Weeds Growing Up Through Pebbles?

Question:

I have just read your answer to strong weedkiller (salt, water and white vinegar). My garden is covered in pebbles and the growth from under is terrible even though I have the ground covered with a mesh like cover. Will it be ok to use this solution on pebbles? There are no other plants in the pebbled areas at all.

Thanks for any help you can give.
K Green from UK

Answer:

K,

I assume you're worried about whether or not this solution will degrade the rock in the same way it can degrade concrete if used repeatedly over time. In most cases, this type of week killer should work fine on an area covered with pebbles. Technically, it really depends on what types of minerals make up the pebbles your using. Softer sedimentary rock with relatively high porosity like limestone, sandstone, shale, dolomite or slate is much more likely to degrade with repeated heavy use. Still, for the average gardener, this is unlikely to be a problem, so I wouldn't worry about it as long as you're using it in an area where you don't expect to grow plants any time soon. There is no absolute way to permanently rid of yourself of weeds forever, of course. Between wind, water and birds, weed seeds have a way of popping up and taking hold in the most unforgiving environments-even those treated with chemicals. As with any weed killer, remember to use this solution sparingly. All chemicals, no matter how benign they seem or how little you use, will still alter the natural balance of things and increase the pollution burden on your local ground water system.

Ellen