Weeds growing through large patio, sick of using silly little squirt gun...

[newmomma]

Can anyone suggest a weed-killer that isn't hugely expensive and can be used over large areas such as a patio?

What about something similar to this weed burner? I find mine works really well on the paths and patio.

What are you using in said squirt gun? If it's not the good stuff then it won't be as effective.

Round up is really good but you can buy a generic one with the same active ingredient -glyphosate. It has to have the glyphosate in it to be good and it does about week or so to kill off the weed.

I find that weeding by hand with the right implement (a daisy grubber) and a good programme on the radio gives a better result much quicker! If you get the weeds while they're small, it can be quite an easy job - and is on my to-do list for today. I can't be doing with bending down squirting weedkiller at tiny weeds over a large expanse.

Have you thought about deliberately seeding something else in the cracks to supress weeds? Thyme comes in different colours and might look good.

The best weedkiller I have ever used on patios is:

Salty water - loads of salt and boiling water works well. Make sure they have some leaves to soak in aaaalll the badness, drench them with salt water and watch then die... then collect brown shrivelledness and cackle with joy...

Best on a sunny day

Used on several stubborn weed last year and they are still dead and gone....

Mwahahahah. I love killing evil weeds.
[only use on patois as it will kill everything]

I second the vote for a weedburner - watching them wilt is very satisfying!

Mumblecrumble

I am in the elbow grease camp. I don't enjoy hand weeding but it is very satisfying and better than pouring chemicals over the garden. I've got one of those tools with 3 prongs and I just 'rake' all the little weeds out - you can also buy patio knives which go down the cracks and pull the weeds out that way.

I've seen three techniques with varying success:

1. The weed burner is used by the council round here as the groundwater is close to the surface and easily polluted with pesticides. The flame thrower effect is indeed very satisfying when the weeds turn to ashes.

1. Pay one of your/your neighbour's kids to go round with a patio knife and daisy grubber every couple of months

1. Boiling salty water- my grandmother uses the water from her boiled vegetables on the patio, empties it straight from the saucepan over the cracks in the paving, and she NEVER gets weeds (though I think you have to start from a weed free state)...

Am interested in the boiling salty water method. May give that a go, so thanks for that snippet