[Terry A]

I'm pricing for a clean on some block paving with lots of weeds.
Should I put weed killer down before  cleaning after or both?

Thanks

Terry

[Rob@Blast off]

I've never sprayed before cleaning but if won't do any harm if you do it before and after

[chris scott]

You need weeds to be activly growing to use glysophate ( the active ingredient in most modern weedkiller). It gets on to the leaf and then into the root structure. If there is no leaf you are wasting your money…hence no point in spraying after cleaning.
The exception is residulal "weedkillers" that contain Flazasulfuron this prevents germination of seed in the ground. This would be applied after cleaning. These "weedkillers" are not licenced for Hardsurfaces were run off may occur.

[Smudger]

Chris - what's the law regarding weed killing, I understood you needed to be licensed if doing it commercially

Darran

[Aqua Power Solutions]

Darren , yes if you are spraying and receiving money  then it becomes a  commercial gain 
You will require a pesticide application licence PA1 / PA6
 
Terry , as Chris explained . Two weeks before to take affect . ( I let the machine do the job then tell the customer to maintain the weed growth there after)   
Ed

[wpclean]

It might be a cop out, but I always tell the custy to use weedkiller a week before we clean, and then to weedkill every 3 months.

[Mike Halliday]

I think Hypo has a residual weedkilling effect. I've found some drives stay weed free after a heavy dose of hypo, I think it works due to it being a  disinfectant and killing all the bacteria and micronutrients within the soil  leaving it in a sterile  Condition, so weeds don't grow

Anyone put  weedkiller into the hypo to kill 2 birds with one stone?

[Smudger]

Same as Mike - blast the f**k out of the weeds then hypo - does the trick for me 😍

I have a gravel drive if weeds pop through I hypo them, they don't come back👍

[wpclean]

Same as Mike - blast the f**k out of the weeds then hypo - does the trick for me 😍

I have a gravel drive if weeds pop through I hypo them, they don't come back👍

[Terry A]

Thanks for some very useful replies.

We could argue that we are spraying weed killer for free and only charging for the jet washing to get round the licence issue.
Also what is hypo?

[Jettaway]

You need a licence to spray weedkiller as part of a service on property not belonging to yourself. . Paid or unpaid is irrelevant

[Terry A]

Thanks again.Sound advice.

[Paul Noble]

You need a licence to spray weedkiller as part of a service on property not belonging to yourself. . Paid or unpaid is irrelevant

Can I ask what law states that a licence is required?       

When I looked it up for research it was companies selling the courses that state you need  pa1-pa6,  but don,t appear to know under what law!

Hse states that you must be competent, which is different from requireing  a licence.

This is a genuine question not a pop at anybody.

[Smudger]

To use any ministry approved pesticide product (MAPP) on anyone elses land you need to be competent and qualified to do so. Competent and qualified means having a NPTC Pa1 and Pa2 or 6 certificate to handle and apply pesticide products safely - for you the user , the area being treated and the wider environment.

http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/safe_use.asp?id=205

Darran

[wpclean]

It causes cancer too !

[Paul Noble]

Thanks Smudger.