Getting Rid of Weeds in My Cracks

debodun

debodun

SF VIP
Location
way upstate in New York, USA
I have luxurious crabgrass and spurge growing in every available crack in the sidewalk and driveway. I don't want to use toxic chemicals and, being an old lady, can't bend or kneel down to pull them out by hand. I get dizzy bending over and if I get down on my hands and knees, I'll be like a turtle on its back. Any ideas?

weed.jpg
 

In a pressure sprayer mix 10% cleaning vinegar , and dish liquid. and salt.
Mix these three ingredients together and spray on weeds on a hot sunny day. Within 1/2 an hour the weeds will be dying. The next day the weeds will be all brown and crispy.

3-Ingredient Homemade Weed Killer - Saving Cent by Cent

Note: since you only have a few weeds, mix a smaller solution in an empty spray bottle. Another all natural solution is to pour boiling water on the weeds a few times.

For those with a larger amount of weeds, multiple by 10 and put in a pressurized spray bottle.
 
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OldFeller said:
How long will the weeds be gone using the above potion?

I once had to change the fuel filter on a car and that meant spilling a little gasoline in a pot. To dispose of the gasoline I dumped it on some sidewalk crack weeds. They died instantly but came back within about a week.
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They should be permanently gone however new seedling can start within a few weeks to a month, depending on your area. It’s best to keep doing it at least once a month.
 
MACKTEXAS said:
I do what PeppermintPatty said except I add salt to the mixture as well.
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I do too, but I use this recipe:

3 cups vinegar
2 tsp Dawn dish soap
3/4 cup salt
3 tsp Dr Fred Summit Arthritis Rub
Shake well before each use.

That arthritis rub used to be cheap but then all the Youtubers started buying it for this and it's now 12.99. 😒 But, you only use 2 tsp so it will last a long time. I'll bet you can use regular alcohol.
 
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hearlady said:
I do too, but I use this recipe:

3 cups vinegar
2 tsp Dawn dish soap
3/4 tsp salt
3 tsp Dr Fred Summit Arthritis Rub
Shake well before each use.

That arthritis rub used to be cheap but then all the Youtubers started buying it for this and it's now 12.99. 😒 But, you only use 2 tsp so it will last a long time. I'll bet you can use regular alcohol.
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Thank you - I didn't know about adding an arthritis rub. Maybe it extends the effectiveness.
 
Oh no, more stuff growing in your old cracks! ..... :ROFLMAO: .....
In an Emergency v
Boil some salt water and dump it steaming on them. Do not use Iowa farmer Chemicals.
Use tender loving care while you carefully lay those pests to rest. Wear appropriate safety
gloves and stuff.

Lawn mower gas/oil mix will kill them just do a small area at a time, say, one crack and no light up if you got em.
Remember it goes up like wham mam. A squeeze bottle / watering can works well. Stay upwind of it all.
 
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Any liquid combinations of vinegar, soaps, salt, etc., can and will kill the yard grass if there is runoff from the drive, or if it's sprayed soon before a rain, so it's best to target specific weeds one at a time, using only as much solution as needed, and doing it at a time when dry weather is expected.
 
I never had much long lasting luck with anything but toxic killers, which I won't use anymore. What I do, is I have an old long handled 3 prong garden cultivator and I use it at an angle and clean out the groove. No biggie doing it once a week. Our daughter took an old broom handle, drilled a hole and glued in a big nail and then bent the nail tip. It works great for her.

My neighbor uses his blow torch.
 
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hearlady said:
I do too, but I use this recipe:

3 cups vinegar
2 tsp Dawn dish soap
3/4 cup salt
3 tsp Dr Fred Summit Arthritis Rub
Shake well before each use.

That arthritis rub used to be cheap but then all the Youtubers started buying it for this and it's now 12.99. 😒 But, you only use 2 tsp so it will last a long time. I'll bet you can use regular alcohol.
Click to expand...
Uh oh. I edited my recipe. Its 3/4 CUP salt, not 3/4 tsp! Sorry.
 
I use the vinegar-salt mixture in a sprinkling can & it worked well. When I tried it in a sprayer it did nothing so I went back to the sprinkling can.

If I need to kill weeds in my flower bed, I just use the vinegar in a smaller can to pinpoint the culprit.
 
All great ideas to get rid of those nasty weeds. Lorie and I just spent the last week, down on out hands and knees, with a slot screwdriver, knives, and tugged wverything out opof the laneway and walkway... the walkway we are going to try a new sand that you are suppose to sweep in the cracks, and it will harden over time, and nothing can grow through it... for the laneway, we got some chaulking, and a roll of ashpalt fill, which I will use my torch to melt into the cracks.. and then we will paint the laneway... But in the past, we have done what everybody is suggesting... Good luck, everyone getting your weeded cracks...

BTW, the sand is called... "POLYMERIC Sand"
 
If you clean out the cracks, you can sprinkle Preen Weed Preventer in them before sealing them back up.
If you can't do any of that because of bending over, you could always get a small string trimmer that has a pivoting head, and pivot it to the position like you would use it as an edger for a lawn. It won't keep the weeds from growing back, but it's fairly easy to do while standing up.
If you do that, wear safety glasses just in case.
 

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