Best weedkiller for a gravel driveway

Looking for the best weedkiller for our quite large gravel driveway. It has hedges on 3 sides.

The weeds keep on coming back every year and I keep on digging them out as best as possible but would like to try some weedkiller which lasts BUT I dont want it killing off the hedges. I'm not sure of the long lasting weedkillers would be absorbed by the hedges through the soil ?

cheers

Peter (Cheshire)

 

I've never heard of a long lasting weedkiller.

I'm wondering if a flame weeder might be easier...

Would it be easy for you to post a photo so we can see the situation?

 

Some of the weedkillers (Weedol?) specifically for paths and drives claim the effects last for 6 months but when I last used it a year or so ago on our gravel parking area, I thought it too expensive for the large area we have. From memory I think it was around £20 or so for 8 sachets. It did keep the weeds down, not sure if it was for 6 months though. It didn't seem to affect our hedges.

I really don't think modern weedkillers are much good now they don't have glyphosate in them.
However you can still buy that online.

 

It may be seeds from previous weeds that are germinating so it could take a few years to eradicate them.

 

There used to be a weedkiller called Pathclear, not looked but probably not available anymore.
I believe it contained a substance which stopped seeds germinating.

I'd just use glyphosate, it's probably about the only effective one we have left.
A couple of times in the summer isn't really a hardship.

 

Could you run the car up and down a few times?

 

It’s still available (hope it continues), I use it on a gravel area under sycamore. Raking helps too, of course…

 

I use Weedol Pathclear yearly in Spring on my block paved drive and find it works well.

I use Patio Magic or Wet & Forget to keep it clean - which also works well.

 

The old formula Pathclear did contain a seed germinating inhibitor and was very effective. Wouldn't like to say whether the current product does as so many chemicals have been replaced by stuff like plant-based acids which are useless. A flame gun followed by a top up of clean gravel would be one solution.

 

Keeping weeds under control on a gravel drive is a constant job. Weeds are shed randomly during the year and can lay dormant for several years so regular spraying, every 3 months or so is the only way to keep on top of them. I would use glysophate, on a still day, to avoid wind drift onto nearby shrubs and plants.

 

The persistent active ,now banned in EU (therefore uk too !), was simazine. Previous to that was sodium chlorate. There are materials which can be applied by qualified personnel, most landscape contractors could oblige but check for bona fides.

 

Weeds on paths etc are a continual battle with wind blown soil and seeds. A friend even has weeds growing in her artificial lawn. Mind you it makes it look more realistic. As infradig informed us the most effective chemicals have been banned. Use those recommended above as I find they do work.