Environmentally Friendly Weedkiller

[richardland]

Is there such a thing as an environmentally friendly weedkiller. I am told glyphosate rapidly decomposes after application but it seems to have nasty health considerations. Any ideas?

[minesapint]

What are the names of the species of weeds you wish to kill?
Are you talking about annual or perennial weeds or both? Where are they located?

[richardland]

Specifically dandelion (with the deep tap root that I never seem to be able to get rid of completely!). Northern Ireland

[heathfield]

I hesitate to point out that the weeds you're trying to get rid of are part of the environment!
That aside, for dandelions, pouring boiling water on them will finish them off, and the water will cool so rapidly as it spreads that it won't harm surrounding plants.

[richardland]

Thanks Heathfield. I realise that dandelions and indeed all other 'weeds' are part of our environment. However as far as I am aware the definition of a weed is a plant growing in the wrong place and these dandelions are growing in a gravel driveway which to me is the wrong place! So I need to control them. Thanks for the boiling water solution. Will this kill the tap root and stop them regrowing?

[theprof]

Sorry to jump in.

Boiling water will only destroy the foliage of the dandelion that it comes into contact with. It will not destroy the tap-root

To stop dandelions re-growing, use glyphosate. It is one of the most eco-friendly herbicides you can purchase. Glyphosate will destroy the tap-root