Redneck weed control

[dave1949]

The wife would normally help but she is 9 months pregnant so its all on me now. She never did tell me how i should do it so i guess i found a loop hole to make it alittle more fun if thats possible in weeding a garden

It's best to not try reasoning with a wife who is 9 months pregnant. Congratulations on your soon to be new family member!

 

[QRTRHRS]

I have a Harbour Freight torch as well. While it may feel and sound like the ideal tool to take on the weeds, anything with a deep tap root comes back to "haunt" you. A pick axe before the seeds drop is more effective.

 

[DJ54]

Hate to shoot you down, but someone was way ahead of you on the game, with this idea. They actually make multiple row, 3 pt mount, weed burners, for the larger organic growers. Burners are mounted in boxes, that protect your plants, and direct the flame downward. There are a few YouTube video's showing them.

 

[Jim Timber]

I use a torch now and then in my vineyard. it works well if you have patience and cook the roots. Not really cost effective because of the propane cost, but it is organic and that is important in wine grapes.

It's about technique, not heat.

The idea is to watch the surface of the plant for when the cells burst, but not cook it so much that the top is destroyed. You'll "see" this happen after you get the hang of it. It creates a huge flesh wound on the plant that causes all of it's fluids to leak out and exhaust the resources of the roots trying to move fluids around.

I was able to wipe out 6' tall Canada thistle that was 1.5" around at the stem in 2 years, 4 treatments. Then the dumbass neighbors got the township to mow my fescue that'd grown over the area (after 100# of seed was sewn, by me), and all of a sudden we have thistle again. CT seed stays viable for at least 5 years. You've gotta out compete it early in the spring or it'll keep coming back.

10% gly has been less effective. I'm probably going back to the torch if they don't show signs of dying soon. It's been over a month. The other weeds are crispy, but the thistle shows no sign of slowing down and it's about ready to seed out.

 

[timbatrader]

I've seen commercial weed killers used on the sidewalk in organic neighborhoods around here basically a big steam cleaner that squirts hot water/steam at the plants cooks them it works well but is more expensive than chemical weed killers

 

[BuilderML]

Hate to shoot you down, but someone was way ahead of you on the game, with this idea. They actually make multiple row, 3 pt mount, weed burners, for the larger organic growers. Burners are mounted in boxes, that protect your plants, and direct the flame downward. There are a few YouTube video's showing them.

It was a new to me idea. Figured someone must have used it before but i have never really seen anything about it.

 

[BuilderML]

My 3yr old would love that. He harvested his first squash out of his own garden today. Btw, I had no idea that going from 1 to 2 children would be so much harder that going from 0 to 1. Bless you and say goodbye to the last of your remaining free time!

Thanks alot :confused2: i figured it would be easier going from 1 to 2.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Thanks alot :confused2: i figured it would be easier going from 1 to 2.

That's what I thought too! You'll have to post here in 6-9mos and tell us/me how it's going.

 

[mark02tj]

Thanks alot :confused2: i figured it would be easier going from 1 to 2.

NOPE! I have to agree with the guy that said it was a lot more work going from 1-2 than from 0-1. I said the same thing many years ago. Now mine are 22 and 24 so they're not quite as much work any more!

 

[rd_macgregor]

I still mostly pull (a lot of!) weeds by hand, but have considered alternative methods, including a flamer and an electrocuter. I do practice recycling with boiling water from cooking pasta or vegetables; I can hear the cells explode on the driveway weeds when I toss a pan full over them (very gratifying).