A couple of years ago I had the bright idea of putting in one of those stone looking patios with those concrete forms. I yoked two of my friends into helping ala Tom Sawyer and we got it done. Problem is, we didn't get it done too terribly well. Now, the property slopes, being completely ignorant on foundations and all that we decided that if we tilled up the ground and raked it until it was fairly even that it would do. Well, it all slants. But that isn't the biggest problem. The most irritating thing is that we didn't put down weed barrier and weeds love to grow up through the mortar. It is soooooo irritating that I am thinking I will rip the whole thing out and start over. My questions are:

1) If I first lay down weed barrier and then pea gravel until the thing is actually level, will it stay level?

2) Will using pea gravel to fill in the spaces on this psuedo rock be any kind of a deterrent to all of these incredibly irritating weeds?

Thanks!

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@yahoo.com), April 07, 2002

Answers

no,,, on both counts

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), April 07, 2002.

So what's the answer????

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), April 07, 2002.

Roundup--use twice a year. Secret--do not cut the weeds ! Simply apply on leaves and wait--this method makes sure the chemical reaches the root--the plants will wither, die, and blow away. once in late May and again in September. Next time by plastic !!

-- Joel Rosen (JoelnBecky@webtv.net), April 08, 2002.

Man, that just stinks! I have tried the bleach (and vinegar) on hot days, of which we here in Tejas have no lack of, but it doesn't work on these....I do not support Monsanto in any way. It's personal with me, I have a grudge and I'm holding it hard.

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), April 08, 2002.

Joels right. Plastic and roundup (or vinager) for the weeds. For the slanting thing..................could be a lot of work.

The base would have to have 2-3" of sand. Graded real well (either level or w/ a small grade away from the house- my recomedation). The sand has to be packed and worked solid. Running a hose or sprinkler over it will compact it. This requires that you check it to see that your grade is maintained, some areas may compact more than others, too much water leaving a slight gully effect, etc. I'd say go to www.about.com and find a place that instructs on preparing a base for a brick sidewalk or driveway. The instructions would be better than I can give and you may find pictures too. A Do It Yourself building site maybe?

It's all in the prep work. Once you've got it right, then the plastic and go. Tell me what you find. I'm going to bed. Nighty night. Or Nighty morning. whatever.

-- John in S. IN (jdoofus@hotmail.com), April 08, 2002.

Doreen, I did the same thing, inadequate foundations and one gets seasick just looking at our patio. I know the real answer is to redo it but life is just so short! Meanwhile, I have found that I can correct some of the flag stones after heavy rain by pounding them down into the wet base using a wooden fence post as a tamper.

I cured the weeds in one area by hosing out all the loose sand and soil between the stones then mixing a rather sloppy mix of sand and cement. I poured the cement into the joins and used a big sponge and plenty of water to wipe the cemet off the faces of the stones. It has been sucessful so far!

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), April 08, 2002.