weeds in block pave - L'escargot

>> The wire brush will do the job quicker,cheaper and more effectivley >> On a large drive it could take an eternity, especially if the blocks are laid in the traditional herring-bone pattern. Last edited by: L'escargot on Mon 25 Apr 11 at 18:42 Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 25 Apr 11 18:43   Moss and weeds in block pave - R.P.

Depends on the time,inclination and convenience triangle...:-) Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 25 Apr 11 18:44   Moss and weeds in block pave - Runfer D'Hills

Have you been on a course again PU ? Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 25 Apr 11 18:45   Moss and weeds in block pave - L'escargot

>> Depends on the time,inclination and convenience triangle...:-) >> I reckon ours would take more than 12 months of continuous work. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 25 Apr 11 18:47   Moss and weeds in block pave - R.P.

By which time you'd have to start again ! Our patio and drive are block paving but no issues at the moment and despite being a new build the house has stood empty for a couple of years so i bodes well. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 25 Apr 11 18:51   Moss and weeds in block pave - Zero

Bodes well? empty for a couple of years? More like bodies under the block paving... Watch out for poppies. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 25 Apr 11 18:53   Moss and weeds in block pave - R.P.

Possibly of course - I was joking with a friend today that I been advised not to use a metal detector in the "meadow" - anyone that knows about Anglesey politics would understand that comment...:-) Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 25 Apr 11 18:55   Moss and weeds in block pave - Runfer D'Hills

I know, I was thinking that. Sounds like the opening scene from a Midsomer Murder. "The house the Englishman bought"... Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 25 Apr 11 18:55   Moss and weeds in block pave - R.P.

! :-) Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 25 Apr 11 19:22   Moss and weeds in block pave - CGNorwich

How big is the drive and how tall are the weeds? Did our 30 foot by 20 foot drive in a morning last year Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 25 Apr 11 19:24   Moss and weeds in block pave - Zero

A whole morning? or several cups of coffee, toast, and a gossip with the neighbour morning. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 25 Apr 11 19:33   Moss and weeds in block pave - CGNorwich

In Norfolk One 'morning' = the time after breakfast (10am) and before lunch (12.30pm) less 1 coffee break (11 to 11.30) Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 25 Apr 11 18:58   Moss and weeds in block pave - teabelly

You can still get it from agricultural suppliers I think. My dad uses it. Not that he's a farmer. He just likes to make sure weeds are properly dead. The systemic weedkillers these days are utter pants. It's quicker to chuck on boiling water. Weeds usually look mortally wounded within hours. Then I dump normal salt on them. It gets into the soil and discourages further growth and annoys slugs into the bargain :) Another simple idea is to get some black plastic sheeting and lay it across the whole drive and weight it down. Weeds will be killed off. Then you can treat the cracks in the paving with some weed suppressant to keep them away. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 25 Apr 11 19:07   Moss and weeds in block pave - corax

Roundup and a garden sprayer, the hozelock type. Make sure you get an extension lance, otherwise you'll be forever stooping to spray, not good for the back if you need to do a large area. Sprayers are very economical with the chemical, and roundup is biodegradable. Watering cans - you waste half of it sloshing it where it's not needed. I only need to do my drive once or at the most twice a year. Systemic weedkillers are utter pants? You're only killing a few small plants, not giant hogweed. Last edited by: corax on Mon 25 Apr 11 at 19:09 Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 25 Apr 11 23:59   Moss and weeds in block pave - Stuartli

>>The systemic weedkillers these days are utter pants.>> Sorry, got to disagree. Reply to this message | Report message       1

Tue 26 Apr 11 08:21   Moss and weeds in block pave - Crankcase

The weeds on our drive are unkillable. This year I've now applied one of those systemic things (I think it's Roundup from memory) three times - the first at recommended dose, the second at double and the third at triple dose. It needs doing again now. A few years back we were using Pathclear ( I can't find the same packet in the shops now), and that was applied twice a year and the drive stayed clear. So something has changed, or the Roundup contains fertilizer. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 08:33   Moss and weeds in block pave - Iffy

