I live in Quebec.
The weeds are spreading extremely fast through my driveway and garden. So far my actual lawn is OK but I know it's only a matter of time.
Spraying a weed killer did absolutely nothing but dry the weeds periodically, but they prevailed.
What do?
by atlasghostofficial
16 Comments
Weed killer usually takes several applications to work so be persistent with it. Anything in or around other landscape plants can be pulled manually.
Use a weed whacker, then sweep up the mess, then hit it with weed killer, ideally on a hot/dry day so the stems pull the spray into the weeds roots
Start pulling by hand. You don’t have to do it all in one day. Then plant something you want there and mulch around it.
Some weed can take several herbicide treatments when they’re well established.
Pressure washer could make short work of most of that. Pavers kinda need it anyway.
Are you not allowed to purchase glyphosate in Canada? It would take care of those really fast.
When they’re that big, I’d get a stand up puller like the Fiskars and pull them all. Then spray some weed killer and let it work, rinse repeat. It will take a while, but eventually you should get them down to where you can just pull the little guys when you see them.
Blowtorch, even a simple gas burner’ll work. It doesn’t need to be a bonfire or turn everything into charcoal; just kiss it with fire and it’ll turn a darker shade of green, then wilt in a day or two. Do it over and over until it expends its underground stores
Is there dirt under your pavers or sand and gravel? If there is dirt, it should be sand and gravel. If it’s sand and gravel, wash out the dirt and sweep sand into there. It will fix the weed problem there.
Kill it with Fire !!! At least between Pavera u can use a weed blowtorch !
Pull the thistle, wait until it rains and the ground is wet, they’ll come out roots and all.
Get a propane torch to clean up the weeds come in through the bricks.
Please know that if you pressure wash the pavers you will knock out whatever polymeric sand is there and it will then have to be replaced or your weed situation will be much worse. If polymeric sand is older than 3-5 years you are probably due for a restore (pressure wash, new sand, sealant).
This is why I hate pavers. This always happens. They’re great for a couple years the. Everything just grows through.
Wait until after a rain and they will pull out with little effort. Then hit them with weed killer when they try to grow back.
If you’re spraying a standard broadleaf killer and nothing is happening, you might be dealing with woody perennials or something that needs a systemic treatment like Glyphosate. For the cracks in the pavers, try a propane torch or boiling water to kill the roots instead of just wasting money on sprays that won’t penetrate the stone.
That’s why properly maintained landscaping is impressive. It’s a lot of work. Can’t expect to spray a little 2,4-D and think it’ll be the envy of the neighborhood.
I do the lawn. My wife does the flowerbeds, about 2,000 sqft of it. She’s out there at least an hour every other day and 3 or 4 hours on the weekend. Given it looks incredibly nice and everyone always comments on the landscaping, but it’s her hobby and she’s often planting new things, rotates annuals, moving things around. It takes an incredible amount of work to keep it looking nice.
It looks like you have at least one bush (that isn’t doing so well) and a bit of liriope. Since you have weeds growing IN your liriope, hand pulling there is your only choice if you want to keep it. Or, dig up the liriope and transplant to a pot, spray glyphosate, replant after 2 weeks. Liriope is very hardy. Then, make sure to put down a preemergent like prodiamine to minimize the weeds that sprout.
This. In the first pic it looks like it’s all weeds, some going to seed, and little or no mulch. Clean out that bed entirely, at least plant some kind of a shrub or ground cover in there and add 3+ inches of mulch on top.
Dont let your weeds go to seed.