Nightmare weeds in my walls

[beckibrown]

Hi,
Was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions. There are walls either side of my garden made of stone. Our garden was very overgrown when we moved in, so we've only recently been able to get to them. Annoyingly, the weeds (mostly ivy but also brambles and various other things) have taken root in between stones and made the stones loose; they fall out if you touch them. Personally I'm tempted take the walls down and replace them, but our neighbours don't seem too keen and seeing as they've been here longer I don't think it would be fair to them. I've trimmed back the weeds as much as possible but does anyone have any ideas of how to get them out without bringing down the walls?
Becki

[Two_Sheds]

The least-damaging option (to the walls) would be to spray with Glyphosate

You have to do it to good leaf growth though, so unfortunately you'll have to let them grow back a bit before you do it.

[Two_Sheds]

If they were weeds in the patio, I would say pour boiling water on them, but you can't do that to a wall - bit messy

[beckibrown]

I'm a bit worried that when it dies off the walls will come down anyway, they're in such a state. I don't think I could face letting it grow back and it probably isn't a good idea to try to tip boining water over the wall, there's a police station next door on the worst side and the officers take their cigarette breaks at the bottom of our wall :S

[Flummery]

I'd say it depends on what the weeds are. I know its the sturcture of the wall you are concerned with but there are a few rare wall ferns I'd kill to have on my wall (if I had a wall!)

I agre that a spraying of glyphosate (Roundup) is probably the way to go.

[beckibrown]

There's nothing rare or particularly nice, anything like that probably got choked in the brambles and ivy a long time ago. Some of the ivy roots in there are thicker than my thumb, that's how well-established it is. If I spray it and have to leave the bigger bits in do you think they'll stay dead or re-grow?

[Two_Sheds]

Becki, the spray needs to go onto green leaves - it won't work on stalks and stumps.

If you do it correctly, it will be absorbed through the leaves, and kill the whole plant roots and all.

[Snadger]

I don't like using weedkillers but if you are going to, why not brush on the weedkiller rather than spraying it? That way you will have no 'drift' and only hit the actual weeds!