Could I, should I... with a flamethrower?

[Seahorse]

Noticed Wilko had some of these in today for under £20. I'm wondering if it's worth getting one to burn off some of the worst lottie weeds. It does say 'not for use on lawns' but is that because you're likely to wreck the grass surrounding the weeds (not a problem on the plot, obviously)? It would certainly be easier than the petrol strimmer I borrowed, or doing it with garden shears.

Any thoughts?

[OverWyreGrower]

We burned a lot of our weeds last year!!

We hired a flame thing from HSS and although some of the tougher weeds took a couple of tries, it was very satisfactory

[Nicos]

Problem with flame throwers is that you also kill off good bugs in the soil.
I suspect that some weeds would just regrow?????

Sounds like fun though

[Seahorse]

I hadn't thought of it killing off good bugs. I'm mulching the whole plot with card and manure, so perhaps it wouldn't matter too much?

I'm glad it's not just me who thinks this sort of thing is fun!

[Two_Sheds]

There might be all kinds of things hiding, esp in long grass: hedgehogs? slow worms? hibernating ladybirds? You don't want to torch any of them not really.
I can see the point of a flamethrower for weeds in hard to reach places, like between cracks in paving, but an allotment??? Its not very efficient. Fun, granted, but you won't kill the roots of perennials, so you'll have to dig these up anyway.
On a Eco tack, the fuel they use is certainly an unfriendlier way of weeding than mulching or digging.
I'd also rather spend £20 on seeds ... on balance, I'd do without it.

[Seahorse]

Well, I wouldn't do the really long grass - might start a fire bigger than I could cope with and I guess I'm going to do for any hibernating ladybirds and the like by smothering them with mulch anyway

I'm more swayed by the eco argument on fuel... hmm.

[rustylady]

You really don't have to clear the whole area in one day, you know. Take it steady, you'll save your back and your sanity. Pick a manageable area, cut down the topgrowth (there shouldn't be too much this time of year unless you had shoulder high brambles and docks like we did). Then either dig thoroughly, removing all weed roots, or cover with your chosen mulch (carpet or cardboard). Don't worry, the ladybirds and animals will escape from that much easier than they would from a flamethrower.

[Seahorse]

unless you had shoulder high brambles and docks like we did

Yup! 480 square metres of same! Actually not so much shoulder height as 'high as I can reach above my head' height!!! And where the brambles had missed, couch grass and bindweed had moved in. Having taken an entire day to thoroughly dig an area only about 2m square, I really do need a quicker solution!

[TPeers]

There isn't one!

Cut all the brambles down by what ever method you prefer - machete comes to mind - and stack them to dry for later burning, brambles are very vigerous so most weedkillers will only slow them not stop. Even cutting to ground level and covering with a thick layer of carpet etc.. won't work well. The only answer if you want to grow something other than more brambles is to dig it all out.

Sorry!

Terry

[rustylady]

Have to agree with TPeers. Cut down top growth, stack and burn on bonfire - for goodness sake don't try to burn in situ. I used loppers and a pruning saw, didn't trust myself with a machete. Digging is the only answer to getting the roots out, but it can be done! Covering with carpet or cardboard will work for grass, but not brambles.

[Seahorse]

Ah, didn't make myself clear Have spent many hours with the loppers & choppers and now have only a relatively small bramble patch to contend with, which I'll deal with in the same way. I'm digging the bramble roots out as I go (the worst of them anyway - no doubt some rogue bits will pop up again!). The flames would be directed at couch grass, bindweed, docks and the like (if anywhere!).

[TPeers]

Ahhh! Still not got a good answer for you! Invest in a soil sieve! Having had the plot that was couch grass from end to end....... Sieve the soil! you have got to get out every last bit of the Bleepin' stuff or it will ALL come back

And yes it can haunt you.

[Peter]

I DO use one.

But it is not one of the silly little wand or camping gaz size bottle driven ones.

What I have is a plumbers propane torch, driven off a 15L red propane tank, with a roofers torch attachment.
The roofers bit is about three foot long including the baked bean tin size burner on the end and replaces the thumb sized plumbers brazing torch.

What I use (used) it for is the matted dead growth left after weedkilling a couch overgrown allotment.

When the "mat" is dry, but not tinder-dry or soggy pick a dry windless day, a slight breeze is ok, but not windy, gusty or changing direction of wind. Ensure whatever breeze is blowing is blowing away from people homes.
Fill several watering cans and place around your plot, place the propane tank in a wheelbarrow, connect everything up, light up and start burning at the most downwind point.
Always work into the wind, at a slight angle so you don't get a faceful of smoke, but so in the event of it "kicking off" you can safely get a watering can before the flames are halfway down the plot, as the wind pushes the fire back onto previously burnt clear ground.
The barrow allows you to move the gas supply round the plot, the rubber tube from tank to burner is metres long, not tens of metres long. It also isolates the tank from the burnt material and allows you to just wheel it away from any problems.

If you do it right you will just be burning what is under the flame of the torch.

[Seahorse]

Sigh... I bet there's a 'Mrs Peter' already, isn't there?

Otherwise please apply at:

Pyromaniacs R Us
Overgrown Lottie
Middle of Nowhere
999 999



Seriously though, that's good advice on risk management!

[Peter]

Err, Australian are you, very direct.

Yes there is, but she is not into gardening, boo-hoo.

Take a look at Gas Torch Kit Large  - Screwfix.com, Where the Trade Buys , mine was MUCH less £, but get the idea and look around tool suppliers, or chat up a roofer who does flat roofs.