Weeds through membrane and weedkiller

[kp278]

Hi, we have alot of weeds that continue to grow despite laying membrane. It's the weave type membrane which I guess is why we still have a weed problem.

I think the small weeds are just growing from the dirt that was left in the gravel we laid back on top of the membrane but I know some of the large weeds have broken through.

Can/should we spray weedkiller over membrane? Will it still serve it's purpose? I'm concerned the theory goes that the membrane will stop the weedkiller from really making a difference?

Thanks, Kris

Yes weedkiller will work. Unfortunately unless you use a very thick membrane with a very thick layer of gravel weeds will still come up and they will grow in the gravel as well. But the weeds are quite easy to pull out.

I would weed out those weeds - sometimes when you weedkill the plant gives a dying gasp and produces seeds which you really don't want . Also some weedkillers can take weeks to fully work. Lastly I would not let anything seed. So pull them up before they seed and weedkill earlier next time when they just come through.

I try to avoid weedkiller. It's damaging to insects as well as plants.
I think just pulling them up is the best way to go.

Kris what do you want it to look like? Are you going to use pots or do you have something in mind.

Maybe grass would be easier to maintain. We have a version of green thumb lawn care service attend to the lawn 4 times a year. I Stopped and have now resumed because it looked bloody awful without them!

For the area you gave (if you don’t want lawn) You can buy better weed killer on something like gardeners dream website they deliver it to you but you have to get a person with the correct qualifications to apply it. The shop bought stuff is crap in my experience. One application early season if the good stuff and it’s still weed free now! It’s cheaper than buying stuff from b and q each month. Then do what my grandad used to do, pull up any growth he saw on his way up the path from work /the shop each day 😂. Little and often was his motto.

You might have to take it up and start again as the woven membrane has failed.

We bought this and it has been down three years and so far not a single weed has come through.

GardenMate 1m x 75m Roll non-woven weed control fabric - UV stabilised black 150gsm landscape ground cover membrane amzn.eu/d/bdzqjoj

I would use a weed burner on what you have got coming through.

Boiling water from the kettle? I use on paved areas to avoid using poison.

I'd pull those up. Honestly, it's maybe an hours work to do and the results are instant.

Plus, you can get the roots out so know there is nothing left to regrow.

Then keep on top of it - as time goes by it gets a bit easier because you will have 'used up' any seeds left dormant in the soil.