Flame guns for weeding

I understand that if you wither (not burn) the top growth, particularly near the crown, that this kills the plants. It may take a number of goes with the deeper rooted perennials, but should gradually do them all in - much as hoeing would, though I believe quicker.
It also is said to kill the weed seeds, so you don't get the irritating regrowth that you get with freshly turned soil

A lot of hot mop roofers here use what they call a rose bud. Usually a 4 or 5 lb propane tank with about 20' of hose with an attachment that shoots a flame 2' or more. You light it with a common striker and adjust it like an oxy-acy torch. I know it would be a little pricey but would definately clear up your yard in a hurry. You might check with a local roofer or roofing supply place for a demonstration or more info. Our local fire dept would have a fit if I tried using one here.

Thanks nada. I think I'll stick to the ones designed for the job - sounds the safer option, but that's very interesting

Oh, heck, Phil. Just peel back the gravel, put down ground cover, and rake the gravel back on... just take you a few minutes, eh?

Yeeeeeeah right ............
.......and the cover comes free with the gravel of course
:)

We tried that- the nutgrass came right through the pro grade landscaping plastic.

OMG daisy - I thought that at least would work, just too expensive
Obviously not :(

Well, I've done the foul deed and ordered a flame gun. Will let you know how I get on. It's coming from the UK though so will take a few days.....
The pace of life here is slower than elsewhere, so such things are just part of the .....
now I'm rambling LOL

As you as you don't have nutgrass, philo, you should be fine! LOL Din't mean to scare ya.

LOL
I couldn't afford (or find the energy) to cover all our driveways in that ground cover stuff anyway daisy. Sorry it didn't work for you though - that nutgrass must have some muscles!!!

BTW I don't scare that easily ;o)

This message was edited Aug 19, 2004 10:45 PM

grrr.... you have no idea.

It came up through 3 layers of heavy duty plastic and into my DDs vinyl swimming pool in less than 5 days. Can't use a torch on the pool either! LOL! I would be very unpopular with a 10 year old.

Its actually a sedge, not a grass and the Romans cultivated it to harvest the nuts that grow underground. Some people eat Lambs Quarters too and that stuff is a nasty weed! But then daturas are weeds here too.

Ah yes the sedges are TOUGH. There were some in Kent that were horrors and I paled a trifle when I saw some here in France.
So far they are only in the horse fields - hope they stay there!!

That's awful about the swimming pool :(

Daturas as weeds eh? Hmmm
Actually we've got some in our chicken run and I was wondering if they were volunteers - I think so.

In the fall up here the blueberry growers have a great weed burner. Towed behind a full sized tractor is a 10 ft. wide boom with 6 or 8 nozzles blasting foot long flames downward. I believe they burn the barrens every other year for best effect. Gretagreta, I think the bamboo is called "knot weed".

Is it that horsetail stuff they call bamboo?

Daisy, here's some info on horsetail. It isn't bamboo.
http://www.pinn.net/~swampy/horsetail.html

Philomel, would you be kind enought to post a photo of the back breaking flame thrower you just ordered? (When you get a chance)

Thanks, Bob! That was an interesting read!

I actually have far too much 'knowledge' of horsetail from my previous house. It came through the fence and into the grass (sounds like a Stephen King title, huh?) and I left every plant in that garden so that I wouldn't bring it with me. Awful stuff here.

I even found in an alley about 100 fans of spuria recently and threw them all in the trash because they had horsetail in the fans. Not welcome in my garden at all.

It is very pretty in a container though.

This is the description on the site I ordered from
http://www.mower-magic.co.uk/acatalog/SHEEN_X500_Flame_Gun.html
Thanks everyone - gotta dash but talk more later :)

Hilary thanks for asking about my wrist. I go for an MRI tomorrow and will have surgery again as soon as we figure out what to fix in there.

That flame gun looks like a good one. If it wasn't as dry here as it is ours could be used much more but after the middle of May we can't use it on much or we might catch all our neighbors on fire. For some reason I don't think our neighbors would like us anymore if we did that to them. lol

Happy b'day for yesterday bob :) .....and many happy returns

Wow Frankay, I've never heard of a contraption like that before!!

I have horsetail round the pond that's down amongst our trees. I just hope it's not going to spread too far! I think it's too dry for it away from the pond (fingers crossed)

Please let me know how you get on with your MRI and what they can do for you Pond. Sorry it's still ongoing - assumed you were better