Trees And Other Things

Discussion in 'Personal Diaries' started by Nancy Hart, Jun 21, 2018.

  1. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    I've wondered if a fabric underlay would have stopped the grass intrusion I've experienced. You might want to research and see if it's worth the money (meaning "Does it really work?") Here's a video I watched a while ago looking for weed blocker for a different project:


    There are other weed blocker review videos out there. I don't know if there's a difference in the application for a garden and for a driveway. In fact, we discussed weed block fabric here.

    Spoiler Alert: The guy in the video likes DeWitt Sunbelt 3 Ounce Professional Weed Barrier. @Don Alaska likes GeoTek. But these recommendations are for gardens, not gravel driveways.
     
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  2. Nancy Hart

    Nancy Hart Veteran Member
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    I've thought about that Geofabric. The only weeds it might stop is sprouts from an occasional root below if you dig out the topsoil. Round up would zap those once and for all. Weeds come from seeds falling into the gravel from the top.

    The main thing for driveways is it's supposed to keep the crusher run from being driven into the ground as much. At least that's my understanding. Crusher run has all sizes of small gravel, down to just dust. The dust fills in the gaps and makes a more solid surface and keeps the larger pieces from moving so much. If the dust all washes down into the soil that would not be good.

    I don't know how long that Geofabric holds up. It looks like a pain to install.
     
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  3. Mary Stetler

    Mary Stetler Veteran Member
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    I bought a used box blade for gravel driveway repair. It works great.


    Maybe you can find someone who has got one you can borrow.[/QUOTE]
    Got a back blade and a front end loader. it is just something that needs maintaining. But I guess black top needs top dressing too.
     
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  4. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    Round Up does not stop things forever. At least, that has not been my experience. Perhaps I did not saturate it enough.

    Just thinking out loud here, as someone who is not happy with how his driveway looks...
    -Dig up the topsoil
    -Apply Round Up
    -Put down crusher run
    -Drive on it for some period of time, or have the skid loader pack it down
    -Install a layer of fabric
    -Put larger gravel on top

    Or if you just wanted crusher run...
    -Dig up the topsoil
    -Apply Round Up
    -Install a layer of fabric
    -Put down crusher run

    If the grass & weeds do come through and you kill them with chemicals, they do not go away...they die and turn brown, still firmly embedded where they lay. It's not much of an improvement. And I don't think the weeds exclusively come from seeds that fall through the gravel...I think the seeds also spill into the ground as you dig up the topsoil. Did I mention that I'm not happy with my gravel/grass combo? ;)
     
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  5. Nancy Hart

    Nancy Hart Veteran Member
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    Roundup has to be applied to the leaves of a plant. The plant carries the stuff back down into its roots and kills the roots, and that particular plant does die forever. It wouldn't do any good to apply Roundup to the soil. They do make some pre-emergent stuff that is supposed to work like that though. I'm skeptical.

    I will probably ...
    Remove topsoil
    Fill back in some with cheap clay filldirt and pack it. Clay packs like a brick.
    Apply fabric
    Then crusher run and pack it

    Forget the Roundup until you see green.
     
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  6. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    Oops. You are 100% correct.

    Of course, the problem with clay is that it does not drain well. What a pain in the butt. As I recall, I read some stuff on how to fix this issue, but I don't believe there really is one that gets unanimous approval.

    eta: I've used my box blade in prepping grassy areas & pulling up the roots, and it works great. I have yet to mess with it in the gravel. Perhaps it will pull up the grass and turn it under the gravel.
     
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  7. Don Alaska

    Don Alaska Supreme Member
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    They use Geotek or Geotech for driveways and some roads here. There are two grades I can get--woven (I think permeable) and non-woven. I have used both I think., but the woven would be better for driveways and it would let the water go through. It comes in 12 ' and 18' widths and only costs about a dollar a foot, so it is affordable. It is also used for erosion control. I can only get it from the suppliers for contractors, as I don't believe either of the box store I have access to here carry it. I personally have not used it under my driveway...too much work for this old man.
     
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  8. Nancy Hart

    Nancy Hart Veteran Member
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    If I had a front end loader (for weight distribution) I would try this to clear off a little more brush on the dam. I may still try it, just backing up to the point where the slope starts. It would at least cut the tops off of the brush and look a little better. Some of the stuff on my dam is 6' high. :p

    (Skip to 2:20 to avoid all the safety talk)
     
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  9. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    I've looked for a used Bush Hog off & on but was told that of all the implements, that's the one that's easiest to get screwed on when buying used. They get beat up and there's lots of stuff that can get broken on them (primarily the deck and the gear box.)
     
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  10. Nancy Hart

    Nancy Hart Veteran Member
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    Mine was used and pretty old. Bought from a tractor dealer, if that makes a difference. I didn't know enough at the time to even think about it being worn out. It seems to be OK, except I heard a clanging noise last time I used it. Uh-oh.
     
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  11. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    That clanging might just be a loose chain or flail(?) banging against the deck. What goes on under there is pretty violent.

    I was looking at my tractor specs, and I think I can only safely use the smallest unit that they make (I believe it's 4 feet wide.)
     
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  12. Mary Stetler

    Mary Stetler Veteran Member
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    We have a couple of equipment rental places near here. I think you have to prove you are capeable to use their equipment. I don't blame them. Not sure I would rent to a fat, old, one legged, bad tempered woman either.
     
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  13. Nancy Hart

    Nancy Hart Veteran Member
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    What goes on under there, stays under there. If it's broke, I aint fixin' it. (unless it's something easy ;))
     
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  14. Nancy Hart

    Nancy Hart Veteran Member
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    Georgia (#1 :)) almost lost to unranked Missouri last night. I watched the second half.

    Final:
    Georgia: 26
    Missouri: 22

    They didn't exactly wipe out Kent State last week either

    Georgia 39
    KSU: 22

    Georgia has an easy schedule this year, imo, but what do I know. In the rankings is winning all that counts?
     
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  15. Nancy Hart

    Nancy Hart Veteran Member
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    Someone must have called the cops about the parking. Police car showed up this morning giving tickets all up and down the street. Of course the two worst offenders were not there today. :rolleyes: That's the problem with calling. You don't expect the police to drop everything and come running. When they do have time to cruise by, no one is there. I think I will take all of my pictures and bundle them in a packet and mail them to the police department. :)
     
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