...or the Roundup contains fertilizer... Weedkillers don't seem to be quite what they were. On the farm we used to have paraquat under the ICI brandname Gramoxone. It was used diluted many times over in one of those long arm sprayers mounted on the back of a tractor. Gramoxone was also handy if the farmer's wife wanted to bump off her husband - a neat teaspoonful in his gravy would do the trick. Seriously strong stuff which was later banned. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 10:21   Moss and weeds in block pave - VxFan

>> Seriously strong stuff which was later banned. Anything that successfully works usually goes the same way and is replaced with some environmentally friendly stuff that doesn't. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 09:03   Moss and weeds in block pave - CGNorwich

The old Pathclear used to contain Paraquat and Simazine, both now banned chemicals for garden use. Paraquat is a particularly nasty substance, poisonous to mammals including humans in very small doses and which has no antidote. You drink it you die. Better a few more weeds and fewer deaths of children every year. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 09:08   Moss and weeds in block pave - Iffy

...You drink it you die... From memory, the stuff had a rich, not unpleasant odour rather like molasses. I think that's why it could be used to make killer gravy - the victim wouldn't taste a nasty flavour. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 10:52   Moss and weeds in block pave - teabelly

>> The weeds on our drive are unkillable. This year I've now applied one of those >> systemic things (I think it's Roundup from memory) three times - the first at recommended >> dose, the second at double and the third at triple dose. It needs doing again >> now. >> >> A few years back we were using Pathclear ( I can't find the same packet >> in the shops now), and that was applied twice a year and the drive stayed >> clear. So something has changed, or the Roundup contains fertilizer. >> This is my experience. The old stuff would kill the weeds. More recent weedkiller proves to be ineffective no matter how much of a repeated drenching they get. If it does kill them it takes so long the replacements have already sprouted so it's completely useless at keeping them away. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 25 Apr 11 19:10   Moss and weeds in block pave - Skoda

>> tinyurl.com/68ve4cv I never knew this existed, many thanks for this BT. Last week i was using one of these: cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-Wilkinson-Sword-Classic-Carbon-Steel-Patio-Weeder-/270658612379?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Garden_Plants_Weed_Pest_Control_CV&hash=item3f0482ac9b#ht_803wt_905 I only cleared the bit in front of the garage before i got bored beyond my limits. Ordered the wire brush now. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 25 Apr 11 20:34   Moss and weeds in block pave - Harleyman

A word of warning regarding weedkillers..... NEVER mix the modern glyphosate ones with the older Sodium Hypochlorate ones. Particularly in a pressure sprayer. The resultant alkali/acid mix produces chlorine gas. Need I say more? Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 25 Apr 11 20:36   Moss and weeds in block pave - Zero

Chlorine gas kills weeds tho dunnit? Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 25 Apr 11 20:37   Moss and weeds in block pave - Harleyman

>> Chlorine gas kills weeds tho dunnit? >> Killed a lot of blokes in Flanders, but the poppies survived. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 25 Apr 11 20:59   Moss and weeds in block pave - R.P.

Guess that's true enough HM ? Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 25 Apr 11 23:30   Moss and weeds in block pave - bathtub tom

Could reduce the amount of pumping you need to do? Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 00:52   Moss and weeds in block pave - henry k

I watched my neighbour blasting his block paving with a pressure washer then chucking some sand down to fill in the gaps. The one thing not to use is the regular moss killer unless your want a rusty finish :-( Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 03:14   Moss and weeds in block pave - Armel Coussine

Almost any drive looks better with moss and weeds than without. Save yourself the hassle and have a mellow driveway. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 04:39   Moss and weeds in block pave - Pat

I did my patio with Pathclear a few weeks ago, then it was easy to clear the residue out with a good sized screw driver. I made a dry mix of one part cement and 3 parts sand and watered it in. It looked lovely BUT it didn't set at all and has stayed like powder. What did I do wrong? Pat Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 08:42   Moss and weeds in block pave - AnotherJohnH

Not directly to do with block pave - we had a problem with moss and "green slippery surfaces" on paving on the shaded side of the house. Tried all manner of things which only provided a short term fix. Jeyes Fluid has been a long(er) term cure. I don't expect it would help much with weeds in block pave gaps, but if moss is an issue this stuff works. But it does pong a bit. Last edited by: AnotherJohnH on Tue 26 Apr 11 at 08:43 Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 08:45   Moss and weeds in block pave - Bigtee

