"Jack S" wrote in message
ink.net...
I've got a rock "lawn" and I would like to quit using herbicide for
killing weeds, and try scorching them instead.

There are a lot of weed / roofing torches on ebay and I was wondering if
there is anything to choose for or against in buying one. The one I'm
leaning toward getting says: "3000+ Fahrenheit" - that's enough, right?



Thanks



Went to the feed store in town today. Clerk recommended 20% acid vinegar.
She warned it only lasts about 2 months. Then the weeds come back again.

Vinegar in grocery store is typically 5% acid.
Dave

Dave wrote:
Guessing that's about the temperature the bonfire 2 years ago burned at its
height of heat. Cutoff lumber from the builder, juniper ashe, a little live
oak. All dried for about 2 months first. Pile was over 10 feet high, 30
foot around, teepee fashion. Fire laughed at the garden hose at its height.
Absolutely nothing grew there for a full year. Put a raised bed garden over
the site.

There was nothing within 50 feet that was a potential for burning, no wind,
overcast, drizzly off and on that day. Watered down the area around the
fuel dump anyway, prior to lighting off. Aluminum cans, and glass bottles
were melted flat. Some steel in some nails melted. Used magnetic pickup
tool to get all the steel remaining afterwards.

Sounds a bit like my annual event. Here's the before-and-after from
the 2005 one (the most impressive to date:

Befo http://www.otherpower.com/images/sci...36/bonfire.jpg
During: http://www.martyh.com/BTH_3rd_unaugu...es/image16.htm
After: http://www.martyh.com/BTH_3rd_unaugu...es/image20.htm

I used a big magnet in a sock to pick up a 20 litre bucket full of
nails from the site a few weeks later, and I'm still getting a handful
from time to time (I have a post there so that I know not to drive
over it).

This years was a little less impressive, but only a little:

http://hok.smugmug.com/gallery/2806294#149827229
http://www.smallsolar.org/BTH/Unaugural/
http://Peter-T.smugmug.com


BTH

In article . net,
(Dave) says...

Something that will work for a a year or two is used motor oil. But, weeds
will come back with vengeance. It won't kill them entirely. But, its no
worse than the chemicals and consequential runoff from herbicides that you
have to pay additional money for.

Used motor oil is a LOT worse than an EPA approved herbicide like
Roundup. You need to recycle the stuff carefully, not spread it around
in the environment.

--
For email, replace firstnamelastinitial
with my first name and last initial.

In article . net, gh@
43.com (Jack S) says...

I've got a rock "lawn" and I would like to quit using herbicide for killing
weeds, and try scorching them instead.

Salt. If you are in a dry climate, one application will sterilize the
soil for years.

--
For email, replace firstnamelastinitial
with my first name and last initial.

Larry Caldwell wrote:
In article . net,
(Dave) says...

Something that will work for a a year or two is used motor oil. But,
weeds will come back with vengeance. It won't kill them entirely.
But, its no worse than the chemicals and consequential runoff from
herbicides that you have to pay additional money for.

Used motor oil is a LOT worse than an EPA approved herbicide like
Roundup. You need to recycle the stuff carefully, not spread it around
in the environment.

Don't cornfuse them with facts and stuff.

On May 12, 10:35 am, "Jack S" wrote:
I've got a rock "lawn" and I would like to quit using herbicide for killing
weeds, and try scorching them instead.

There are a lot of weed / roofing torches on ebay and I was wondering if
there is anything to choose for or against in buying one. The one I'm
leaning toward getting says: "3000+ Fahrenheit" - that's enough, right?

Thanks

Boiling water works suprisingly well.

"Steveo" wrote in message
...
Larry Caldwell wrote:
In article . net,
(Dave) says...

Something that will work for a a year or two is used motor oil. But,
weeds will come back with vengeance. It won't kill them entirely.
But, its no worse than the chemicals and consequential runoff from
herbicides that you have to pay additional money for.

