why hoofpicks are wonderful things!

[haffyfan]

...they are just the right size for weeding block paving! However i now have several blisters so may have to leave rest for Oh to finish.

[racaille]

Blimey Haff! You need to get out more

Mind you, I can talk. Just spent half n hour talking to a man about septic tanks (we need a new one) .... but then did talk to him about my arena too

[fleabitten]

haffy - do you mean the cracks in between the slabs? i despise the weeds that come up through the cracks as they are bloody hard to get out must try that next time (not that i garden very often!) lol!

[brigadier]

I buy really cheap salt from lidl or aldi (19p a packet) wait until its fine and sunny, just after a slightly damp night is good and then sprinkle it on,then use a soft brush to sweep excess into other cracks- so it leaves a whiteish appearance in the cracks but you dont need too much- it dies within days and takes ages to re-establish, better than roundup etc

[racaille]

Now that's my kind of tip, Brig - the idler's solution!

[fleabitten]

Shall mention this to mum!

[haffyfan]

Yes Flea thats what i meant. I wanted to do the salt thing Brig but Oh says it's not good for the water table so wouldn't let me. We have to be careful as the ducks love to come down and foul smelling poopy outside the back door too...their favourite spot

[brigadier]

Now that's interesting Haff because I thought about that too but given the amounts of grit salt used on the roads I decided that some going through block paving would be less harmful on balance than weed killers.
I have to be really careful with where I weedkill also, as we have low lying land, a high water table and ditches everywhere, also great crested newts in the pond, but I think in hard areas the salt doesnt make a great difference.
Ive also found some weeds- in particular a ferny looking one are very resistant to roundup etc but the salt does its job every time! (so less re-application)

On the duck front they are filthy beasts!