Tried all manner of things which only provided a short term fix. Jeyes Fluid has provided a long term cure. I don't expect it would help much with weeds in block pave gaps, but if moss is an issue this stuff works. But it does pong a bit A big thumbs up for Jeyes fluid we use it on the back steps as algi slippery stuff grows there and yes it works a treat. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 08:55   Moss and weeds in block pave - Crankcase

Either zinc or copper wire/strips are supposed to kill moss, if it can be arranged so that rainwater runs over the metal and then the moss. Easy on a roof, perhaps not so easy on a wall, but is supposed to just keep on working pretty much for years. Anyone tried this? The internet is awash with disagreement over it, of course. Last edited by: Crankcase on Tue 26 Apr 11 at 08:55 Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 09:09   Moss and weeds in block pave - Fenlander

If the build-up of dirt/moss between the blocks is significant you do really need to get it out by some mechanical method so there is less for the weeds to grow in.... you only need to do this once. Then chemical is the answer... better if you get 5l of a farming weedkiller for about £25. That quantity/concentration will last many years. Got MIL's block drive back from neglect and kept it neat using that method. We have a huge gravel drive and that needs spot spraying every month through the growing season. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 13:48   Moss and weeds in block pave - L'escargot

>> Either zinc or copper wire/strips are supposed to kill moss, ................ >> Anyone tried this? The internet is awash with disagreement over it, of course. >> I know of a house chimney which has copper flashing where it meets the tiles and there's no moss below the chimney. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 12:53   Moss and weeds in block pave - Stuartli

>>A big thumbs up for Jeyes fluid we use it on the back steps as algi slippery stuff grows there and yes it works a treat.>> I've used it for years using a watering can (and mentioned it previously both here and the other place) to prevent a layer of algae building up on flagstones, especially those with a slightly rough top surface, and becoming slippy. It also kills weeds and grass growing between the flagstones. Also, if you mix some in a one litre spray bottle, it can be used on algae which has built up on damaged wall bricks and/or gateposts. A benefit with gateposts is that dogs normally hate the Jeyes Fluid smell so go and have a pee elsewhere..... Last edited by: Stuartli on Tue 26 Apr 11 at 12:54 Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 15:35   Moss and weeds in block pave - Ted

Jeyes fluid will also restore a hardened paint brush to as-new condition. It eats the paint. Pat , I did the all the gaps in the patio flags a couple of years ago but I used gritsand instead of ordinary sand...like mini-concrete. It's stayed where it was put ..If we get a good Summer, I'm going to work my way round all the flagstones with it. A piece of old carpet to sit on, radio on and rake out the joints to a decent depth. Pleasant enough work if supplied with tea/coffee by the forewoman ! . For weedkilling around the paths I use a strong solution of Sodium Chlorate from a pressure spray with a wand. Good for directing it into the gaps. I bought a big tub when I heard it was to be banned. Ted Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 09:52   Moss and weeds in block pave - L'escargot

Our drive has an estimated 3500 blocks. That would mean 7000 spaces between adjacent blocks to be cleaned out if I used a mechanical implement. Using a systemic weedkiller it takes a mere twelve watering cansful once or twice a year. I find that Wilko glyphosate works a treat but I accept that it's not quick acting. tinyurl.com/6ax6ypq Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 10:15   Moss and weeds in block pave - helicopter

Never actually counted ours but must be at least 1000 blocks l'es... The wire brush on a pole is a great tool and I am working my way gradually across my drive and pathways, usually I find half an hour or so at a time is enough to bore me . However half a dozen half hour sessions and the drive looks presentable. Having tried all the aforementioned weedkillers ,I have found that they do not work or do not last. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 10:23   Moss and weeds in block pave - CGNorwich

The trouble with systemic weedkillers is that you can only apply to growing weeds. So to be effective you have to wait for weeds to grow to a reasonable height before you can spray them. Spraying areas with no weed growth is ineffectual and waste of money. With the wire brush you can quickly remove weeds from the affected areas. Unless the drive was poorly laid you should not really have weeds sprouting up everywhere and they should come out easily Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 10:28   Moss and weeds in block pave - Fenlander

