Roofing Paper as Weed Barrier ?

[Magnusfarce]

Is there any reason not to use roofing (tar) paper under pavers to prevent weed growth? Either way, how long would this be expected to last?

- Magnusfarce

[Roger]

Landscaping cloth works better - get the pro grade, say at home depot. I believe it is made of glass fiber felt, which lasts a very long time, yet allows necessary drainage, which tarpaper does not, and will make the pavers mossy, sooner. BTW I've seen bug/rodent holes on tarpaper that lays on the ground.

[Joseph Meehan]

It is of little or no value and may trap water that you want to filter through.

[m Ransley]

Weeds will grow above the paper, water will be trapped, Use roundup.

[willshak]

On 11/20/2004 1:19 AM US(ET), Magnusfarce took fingers to keys, and typed the following:

If the pavers were laid down correctly, there is crushed stone, sand, or other inorganic material, underneath for at least a few inches, and possibly up to a foot or more, if done professionally. Grass and weeds will not grow in this inorganic material, and the pavers provide protection from light and air borne organic material, both of which are required for plant growth. Where the weeds start to grow, is in the sand between the pavers, and they start to grow from the top. That is because, over time, organic material, which will support growth, gets into the sand, and wind or water borne seeds start to grow in this organic material. It seems that a microscopic piece of organic material is enough to support the germination of a seed (except where you want seeds to grow, like your lawn, unless you apply lots of extra organic material and tend to it regularly). If you pull out the newly started weeds or grass between the stones, you will see that the roots are only an inch or so deep. They did not start growing from beneath the pavers, so the addition of any roofing material, plastic, or anything else under the pavers will not prevent wind borne seeds from growing between the pavers.

[Harry K]

Good advice...not. Roundup will not, does not and won't ever stop weed growth. All it will do is kill what is already growing.

Harry K

[Joseph Meehan]

Yep, Triox would be the better product. Apply it once or twice a year.

[Dorie]

No one believes in landscaping cloth any more.

[Dorie]

Plenty of law suits now against the RoundUp company as it causes cancer. Roundup is just a diluted Agent Orange.

[Ed Pawlowski]

Saw on the news that they tested people's urine and 80% have traces of Roundup

[Scott Lurndal]

Well, they have traces of the chemical glyphosphate, which, since Monsanto's patent expired, is used by a number of brands of weed killer; not just roundup.

[bud--]

The main source of the cancer claim seems to be the IARC.

"Subsequently, many national regulatory authorities underwent a reevaluation of the risk posed by the exposure to glyphosate. Regulators in Europe (ECHA, EFSA), Canada, Japan and New Zealand reported that the glyphosate was unlikely to pose any carcinogenic risk to humans."

The IARC also said drinking hot coffee can cause cancer.

The alleged cancer is a fairly common one. If you get cancer it must be someone's fault - doesn't it?

Nonsense. Agent Orange is 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T. The problem with Agent Orange is it is contaminated with dioxin. Roundup is completely different.

Just your average homemoanershub post.

A twitter tweet with no link to the original study. Includes a quote from the Environmental Working Group.

"The accuracy of EWG reports and statements have been criticized, as has its funding by the organic food industry. Its warnings have been labeled 'alarmist', 'scaremongering' and 'misleading'."

I suspect the quote at the end was added after the original tweet. The quote provides significance missing in the rest of the tweet.

======================== I don't know if glyphosate causes cancer. I am certainly not convinced. Should be lots of cancer in agriculture where massive amounts of glyphosate are used.

[Clare Snyder]

Far from "Diluted agent orange" - which is a mix of 2-4-D and 2-4-5-T. Properly used Glysophate is relatively benign in comparison - When used "as intended" it is "relatively safe". You know water kills a LOT more people every year than the most dangerous man-made chemical

- even in it's purest form.