Grainlady-question about torch, weed burner

**pinetree** · 01-10-2010, 08:44 PM

I saw you posted about a torch you use in the garden to elimate weeds.
I posted this last year and everyone said no dont use.
DH wants one to kill weeds in the rock, does yours seem to do a good job? We really want to go totally chemical free, and these look like they would work. We have also seen ads for them in some of the seed catalogs.

The one he wants is at harbor freight. TIA

**pinetree** · 01-11-2010, 12:31 PM

heres what hes looking at, maybe alittle bigger than the one you have?

Propane Torch with Push Button Igniter
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=91037

hope the link works

**Greebo** · 01-11-2010, 12:45 PM

Can't say for weed killing but for melting ice, they suck.

**shortstack** · 01-11-2010, 04:11 PM

I came within a hair of buying my husband one a few years ago. Right before I bought it I heard him mention the words "soup it up" and decided that would be a no on the purchase

**Grainlady** · 01-11-2010, 07:36 PM

The torch works very well on weeds in our river rock beds and gravel walk-ways, which we have a LOT of (we got an "A" in xeriscaping - LOL). We've used the torch successfully for 2 years, and we do 2-3 weed-burning sessions each year. We have undeveloped lots behind our property, so there are a lot of weed seeds blowing around that find their way into the rock beds.

You can also use vinegar in a spritz bottle on weeds. I use vinegar in the undeveloped lots that butt-up to our back yard - which is full of all kinds of weeds, but I'm getting it under control with liberal application with vinegar several times a year (early spring when they are just popping out, mid-summer, and late summer).

**pinetree** · 01-11-2010, 07:55 PM

We have tried the vinegar, it takes so much, you almost have to pour it on. Thats why DH wanted to try the weed burner to see if he could get some kind of control over it. ( the cockaburrs and bullheads are really getting bad & vinegar doesnt seem to touch them )
Theres about 300 feet by say 50-75 feet of rock. What I am noticing now is they are starting to break thru the asphalt and are growing thru. ( it is only 3 years old )
Maybe we should just buy one & see if it works, but on the other hand I dont want to buy another "thing" that doesnt work.