'gravel drive de-weeder'

[Anonymous Poster]

\'gravel drive de-weeder\'

Hello, everyone. My driveway is gravel and has the typical section down the middle where grass/weeds grow because it gets no traffic over it. There are other parts of the drive which have the same problem and I'd like to make an attachment for my Kohler engined 112 John Deere LGT to 'stir up' the top couple of inches and disrupt the plant growth.

There is no three point lift on this tractor, but it has an electric lift with helper spring which I use with a rear-mounted tiller, so lift capacity might be adequate, if I decide to use a lift design.

Actually, to keep it simple, I'd probably be better off with a drag type of implement, and the question becomes should I build something which attaches at one point by chain; two points and chain; or some rigid arrangement that will require greater strength when the tractor is turning?

I originally envisioned a 3-4' piece of very heavy angle iron with some 'healthy' grade 8 bolts welded on as 'prongs that dig into the surface sort of like an old fashioned cultivator. I would anticipate needing a rack above to accept additional weight/s as needed according to how dry and hard the surface is.

Yesterday, thinking about the project, I decided maybe it would be appropriate to buy some cultivator blades from a farm supply and mount them on a 'toolbar' arrangement. This is as far as my thinking has gone, and I'd like to request help in arriving at a workable finished design.

Has anyone done a similar implement? How did you do it, and how does it work?

BTW, I originally bought the rear mounted tiller attachment for the 112 for this purpose, in part, but the packed down driveway proved too tough on the machine to use it this way.

Any ideas and discussion greatly appreciated. Yours...

danz

 

[TBone]

Re: \'gravel drive de-weeder\'

I have the same problem on my driveway and used to use the boxblade to uproot the grass. Of course you had to re-do the whole driveway with it, not just the middle. I have found the easiest and cheapest way in the long run is to use roundup two or three times a year.

TBone

 

[beenthere]

Re: \'gravel drive de-weeder\'

I too spray mine with round-up, and find that there is less impact on the driveway gravel that way.

 

[chim]

Re: \'gravel drive de-weeder\'

Our main driveway has been paved for several years now, but we still have a secondary gravel drive to a storage shed and an LP gas tank. I use Roundup for weeds and grass. If it would need to be graded smooth, I still have the homemade attachment in the photo...................chim

 

[rp425]

Re: \'gravel drive de-weeder\'

Here is drag that I made for a buddy that has a scarifier bar that can be removed when not needed.

 

[rp425]

Re: \'gravel drive de-weeder\'

Here is the same drag with the teeth positioned out of the way.

 

[SimS]

Re: \'gravel drive de-weeder\'

Danz;
I have this same "problem" with my gravel drive. But I have always wondered if the grass isn't helping me by anchoring the gravel. After bush hogging the outside edges, I just make a pass down the middle with the bush hog as low as it can go. It looks tidy and well manicured when I'm finished. Am I violating gravel drive etiquette or should I be thinking Round Up and dragging?

Sim

 

[chim]

Re: \'gravel drive de-weeder\'

Sim, just do it as it suits you. The only reason I Roundup mine from time to time is that I have no grass there. Weeds thrive there and they don't match the surrounding grass. The weeds right now are nice(?) green and tall while the adjacent grass looks like that ground up wood fiber they use as packaging material.

At one time I was looking at "GrassCrete" for the access drive, but never got around to seriously pursuing it..............chim

 

[Steven]

Re: \'gravel drive de-weeder\'

I use (Ortho TRIOX total vegitation killer) prevents growth for one year. use it in the spring and I'm done for the summer. spray it along picket fence and do not need to edge with weed wacker. mower gets in close enough on it's own. works the same around posts to. just use a little so it does not kill to much.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: \'gravel drive de-weeder\'

Thanks, folks, for your replies. I'm a little surprised by how many of you opt for a chemical method. I'd expect you to be looking for opportunities to build stuff like I was suggesting<G>.

I live in an agricultural area, and suspect I'm subjected to a lot more chemicals of unknown effect than I care to think about. So I stayaway from that stuff if I can. That said, I used Roundup to kill grasses in spots where I planted some trees a year or two ago, so it's just a preference, not a big deal.

The one example of an implement like I have in mind was interesting. Has it been put into use? How did it do? what kind of weight was required to make it 'dig in'? What were the scarifier prongs made from? Any particular dimensions? Thanks, again, for your replies...

danz