Weeds - I hate them!

[Eels]

Garden dunce returns once more ... sorry!

I have large areas of gravel and concrete paving around the side of my house - I don't like it but it's not my house, so I'm stuck with it.  There have been loads and loads of weeds growing between the slabs and even grass coming up through the gravel, so I've doused the lot in weedkiller and everything's going yellow now.  The thing is, I still have to crawl around and pick the blimmin' things out, so I'm now left wondering exactly what purpose weedkiller serves!

[andyjevs]

it depends on what weedkiller you use. Many of the safe, common weedkillers such as roundup (glyphosate) will kill the roots as well as the top. This prevents nasty perennial weeds such as dandilion from coming back. Other weedkillers such as pathclear will only kill top growth.....ideal for little seedling weedsbut no good for the nasties. When the weed dies off, they will usually just shrivel up and blow away or get worn away by foot traffic. But some are more stubbon....especially small tufts of grass in the paving. There's not a lot you can really do about this apart from getting one of those small, gas powered flame throwers to burn them off when its dry.

[shaneystar]

Not wanting to hijack your thread eels but thank you andyjevs for a brilliant idea.
I am off to buy a gas burner thingy post haste as I am fed up with pulling bits of grass up from between the paving stones and hunting the weeds on my gravel driveway.All weedkillers I have tried only seem to work pro tem.So..this may be the answer !! Plus it will save having to keep my dog away from sprayed areas.

[dothawkes]

i think you have been missold the product and the only sensible course of action would be to photograph the offending weeds and take the pics, along with the unused so called weed killer back to the shop and demand a full refund, and i know Boo would back me up on this because she is as consumer aware as i am.

[Eels]

Boyfriend brought me home a wee mini flamethrower so I've spent my evening wandering around the garden blasting weeds with it.  Almost set the washing line alight complete with undies but otherwise I thoroughly recommend it - very effective and just the best fun EVER!