To those of you who don’t like Blue Oyster Cult, I’m sorry, I just couldn’t stop myself.
A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I spend some time flame weeding. It’s a technique for getting rid of weeds by frying them using a 500,000 BTU (I’m not kidding – that’s how powerful this thing is rated) torch hooked up to a propane tank. It’s not something I do a lot, just something that I get the urge to do periodically — when I need to feel macho.
Here’s the blow by blow – it’s kind of a good news, bad news story.
a Good news – Igniting the propane torch was quick and straightforward process. The torch lit on the first try!
Bad news – Here’s my hairless finger after igniting the torch. Even though the process of igniting the torch was quick and easy, I still burned all of the hair off of the fingers on my right hand. The black dots are all that’s left of my fantastic finger fuzz.
Good news – Damn but I feel powerful using this thing! It’s like holding a jet engine in your hands! Yes, it does make me feel macho.
More good news – only a couple of days later the plot looks almost spotless!
Bad news – Two weeks later the perennial weeds are already on their way back. The ground insulates the roots too well.
My results as well. Burned back and killed grass seedlings. But more seed spouted next rain. And can’t use in summer drought months here in SF, CA region.Need ear mufflers to use!
The only place I see much use for weed burning in landscaping is along curbs and pavement. Instant gratification, no chance of burning desirable plants, and good residual, since roots are poor their.
I have used the smaller version with the small propane cylinder for several years now. I use it on very small weeds in cracks of driveway & at my commercial property I maintain along sidewalk. When I mean small I mean small! Otherwise I apply Roundup and come back 7-10 days later and burn off the crispy weeds. Some weeds burn better than others-purslane not so well. Also torch works well to start the fire pit we use to grill on!
Weed burning is used in bushland management here in OZ with good results, but one has to be selective with what one burns as it is by no means a broadly efficacious method f
or dealing with weeds. It is particularly useful in dealing with annual grasses but is used to deal with perennial grasses and other weeds too. Of course it is going to be useless if used on mature, flowering weeds, but used on at the seedling stage it can be very effective. Is its usefuleness as a landscape management technique overstated? I’d say definately. Are there areas where it is effective to the extent that it can be considered a viable alternative option? I’d say yes – but it’s effectiveness relies on timing and a bit of assumed plant knowledge.
I had pretty good results with burning weeds. I only scorched the leaves. It took some practice to just scorch them so they could not feed the roots. Went back and did it again with the sprouts and the weed died. I think just scorching them not burning is the key.