Driveway and sidewalk weeds

[millsmowing]

Here is a little something you can do for your customers that they will love!! As spring turns into summer, weeds and stray grass begin to grow in driveway and sidewalk cracks.Ispray these with round-up on a bi-weekly basis to give the home or business owner a cleaner appearance for their property. I figure in the time spent and the cost of the round-up right into mowing bid. The beauty of it is the customer thinks they are getting something extra from me but it's really just part of my standard service.Any one else do this , or am i the only one who hates looking at these weeds and gets paid to kill them?

[southside]

We do this as part of our normal service. We crack spray all the footpaths and roadsides on all the subdivisions we maintain.

[mdb landscaping]

I do that as well. I have one subdivision, where the developer left too much gap from the curb to the road, and its prone to weeds. once every couple of weeks. ill take a flat head shovel and get them out. Then on the bill, i put down that i did that, but then put no charge. I think its little things like that, that shows you care about their lawn.

[C4chris70]

We also include this service in our package price. In my state we are required to carry a limited sprayers certification to apply round up. Are any of you required to carry this certification?

[TJLC]

I'm still waiting to hear my test results for the certification to spray roundup. Hopefully it won't be much longer.

[TheLawnBoy]

Another good trick (that doesn't show results immediately) is to pour salt water in the cracks. After a few applications the soil becomes saturated with salt and kills the plants. This works especially well in those interlocking paving stones where weeds are a pain.

I usually just use salt left over from winter maintenence and mix it in a bucket of water and pour it in the cracks.

[Sean Adams]

Great Topic. Sidewalk, Driveway, etc...weeds are so unattractive, and it makes a considerable difference when taken care of - whether it be spraying, hitting them with a trimmer - whatever - just get rid of them. It is little things like that which enhance the look of the property.... Sometimes your clients will notice, sometimes they won't. It is your job to make sure they know. Don't do it one month and see how quick they are to notice then....

Sean Adams

[greenflag]

10% vinegar works wonders on a warm day. No certifications required for food products. It is pretty cool when it sizzles on the grass or weeds.

Just another option.

Garry

[mdb landscaping]

the vinegar idea is great. ive tried it and it works just as good as roundup, and you dont need a license.

[ronslawncare]

whats 10 percent vinegar. a spray bottle with 10 percent of vinegar added.

[Stonewall]

Does the 10% vinegar sterlize the soil or just kill the weeds? Could you use it in flower beds as well?

[proline32]

I use the white vinegar as well, Hell of a lot cheaper than round up or the stuff I get at walmart for 5 bucks a gallon.
It will affect the soil some, basicly changes the ph some and makes it harder for plants to grow. thier is a commercial version around here called "blackberry block" basicly a vineger version that is 1000 times more potent than pain vinegar and cost about 35.00 a gallon, it's a super concentrate makes about 10 gallons of plant killer and does work on blackberry.

[greenflag]

This is some pretty strong stuff. I buy it at the local feed/fertilizer store. The percent is the measurement of acidity of the product. Grocery store vinegar is 5% it is available in 10% as well as 20% use caution 20% can burn you as well as the plant.

As far as using it in flower beds, I use it anywhere. You must use the same precautions as roundup, if you get it on a plant it will cause damage. There is no negative effect on the soil.

I use it as a selling point, I picked up a daycare because I use no dangerous chemicals. Of course I do the maintanence after close or on Saturday. No kiddos around that way. :)

I hope I was able to help some of you the way I have been helped so many times on Lawnsite.

[stslawncare]

so your telling me i can use a mixture of vineger and water or salt and water and spray weeds in driveways and gardens? if i can do this in gardens that would be great! im getting tired of pulling weeds lol.

[stslawncare]

want to bring this back to the top, great idea for us younger ones who cant get certified and the others who arnt certified or dont need the certification but just something quick, is it true i can make these mixtures for gardens with no harm?

[awm]

well now green flag,that is interesting. im letting my pesticide license run out as i just didnt use the stuff that much.
im pretty strong believer in proper fert keeping the lawn at its best. be nice tho to have something legal that will do for spot work . thanks again.

[yardmonkey]

Hitting all driveway, sidewalk, and curb cracks with the weedeater is just standard procedure for me every time I mow a yard. I am always amazed at how many "professional" services ignore the cracks. I also sweep up any excess dirt along the curb.

Have not tried the vinegar idea. A friend of mine has been using it. I'll have to start carrying some. So if grocery store vinegar is 5%, where do you get the 10% stuff?

[yardmonkey]

Whoops, I need to read more closely. I'll check the feed store. But I wonder why they have it? Is this commonly used for weed control, or is there some other standard use for it?

[RB]

Use Saraha once and it works practically all season.

[greenflag]

Most feed stores that carry organic fertilizers, carry the Vinegar.

I use it strait, you can add orange oil to it in small amounts for a stronger product.
It works best during the hot part of the day


The vinegar is fine in the garden as long as you don't spray it on your plants you want to keep. I actually add the 5% to my water when watering the plants around the house.


You can learn more about the use of this type of product on: www.dirtdoctor.com

Garry

[Bob Minney]

I brought this thread back because I checked with Colorado Dept. of Ag. if applying this (vinegar) with out a license would be a problem.
In Colorado you can not do any commercial weed control with out a license.
If you are a licensed applicator you must use EPA registered products.
So, I won't be using it. You may want to check your local reg's.
Seems kind of silly to me not to be able to use a food product but those are the rules.
BTW to spay here I need
commercial applicators license for the business @ $350 year
+ a qualified supervisors license @ 75 per 3 years
and of course the additional insurance

[greenflag]

You have an excellent point Bob.

I did call & ask about the vinegar, the guy thought I was nuts. :D He said " Like pickles come in?"

He said that if it was labeled as a herbicide I must be licensed, but if it was labeled vinegar we don't have any requirements here in Texas.

It is always a good idea to check though.


Garry

[craigs lawncare]

This is a great thread... I am going to revive it and experiment with weeds I have in my driveway. :)

Craig

[lawncuttinfoo]

I do this for customers who buy my weed control and fert program. A few of my customers who have chemlawn ask if I can get those weeds I say oh that is part of my weed control program, I'm sure your chemlawn program covers that. (I have never seen chemlawn do this)

[ChadsLawn]

you guys that do this. I have a 3 gallon sprayer.How much 5% viniger would I need?

[TJLANDS]

In NJ you need a license to spray anything on any property other than your own. For you guys looking to add this service. I offer a weed free pavement,
curbs, and beds for a fee. I spray vegemec, a soil sterilent on curbs and cracks, very effective no weeds for 10-12 months. It is a cheap product from
Gordons, similar to Sahara(lesco) except costs 75% less. Many railroads use it to keep weeds off the tracks. For info just google vegemec