Weeds growing through weed fabric and gravel

zimmo

Hi there, we had some industrial weed control fabric layed down on a large area at the bottom of our garden.

We then had 2 ton of gravel placed on top if this at around 5cm depth.

We then have a trampoline placed on the gravel. The problem is it has only been a few weeks and the weed that has grown through is quite shocking. I thought by doing what we had that this would stop the weed. But its there and getting worse.

Please does anyone have any advice on what we should do? 

Thank you in advance.

Barry Z

Fairygirl

Barry - these are more likely to be weeds seeding in from the top rather than ones growing up through the fabric so they should pull out easily. Determined little b*****s aren't they!

Get the kids onto pulling them out before they get on the trampoline! 

marshmello

Are you sure you've been sold industrial weed membrane ? where'd you buy it from and is it about 5mm thick.

Pull some of the gravel back and check to see if they have actually grown through.

Welshonion

You did destroy all the weeds before you laid it, didn't you?  If not the weeds will grow through.

fidgetbones

What sort of weed?

zimmo

We are complete garden novices. The weeds were removed before we layed the fabric down. It was quite thick and in one huge sheet. Not sure of the thickness. They do pull out easily, but there is quite a lot of them that have grown through.

Please see the picture of the type of weed growing through.

Would we have to take all the gravel off and start again?

 Thanks for the replies.

 

Woodgreen wonderboy

Horsetail, one of the toughest weeds on the planet. Has been around since before the dinosaurs. You could trample on it to bruise it and then spray with Glysophate based weedkiller. Or you could pull it regularly to weaken it and perhaps eradicate it. But could be a long term job. Sorry... and good luck.

marshmello

10 yrs I've been battling with this weed and I can see another 10. Absolute nightmare !! 

fidgetbones

My mums been battling mares tails for 50 years. My dad tarmacced over the front lawn, but they just push through it.

Fairygirl

I do sympathise- with you as well marshmello. It can be hellish to get rid of. We had them growing into our pond at last house so couldn't do much about that- had to just keep yanking out all the ones surrounding it. Usually when you have membrane down, they grow underground and pop up at the sides of the fabric but it just depends how heavy the covering is. I've used Resolva on them (which does work) but as Woody says - pulling them also helps to weaken them if you don't want to use chemicals.

Look on it as a free workout zimmo!