Driveway weed clearing

[bkenobi]

I have a gravel driveway that's somewhat loose other than in the main traveled path. In the past, I have used roundup to clear the weeds which does work. I prefer to avoid chemicals though, so have considered other options (salt, vinegar, fire, hand pulling, pulling a chain link drag, etc). All of these can work with limited success but I haven't found a solution that really works without a large down side. Chemicals take a long time since I have to spray with my 4 gallon backpack and i do tend to spill a bit on my back (really not ideal!) when putting it on.

This week I tried using my scuffle hoe (aka hula hoe, action hoe, etc) and it really did a good job. But it took forever since it's only 6" wide. I only want to go down 1-2" at most and in the compacted ares that's more difficult. I did a little searching and the closest to a tow behind version is the wheeled version many places sell. I'm sure that helps because the wheel would give some leverage rather than having to put so much force on the wooden handle. But, I guess I was hoping there might be a tool like a box blade with undercutting scarifier teeth (envisioning something like a T-shape used for turning soil). If these exist, I'm not sure what they'd be called so I haven't found anything yet.

Alternately, if there is a different tool that can be drug behind a lawn or compact tractor I'd love to hear about it! No reason to reinvent things if they exist and work for the job. Just to be clear, I don't have a box blade and my driveway is flat and doesn't get ruts so I really don't need one for regrading anything. I was just saying that because it seems like it's close to the need but not really there.

 

[scootr]

I use a small 16g Northern Star weed sprayer. 1 nozzle covers 8-10 ft. I have fit on a Craftsman mower. It currently goes in a golf cart cargo box and connects with alligator clips when needed.

 

[bkenobi]

So you drive around with the wand in hand and spray as you go?

I should mention I also have drug my thatching attachment which loosens the gravel and gives a zen garden look, but does nothing for the weeds.

 

[scootr]

So you drive around with the wand in hand and spray as you go?

I should mention I also have drug my thatching attachment which loosens the gravel and gives a zen garden look, but does nothing for the weeds.

The unit I'm suggesting has both a 20ft hand spray lead and a stationary single rear spray that covers 8-10 ft.
I would use the rear spray for a driveway and the wand for places you can't drive on. I googled it. They have gone up ($) quite a bit - my unit looks similar but has the rear sprayer for like $159-169

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

I used my box blade with great success a few weeks ago. Start dragging it where you have plenty of gravel and just drag it around with it all the way lowered. It worked better than I expected.

I have also used a roundup alternative and a weed torch. Weed torch was worthless. Lots of work, lots of gas and the weeds came back looking better than they were, like they had a good spa day.

 

[NoTrespassing]

I have a gravel driveway that's somewhat loose other than in the main traveled path. In the past, I have used roundup to clear the weeds which does work. I prefer to avoid chemicals though, so have considered other options (salt, vinegar, fire, hand pulling, pulling a chain link drag, etc). All of these can work with limited success but I haven't found a solution that really works without a large down side. Chemicals take a long time since I have to spray with my 4 gallon backpack and i do tend to spill a bit on my back (really not ideal!) when putting it on.

This week I tried using my scuffle hoe (aka hula hoe, action hoe, etc) and it really did a good job. But it took forever since it's only 6" wide. I only want to go down 1-2" at most and in the compacted ares that's more difficult. I did a little searching and the closest to a tow behind version is the wheeled version many places sell. I'm sure that helps because the wheel would give some leverage rather than having to put so much force on the wooden handle. But, I guess I was hoping there might be a tool like a box blade with undercutting scarifier teeth (envisioning something like a T-shape used for turning soil). If these exist, I'm not sure what they'd be called so I haven't found anything yet.

Alternately, if there is a different tool that can be drug behind a lawn or compact tractor I'd love to hear about it! No reason to reinvent things if they exist and work for the job. Just to be clear, I don't have a box blade and my driveway is flat and doesn't get ruts so I really don't need one for regrading anything. I was just saying that because it seems like it's close to the need but not really there.

If you have a truck, place the backpack sprayer on the tailgate and slip your arms through the straps. I never spill weedkiller down my back that way. I also wear rubber gloves.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

Oops, I missed that you said you DON'T have a box blade...

 

[bkenobi]

I looked at a box blade when I got the tractor but the driveway was the only thing I would use it on. The scarifier teeth seem to be spread out enough that I'd have to go over it many times to get full coverage to remove the weeds at the roots. The thatcher does basically the same thing with flexible teeth and I find it does a mediocre job. I suppose if the box were lowered to cut into the gravel it would do more, but then I'd be grading and as I said I don't really need that. I found that the driveway is crushed on the top but a couple inches down it's bigger crushed (~3" stone) so I try to avoid going too deep with the thatcher. I imagine I'd lift a lot of heavier material if I went with a box blade!

