Blow torching weeds? How long until the seed is dead?

I am trying to find out just how long I need to fry the plant and seed to kill them. Bur butter cups especially. Can you help?

We use a torch on our gravel areas to keep weeds down. It has been my experience that standing there till you have charcoal is a waste of time and fuel! Weeds that are perennial will come back after the first burn and blossom quickly. You just keep hitting them regularly (we torch weekly or biweekly) and you'll begin to notice that there are fewer and fewer weeds.
I touch each weed with fire till I begin to notice the leaves look damp and wilted. That will sufficiently kill the foliage. You don't want to start a fire.

What are you using to torch them?

Gwen

This!

http://www.flameengineering.com/VT3-30C.html
Red Dragon Vapor Torch.

Thanks for your help. I also went on the internet and found an article saying just about what renwings said. One pass or two should burst the cell wall on the plants. What a relief.
And I am very careful not to start fires.

Renwings, is this the sort of thing you can get at Home Depot or Sears? (Costco?)

Gwen

You can order it though that website. This is the type of thing you find a Farm Supply Store/Feed Stores. I found mine on sale for $60. I really don't know if you can buy it at the stores you mentioned.

Renwings,

I'm so glad you explained how often you use yours. I got one last year and thought that one zap and the weeds should be gone, semipermanently. Then I was disappointed to see that they just grew back. Now I will know to expect to zap weekly.

Well, you need to be very careful with the torch. The wind picked up while I was torching and I had a few scary moments with the flame traveling up the handle. Didn't expect that to happen.

I am sunburned but happy. 1/8th of the bur buttercups are gone and it is going much faster now.

The quack grass is already up and growing where I torched it to ash. It will be interesting to see how many times it will take. But this is better than mass weed killer.

Thanks for the advice

After you torch it, then what? Do you need to pick it up and dispose of it or will it rake up or what? Also, how close to other plants can you get?

Oh, and on weeds that are in cracks of like a patio, even tho they're torched, are they still 'stuck' down there in the cracks or do they sweep up easily?

Thanks,
Gwen
P.S. Good advice on the wind! Will only use it on calm days.

You "torchers, do live on large pieces of property or regular city lots?

I hope this isn't too dumb a question, but can you torch weeds just after a rain? It seems it might be safer and sometimes we have to garden between the raindrops. lol

Gwendalou, and anatatia,

I think it depends on how long you torch it. If you torch it to ash it is just going to blow away. But that takes alot of time and fuel. And I don't think you should get more than a foot away, if that, from any plant you want to keep. Sometimes you don't realize the angle of the fire and it is pretty broad.

This torcher lives on 4 acres and the majority is weeds. We are backed out to BLM land so we have a beautiful view, but oh the grass and weeds and critters. We have more whistle pigs than the gofer patrol guys had ever seen before.
As I am new to torching, I am still watching the results of it. How long is long enough and for what plants. I am actually going to try it in the lawn too just for experimentation. Curious minds....
I actually did a burn area (where I carefully burn the outer limits so that when I burn the inside it won't be so dangerous that it starts a fire unintentionally. I already experienced an out of control burn.
One evening I came home and the lower pasture was on fire. Probably someone threw a cigarette out their window or a spark from a car started it. We never found out how it started.
The wind was fierce and blowing it toward the house and barn. I had left my 15 year old home to keep an eye on the younger ones while I ran one of them to scouts and when I came back--I was terrified. He had his headset on and no one had any idea they were about to go up in flames.
I grabbed a hose and started wetting down the perimeters, house, shed. But those weeds were going up and the wind was spreading it 10-12 feet around each area I could get. I have heard of a roaring fire, but when you are in the middle of one, you understand what roar means. It was so loud and hot.
Called 911 and got the kids out to help.
It ended up burning over 55 acres and we saved our home and shed, but barely. So... I am always very careful. I can't sleep until I check over and over and over.

That is why I really like this torch. I can control the burn better and limit the fire hazard of weeds around. Little by little, we are planting grass, or rocking areas. Limited budget, limited time. Seems like a great tool, if used with respect.

