Tarmac Driveway full of moss/weeds - hot to fix?

First off, DON'T put gravel over it. That'll be a short term solution and it'll be no time before the weeds start coming up through it. I would give it a comprehensive power wash (with a good powerful machine) , and maybe spray weedkiller (Roundup or similar ??) on it afterwards when it's dry.
Repeat when necessary.

demello wrote: »

I have a driveway - tarmac, but full of moss, lots of grass and weeds. It is a holiday home so doesnt get a lot of traffic. What is the cheapest solution to this? I had considered - spraying to kill weeds and scrape them off as best I can, or buy a load of gravel and put over the tarmac.
See picture (if I managed to upload it properly).
Thanks in advance
DM

Accepting the moss is not doing you any harm would be the cheapest option. When we get some dry weather it will die off a bit then any way and sometimes it can be manually scraped off tarmac when it has dried out a bit. My parents' house has a tarmac drive and occasionally I scrape off some of the moss and remove the weeds manually with the help of a trowel to scratch at the moss and to help lever up the roots of the weeds without digging into the tarmac and damaging it too much. I then can sweep up the moss and weeds and use a shovel to scoop them off the drive. A flame weed burner can be used to kill weeds in this situation as well. You don't need to incinerate the weeds but a quick flame to simply boil their tissues is an effective weed control method.

I'd be afraid any chemicals that would be applied to your driveway would be washed into the pond or whatever water way is across from your front gate and cause damage to the wildlife there but not sure if I am seeing the slope correctly in the photograph. Power washing can I have read be damaging to driveways and expect whatever is beyond what you are spraying to get battered with small stones dislodged from the tarmac.

20kg bag of salt from a builders suppliers for €10. Shake it out and if will kill all Moss an weeds. Then scrape with a flat shovel and brush.
Apply the salt once a year to keep it clear.
Use fine salt, not deicing or water softener salt. It should be like table salt.
It causes no harm that I’m aware of.

^^^^^^Other chemicals like detergents and glycols are less environmentally friendly.

^^^^Dishwasher, Washing machine, or washing-up liquid ???

Has anyone used sodium percarbonate as an environmentally friendly option to clean a concrete patio? Want to avoid anything that will harm wildlife or nearby plants. I guess powerwasher might be better.

DK32 wrote: »

I use Formil non-bio washing powder from Lidl, diluted with warm water and put it a weed sprayer. Give all the moss a good soak, within a few days it will all turn brown, you can then brush it off with a stiff yard brush, works very well on weeds also.

This literally works on everything, we use it on brickwork, cobble lock paving, wood etc..

How much do you dilute it by may i ask?

Would that Formil stuff work if I sprayed it on a very badly mossed lawn, or would it kill the grass as well ?

I've used the washing powder before and it definitely works, even if it looks like its snowed for a few days. I've also used vinegar for the moss and for general weeding. Bought in bulk on amazon like here it works out quite cheap:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Golden-Swan-White-Vinegar-Litre/dp/B00TZT6GQE/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=vinegar&qid=1554896292&s=gateway&sr=8-5

DK32 wrote: »

I just put in a couple of large scoops of powder in the sprayer and then filled the sprayer up 1/2 full with hot tap water, agitated the sprayer bottle to mix the powder and water together and then topped up the bottle to the top level with hot tap water.

Then you just head out and spray. I was still left with a big lump of powder in the bottom of the bottle afterwards which just washes out but it was sufficiently strong to make all the moss and weeds and green slime on brickwork to turn brown in a couple of days. It also rained between the time I sprayed and the time I went to brush it all off.

Is that a 5-litre sprayer or bigger?

Interesting thread. I just spent a backbreaking morning clearing our brick paved driveway of moss and weeds. Am knackered now!

I know it is not the same issue as OP, but I used one of those wire brush thinggies on a long handle and it was amazing. Took a while, but it removed all weeds (bits of grass really and moss (front is North facing so is prone to moss).

Just wondered if a watering can without the rose thing would work in future with the mix of washing powder and warm water. (I could always buy a sprayer I suppose lol).

Next job is to power wash it. Thinking of getting it done by a company as we are in a terrace, and getting the hose through the house is a pain in the Aras. Any recommendations South Dublin area? Very wary (sorry) of engaging our nomadic friends.

fryup wrote: »

regarding the washing powder does it matter if its bio or non-bio?

Has to be Bio (in my experience anyway, worked a treat). Just do it when the ground is wet, but not raining heavy (so it will last a while and won't get washed away).

Scarlett Thoughtless Monogamy wrote: »

Dk32 said non bio in an earlier post so not sure if it matters

Yeah, noted that. But I was always told that it had to be Bio. And I can categorically state that Bio works a treat (maybe non Bio works as well !).

Firstly, be under no circumstances power wash tar. You may do untold damage.
Under no circumstances use sulphate or iron on solid surface, it will destroy it leaving it all red and impossible to restore. Sulphate or iron should only be used on the lawn and even then be careful walking off a treated lawn into solid
As above you have a few options
1. Weeds and most require different solutions
2. Weeds need a weed killer so purchase according to garden center or something like Roundup (there are some new regulations on who can use it now)
3. Moss can be killed with cheap washing powder or a mood killer which is chlorine based. It will die and can be brushed off

Hocus Focus wrote: »

1. The OP is asking about moss and weeds on a driveway, not a lawn.
1. For moss or green algae, forget detergent, salt, vinegar etc., the simple answer is Patio Magic. It comes in a 5l can from your local hardware, builders' providers, garden centre or agricultural co-op. Lidl do a similar product in a 1l container from time to time.
dilute 4 or 5 to one and spray on. It takes a few days to take effect and needs to be applied about twice annually.
No connection, just a satisfied user. I use it on my boat also.
3. For the weeds buy 5l of Roundup when you are getting the Patio Magic.

Yep got that, he said he has a tarmac driveway, I commented that sulphate of iron should not be used on a solid surface only on a lawn, someone above mentioned using it

Hocus Focus wrote: »

Hi Blowheads,
My comments were not directed at you , but at the thread generally.
+1 on not power spraying tarmac. How do I know about that:(

A1, here's a question for you, have more growing in garden along by the kerbs. What to use that's ok for lawn and kerb/tar? Any idea?