 

[Tomtint]

weed season up here is late June through mid September. We don't have weed issues in our gravel road but the lawn and flower beds are a different story. I have tried everything from professional services to fertilise the lawn to saying screw it Ill do it myself ...Both scenarios have had similar results. Weeds win. I have had decent results with Tenasity herbicide.. It kills virtually everything but grass ..just very slowly. The granular store bought weed and feeds , crab grass control etc.. I find are a boom - bust proposition. Lawn looks good for about 3 weeks and then is hungry again and the weeds creep back in. Just last week I treated the lawn with a liquid weed and feed via a 25 gal tank I put behind my tractor.. after just a few days the weeds are visibly dying off so Im somewhat hopeful for its effectiveness. . As far as the OP question.. I would consider investing in a tank sprayer and towing it behind a ate, tractor or lawn mower.. Very fast, very easy, and from what I see ..effective.

 

[bkenobi]

I've considered tow behind before because walking back and forth to spray ~3 tanks takes forever. I'm a little concerned about wind getting the stuff on the lawn or plants right next to the driveway which has been the main reason I haven't gone any further with it. I've been here for almost 13 years and I've kinda thrown in the towel doing it that way! I usually spend a whole day a couple times a year walking the driveway complete coverage and all of the planters spot spraying. I'm ok with the planters, but the driveway takes FOREVER. The other thing is, doesn't cleaning the tank on those tow behinds take a while and if not done correctly the seals will be eaten prior to the next usage?

 

[bcp]

Put cultivator sweeps on your box blade on or in place of your scarifiers. They come in many sizes. Here's one.

Parts Department

agcrazy.com

Cultivator Sweep at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.

duckduckgo.com

Bruce

 

[bkenobi]

Yes, exactly like those! Can a box blade be configured so it doesn't dig too deep? Like I said, I only want to go 1-2" deep so as to just get under the weeds roots. I don't want to get into the heavier stone.

 

[oldballs]

How long/wide is your gravel driveway? And...it's been my experience that if the gravel is packed......just leave it alone and don't blade it unless it is really necessary.....because a heavy rain will start washing the gravel around. I can do my 75 x 30 foot gravel driveway with about 2 gallons of herbicide in a spot sprayer. Usually have to repeat it before fall comes.

If I was to use my 55 gallon tank sprayer, I'd use the herbicide formulations that have a residual effect for several months. But that's too much trouble for such a small area as I see it.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[bkenobi]

I just used Google Earth's measurement tool and I'd guess my driveway is between 0.3 and 0.5 acres. Like I said, not that big but more than I really want to do with a backpack and wand. I called the local tractor store and they suggested a smaller tow behind sprayer in the 20 gallon range. I thought they were either manual up to 4 gallon or electric pump at 100 gallon so options in between look like the right solution. Seems like the right way to go would be to mix roundup (or similar) with a per-emergent and spray the center of the driveway and just use the wand or a handheld to get close to the existing plants.

 

[dodge man]

You can set the scarifiers on a box blade to different depths. I got lucky and picked up a 4 foot box blade for $350, I’d been looking for a while. I also have a tank sprayer I use on the 3 point, you can raise and lower it back there plus change the pressure to control width or just spot spray. The box blade will do most of it. Mine was pretty weedy before I did it.

 

[bkenobi]

Northern Star seems to have upped the price to $250 for the cheapest tow behind (on sale for $199 currently). Reviews are not all that impressive unfortunately. For a very cheap frame "trailer", plastic tank, 12v pump, and a bit of hose they sure seem like they got their markup for profit!

 

[bkenobi]

Harbor Freight has a 15 gallon sprayer (no trailer) for $100. I wonder how hard it would be to make a mount to go on my lawn tractor's grass catcher mount. Hmmm....

 

[bkenobi]

Like this maybe...

 

[WM75Guy]

I use Mojave 70 EG herbicide on my arena and driveway. It lasts a full year. I use the Mule and the 25-gallon tow behind sprayer spray bar for the arena and driveway and the wand to spot spray corners and such. Starting this year I will spray fence lines with it. I mix in glyphosate at 4% for a quick kill as the Mojave takes about a month to kill everything. Just don't get it on something you want to stay alive.

 

[dodge man]

I think the one I pictured above is 26 gallons. It’s mounted on one of those racks that’s meant to go in a hitch on a pickup. I already had that setup plus the hitch for my tractor 3 point. I just looked up the price it’s currently about $419. I bought mine about 2 1/2 years ago.