KatyMac,

You can torch when wet, it just takes a little longer if you are doing a big area. The other day it started sprinkling and I kept going. They burned, but you could tell a difference in the time it took.

It was my understanding that if you torched them longer than just a couple of seconds that they would come back big time. Farmers burn their fields in Washington and Idaho to get a second crop. The second crop comes in better than the first one.

I do believe they are growing Kentucky Blue Grass for the seed. That might make a difference too.

Jeanette

I sure hope not

I was wondering about that too. There are lots of seeds and plants that need fire to survive and continue on. Was just hoping the weeds in my garden weren't in that group!

Gwen

Well, there is only one way I will find out for sure! I checked out the area that I torched and so far only quack grass (and it was easy to pull) and the bindweed (horrible stuff) I am going to torch the bindweed and see if it ever dies. I will do it all season until it gives up or I do.
What I figure, is that if it is an annual weed, chances are it will die when the cell wall explodes. But an perenial like the bind weed may have to have it's energy source cut off over and over before it isn't strong enough to come back. That could prove difficult.
I am not adverse to weed killer in small doses. I would prefer none, but we have too many weeds for none.
I am going to try the advice on another thread of 2 layers of black or clear plastic.

Now I know this should be the bug thread, but last year I found a zillion squash bugs in my dad's section of the garden. How do you go about getting rid of these? I haven't seen any yet, but I am sure they are out there, and the earlier I kill them the better.

Instead of the black plastic why don't you put down wet newspapers and be sure to overlap them. Several layers. I used 12 sheets. Should be wet and then mulch.

Hmmm... Jnette,

That sounds very interesting. I have heard of mulching with newspaper, but not to elimanate large amounts of weeds. But it makes sense. The only worry I have is the winds we get here combined with the heat. I am wondering if they would dry up and blow away. Last year it turned over my kids trampoline! And you never know when one is going to hit.
I love a good experiment though, so I am gonna try it. Thanks!

Do it when either, the weeds are small, or use a weed whacker and cut them off and then put the WET newspapers down but be SURE to mulch over the top of the newspapers or they will blow away.

Jeanette

Now I understand! Thanks

Also, be sure to continue to water as usual. If the paper dries out all the way it will be real hard to get it wet enough to get water down to the roots of your plants.

Jeanette

Hi Folks,
I have been reading your posting on torching with interest. I own a torch that i have to keep a lighter in my pocket. i see others advertised with an electric starter that would waste a lot less fuel between firing. They cost more but it seems to me that the extra cost would be worth it.
Seed farmers burn the grass to kill fungus, not to get the grass to grow better. Well it will grow better without the fungus, dah. The weeds don't need to be burned to a crisp, just enough to heat them up enough to turn the liquid in the leaves to steam. That is what kills the plant.
I also went to the local propane dealer and bought a smaller tank. It sure is easier to carry. you won't be able to buy a small tank a Home Depot.

I live on a 1/3 of an acre, with large gravel areas (driveway, firepit, walkways). I use the torch on those areas. I find it takes more time and fuel to burn wet foliage, so we wait till things have dried out a bit. When the fire danger is high, I have my hubby follow me around with hose to wet down the areas I've burned.

We've had great success. The only downside is coming back in the house smelling like roasted dandelion.

Well if it works that isn't too bad of a downside. During high fire danger I doubt I would try it. Even tho I have logged recently I still left a lot of trees and also am against a National forest.

Jeanette

Yep Jnette, I would be careful of that, backed up to the forest! I don't want to read about you on the internet!
And renwings, mine smelled like burning broccoli! I did go out and by alot of black plastic. Thick and big! Those weeds are going!

Whatever works!! Jeanette

I read in an advertisement for a torch that they aren't meant to be used in lawns. Well, my "lawn" is 85 % dandelions, so that is where I really want to use one. I have a "weed hound" which may not be getting the root of the dandelion. My soil is so compacted/hard/clay that I can barely get the prongs in in the first place. Woe is me! My neighbor uses vinegar to kill her dandelions, but again, doing that on 3/4 of an acre doesn't seem feasible.

Any suggestions???