As a gal that worked in the ER in my youth and yes, a bit of PTSD from what I saw (they got Life Flights), I’m always careful to avoid horrible pain and will say I have NEVER been to the ER since that experience.
So, with my idea to use a torch to kill foxtail and other weeds around… do any of you use a torch? I want to be safe and have enough fuel to last a few hours.
Is there a way to do this safely?
For my own experience I can say that it works. I have a propane torch for this chore, but have lately been using spot spraying of herbicides.
Why now chemicals rather than flame? Make sure that you have a water hose nearby and ready to quench any flames that spread. And in particular keep an eye behind you on spots that you have just torched and look fine when you walk away. This is a lesson I learned the hard way. I did get to see our volunteer fire department in action.
Oh my. Do tell that story please. And thanks for your reply! It’s not dry where I am - quite green in fact.
we went to a torch because it destroys any seeds as well as the plant, we choose a day after it rains and do bring water to douse the burnt patches afterwards.
My boyfriend’s son burned down his garage and melted the siding off two sides of his house using a weed torch in July. He had a hose at the ready but it got away from him in an instant. It has been quite dry in southeast Wisconsin. He’s lucky he didn’t burn down his and his neighbors houses. Sometimes shit happens…
Holy moly. What an expensive mistake and could have been worse yet? A good reminder to be very careful.
I think it depends what type of weed you’re targeting, as to whether it works or not. My husband made a weed torch, and while it cleans up our gravel driveway for a bit, the weeds just come right back as the root isn’t damaged. What did work for us was to spot treat with herbicide, then burn what was left on the surface once the weeds died. That took care of the seeds and slowed down the number that popped back up again.
I bought a torch, and it’s still in the box. There is a restaurant near me that had somebody throw a cigarette butt into the mulch as they drove by (it’s a weird location- right on the road). Apparently, it smoldered, and then caught fire, and it burned the place down.
I like to mulch generously, so I have six inches in some areas. It makes me worry that I’ll kill the weeds, and then burn my place down. I have been committing herbicide with spray. I’d rather not, but it is what it is.
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