butane weed-killing torches

[Guest]

removed by member

[momma_to_seven_chi]

My husband runs an asphalt service type company. They use those long torch tubes connected to a (Grill) propane tank to burn weeds off the edges of parking lots and out of cracks in asphalt. It makes quick work of getting rid of weeds. The ones they buy are about four foot long tubes with a simple black hose that fits on the propane tank. Weeds just shrivel up and burn away quickly. They buy them from a maintainence supply company. They work well for them.
I don't know how it kills the roots, but they put crack filler and waterproof sealer right over the asphalt right after they clean out the weeds and blow debris off the asphalt. Either the torch or the chemicals in the sealing agent prevent weeds from regrowing right away.
Dandelions are amazing things. They can grow right through blacktop, hump it up in little piles within a week or two after it is laid. They have to be burned out, and the black top sealed with a waterproof protective to prevent them from ruining the blacktop. That is why everyone should put roundup all over an area where blacktop is to be laid. If you don't kill out the vegetation first, it will grow right through the three inch blacktop and eventually crack and ruin it. Blacktop is porous unlike cement. Waterproof sealer keeps the vegetation starved out from lack of water.

[Anon001]

You're better off sticking with your Roundup. However, if you use a lot of it, go to your co-op and buy the generic. It is MUCH cheaper... about 1/4 to 1/2 the cost per gallon.

The propane torches are not use for lawns and such. Here, they are used to help starting a controlled burn in pastures and on ranges as well as all the dead grass in the ditches in early spring.

Your best bet is generic Roundup.... If you dislike chemical usage, you can also buy Horticultural Vinegar. It is costly but you use very very little and it will quickly kill ANY plant it comes in contact with.

[NCLee]

Agree with Paul. I've used both. Roundup, by far, is the best option both in terms of cost and effectiveness.

Unless you really stand there and cook the whole plant, a lot of hardy perennial weeds will simply grow new tops. At least that's been my experience. Tried it and went back to Roundup.

BTW, still have my torch to use for other purposes. For example, it's good for starting a fire to burn a brush pile.

Lee