On 02/06/2010 10:47, wrote:
Now that we can't get Sodium Chlorate what's the best (as in
reasonably cheap + effective) alternative?

You should probably have done a last time buy. You are not supposed to
use it any more though since ISTR 10/5/2010. Not sure why the EU banned
it - probably some halfwitted jobsworth interfering again.

At least this year there are still places around with some on the
shelves and in their catalogues. eg.

http://www.carrs-billington.com/pdf/...n_products.pdf

(dunno if this lot actually have any stock)

I recently used up my last bit of Sodium Chlorate on one part of our
large area of gravel and Pathclear on another area. The Pathclear
seems to have been totally ineffective whereas the Sodium Chlorate
worked well. So I'm not very impressed with Pathclear for a start.

I *want* the weedkiller to stay in the ground for as long as possible
so products that leave 'no residue' are most definitely not what I
want.

It's a big (like getting on for 1000 square metres) area of gravel so
price is quite a major consideration.

I have found Pathclear reasonably effective. But then I rely on gravel
depth to keep most weeds in check and only hit problem areas with a
weedkiller (like where ground elder or horsetail comes up).

Regards,
Martin Brown