>>>The trouble with systemic weedkillers is that you can only apply to growing weeds. Yes you need to catch them at the first sign of leaf emergence. Best done late am on a baking hot day where there's no rain forecast for 24hrs... 48hrs+ much better. Even then of course the weeds don't just instantly die... they can take two weeks to wither. Then when folks see weeds again they say it hasn't worked... but of course these are mostly new weeds. Last edited by: Fenlander on Tue 26 Apr 11 at 10:28 Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 10:43   Moss and weeds in block pave - Zero

systemic shmemic, what can you buy that turns ground into a desert? Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 10:55   Moss and weeds in block pave - Iffy

It's a good idea to bruise weeds with a stick before spraying. The chemical tends to work better on an open wound. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 11:02   Moss and weeds in block pave - henry k

>> systemic shmemic, what can you buy that turns ground into a desert? >> Weeds do not like oil or salt , so I have been told. I do not recall weeds in the old fashioned breakers yards :-) My drive has a cocrete base so no problems ( Its these new fangled drives that are the problem ) Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 11:52   Moss and weeds in block pave - CGNorwich

You can't. Agent Orange no longer available. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 13:01   Moss and weeds in block pave - Bromptonaut

I still have a stock of 'Pathclear' from before paraquat was banned; weeds die off quickly and treated area should stay clear for several months. Need to be careful with run off though. Not tried it since the post 2007 paraquat free (glyphosate, oxadiazon and diflufenican) was intorduced. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 13:02   Moss and weeds in block pave - AnotherJohnH

>> systemic shmemic, what can you buy that turns ground into a desert? >> a copy of the Qur’ān seems to work wonders. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 13:58   Moss and weeds in block pave - Zero

>> >> systemic shmemic, what can you buy that turns ground into a desert? >> >> >> >> a copy of the Qur’ān seems to work wonders. Preferably without the collateral damage. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 13:44   Moss and weeds in block pave - L'escargot

>> With the wire brush you can quickly remove weeds from the affected areas. Isn't it likely to damage (i.e. abrade) the blocks? Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 13:57   Moss and weeds in block pave - helicopter

The short answer is no The blocks are not affected by the brush at all as far as I can see. The bristles of the brush which I have, bought from an NT shop are angled to a 'V' which fits the groove between blocks perfectly and it usually raises the dirt and weeds out of the groove with one pass of the brush. As I said, a very effective tool , just that it gets a bit wearing when you have a large area to cover. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 14:07   Moss and weeds in block pave - Cliff Pope

If the blocks have just been laid straight on top of earth or sand then it sounds a waste of time trying to kill weeds. Weeds are tough, it's part of the job description, and they keep coming back. Just call them hardy patio plants, and then you won't have a weed problem any more. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 16:02   Moss and weeds in block pave - Dulwich Estate

Don't they say that there's no such thing as weeds - they are just plants growing in places you don't want them to. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 23:40   Moss and weeds in block pave - CGNorwich

>> Don't they say that there's no such thing as weeds - they are just plants >> growing in places you don't want them to. >> That is true. An earlier post dealt with the problems of growing Wisteria . In the South of the USA it is classed as a noxious weed so fast does it grow. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 26 Apr 11 23:46   Moss and weeds in block pave - Fenlander

By chance was doing some casual house hunting this afternoon and drove past a very uncomfortable looking retired gent kneeling on his paved drive with a knife, brush, bucket and trigger spray of weed-off. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 6 May 11 09:16   Moss and weeds in block pave - Crankcase

Exciting update. Found an old box (2007) of yer old paraquat based Pathclear with four sachets still in it. Used one at the weekend and already, hey presto, a clear drive. I don't expect to have to do it again now until autumn. Now, there are three sachets left. Any bids...:) Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 6 May 11 09:24   Moss and weeds in block pave - henry k

>> I've seen something like this used: tinyurl.com/68ve4cv on the end of a broom handle. >> Or an up market kit ? www.amazon.co.uk/Wolf-Garten-FBM-Multi-Change-Weeding-Brush/dp/B001KZH8RC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1304669945&sr=8-1 www.amazon.co.uk/Wolf-Garten-FKM-Multi-Change-Garden-Scraper/dp/B0001FM2TQ/ref=pd_sim_lp_2 Reply to this message | Report message