Ridding Mum's driveway of weeds.

[Jurek]

As above?
How to?
Mum's car parking spot, which used to be a presentable lawn at the front of the house is, these days, an expanse of herringbone setts, up through which weeds are blowing their fanfare.
Can anyone recommend a way of getting rid of these that doesn't involve chemical warfare, or if it does, then the chemicals need to be fishee-friendly IYSWIM.
Any suggestions pls?
I'm trying to avoid a situation where Mum is going around on all fours digging the stuff out.

[Clare]

Flame thrower.

[Jurek]

Flame thrower.

Funnily enough, that's exactly what I had in mind.

[Clare]

If there is anything evil (dandelions, couch grass, thistles etc) they might take a few applications but if you deny a plant the chance to photosynthesise for long enough it will die.

[L CC]

Gas or electric

[De Sisti]

This will also get rid of weeds. Sometimes you've just got to go ahead and do it*. If your mother
gets on all-fours and cuts the weeds out; they'll be back within six weeks. That's what one of my
neighbours does. The front of her house and rear garden are embarrassments (in my opinion).
But why would she care? She only rents the house. 

https://www.scottsofstow.co.uk/spear-jackson-spray-and-leave-5l/

*And forget about being a "green" tree-hugger.

[PaulF]

Dust off and nuke the site from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.

[mrcharly-YHT]

I've not tried it, but suspect repeated cleaning with a jetwash will remove them.

[De Sisti]

I've had excellent results with Roundup.

[Kim]

I have a weed burner somewhere.  It's great for lighting fires, but a bit meh at dealing with any real quantity of weeds.  By its nature, it's a lot slower than spraying the fuckers with agent orange.  Okay for blatting things as they pop up through the cracks in the paving, but you wouldn't want to tackle a cyclist's lawn with one.

[cygnet]

My mum has suggested boiling water (to me, not in direct response to this topic)

[De Sisti]

I have a weed burner somewhere.  It's great for lighting fires, but a bit meh at dealing with any real quantity of weeds.  By its nature, it's a lot slower than spraying the fuckers with agent orange.  Okay for blatting things as they pop up through the cracks in the paving, but you wouldn't want to tackle a cyclist's lawn with one.

If they're on your lawn, then I'm afraid it's down to on all-fours with a sharp knife and cut the
buggers out by the roots.

[Jaded]

This should do the trick. And you’d be able to do all the neighbours too.

[Vernon]

How about one of these?

ETA: you could probably train it to recognise squirrels as well.

[Tomsk]

Lots of environmentally friendly options, though not as easy as chemical warfare:

Cover weeds until they give up:
Plantex membrane (expensive)
Old carpets/underlay (trawl the skips in the neighbourhood)

Boiling water (repeat ad nauseum)

Old skool chemical methods:
Salt
Jeyes Fluid (if you and your neighbours can stand the smell for a week or so)
Strong detergent

[Jaded]

I think Jeyes fluid is dangerous for cats?

[Jurek]

On reflection, I recon Mum has the psychic skills of talking the weeds into bringing about their own death.
Were it not for the fact that she had a fall and broke her arm following my visit last Sunday.
Meh.
With knobs on.

[andrewc]

Hope she recovers OK Jurek. 
I was in my local Lidl earlier & they had gas fuelled weed burners for about £15.
I might pick one up for my parents front patio which has the same problem.

[rafletcher]

Roundup. Spray it on. Neutralises on contact with soil. Just works. Best wishes for your mums recovery. 

[Kim]

Roundup. Spray it on. Neutralises on contact with soil. Just works. Best wishes for your mums recovery.

Glyposate is contraindicated by the "fishee-friendly" requirement.  Presumably there's a pond or something?

[Jaded]

On reflection, I recon Mum has the psychic skills of talking the weeds into bringing about their own death.
Were it not for the fact that she had a fall and broke her arm following my visit last Sunday.
Meh.
With knobs on.

Oh no! GWS mum.

[aeolus]

I assume the setts are some kind of concrete paving block with narrow joints (2-3mm max) usually laid and joints filled with a kiln dried sand to form a 'flexible paving'.

The trouble is the joints attract dirt/soil and are ideal growing conditions for weeds - as you know !

I have used on quite a few projects a 'setting sand' which is a very fine dry sand/cement mix that can be brushed into the joints and once cured is pretty effective at stopping or significantly reducing weed growth. At home mine has been laid for about 3 years with only a few odd weeds were the joints may have settled a bit.
I see that Wickes are now selling it  - but  major builders merchants that are Sika stockists will also be able to supply.

To use it you will need to clean out all the joints - narrow blade scraper (tesco had some with a wire brush as well attached) and then water jet them clean. The blocks then need to dry for a couple of days before application and ideally no rain for a further couple of days until cured.
It is then brushed in with a soft brush and gently wetted with a watering can so as not to wash it out. It is essential to wear a mask as this stuff if very very fine and dust ups when poured out etc. If you have any channel type drains I would use some rag at outlets to stop any run off entering the drains etc.


https://www.wickes.co.uk/Sika-Paving-Setting-Sand---20kg/p/190843

[Canardly]

Soda crystals in solution are supposed to be quite effective.

[Gattopardo]

Looking to deal with weeds growing through a patio, so should I just use salt?  Or salt and white vinegar. 


Or do the chemical route.

[Gattopardo]

Anyone can help?