Used motor oil is a LOT worse than an EPA approved herbicide like
Roundup. You need to recycle the stuff carefully, not spread it around
in the environment.

Don't cornfuse them with facts and stuff.

Am not confused by Borg programming of humans.
Dave

"Dave" wrote:
Am not confused by Borg programming of humans.
Dave

I'm very proud of you.

On May 14, 4:02 pm, TH wrote:
On May 12, 10:35 am, "Jack S" wrote:

I've got a rock "lawn" and I would like to quit using herbicide for killing
weeds, and try scorching them instead.

There are a lot of weed / roofing torches on ebay and I was wondering if
there is anything to choose for or against in buying one. The one I'm
leaning toward getting says: "3000+ Fahrenheit" - that's enough, right?

Thanks

Boiling water works suprisingly well.

Flaming is also used in organic farming to keep the annuals and
biennials from growing and flowering. Eventually the roots will die
from a lack of photosynthesis. If they are already flowering, you may
wish to cut or pull out the plant and flowers to reduce weed seeds
from spreading around. However, I doubt if any weed seeds may survive
the toasting at 3000+ F?

-----
At peace with weeds...

"Steveo" wrote in message
...
"Dave" wrote:
Am not confused by Borg programming of humans.
Dave

I'm very proud of you.

Unusual statement from a programmed human. Maybe there is a chance for you.
Dave

"Jack S" wrote in message
ink.net...
I've got a rock "lawn" and I would like to quit using herbicide for
killing weeds, and try scorching them instead.

There are a lot of weed / roofing torches on ebay and I was
wondering if there is anything to choose for or against in buying
one. The one I'm leaning toward getting says: "3000+ Fahrenheit" -
that's enough, right?

Here in Seattle, use of "weed burners" is illegal. FWIW.

Bob

On Sun, 27 May 2007 11:10:21 -0700, "Bob F"
wrote:


"Jack S" wrote in message
link.net...
I've got a rock "lawn" and I would like to quit using herbicide for
killing weeds, and try scorching them instead.

There are a lot of weed / roofing torches on ebay and I was
wondering if there is anything to choose for or against in buying
one. The one I'm leaning toward getting says: "3000+ Fahrenheit" -
that's enough, right?

Here in Seattle, use of "weed burners" is illegal. FWIW.

Why?

John

"John Bachman" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 27 May 2007 11:10:21 -0700, "Bob F"
wrote:


"Jack S" wrote in message
hlink.net...
I've got a rock "lawn" and I would like to quit using herbicide
for
killing weeds, and try scorching them instead.

There are a lot of weed / roofing torches on ebay and I was
wondering if there is anything to choose for or against in buying
one. The one I'm leaning toward getting says: "3000+
Fahrenheit" -
that's enough, right?

Here in Seattle, use of "weed burners" is illegal. FWIW.

Why?

Your guess is as good as mine. Fire hazard? Pollution?

In article ,
"Bob F" wrote:

"Jack S" wrote in message
ink.net...
I've got a rock "lawn" and I would like to quit using herbicide for
killing weeds, and try scorching them instead.

There are a lot of weed / roofing torches on ebay and I was
wondering if there is anything to choose for or against in buying
one. The one I'm leaning toward getting says: "3000+ Fahrenheit" -
that's enough, right?

Here in Seattle, use of "weed burners" is illegal. FWIW.

Bob

Is the OP in Seattle? If not, who cares?

I just burned my "lawn" and garden off. It's finally time
to plant. And we're going to burn 20 acres of hay meadows off
that we weren't able to hay last year, due to Seattle-type
weather all frigging summer.

Jan in Alaska

--
Bedouin proverb: If you have no troubles, buy a goat.

On Sun, 27 May 2007 20:09:21 -0900, Jan Flora
wrote:

In article ,
"Bob F" wrote:

"Jack S" wrote in message
ink.net...
I've got a rock "lawn" and I would like to quit using herbicide for
killing weeds, and try scorching them instead.

There are a lot of weed / roofing torches on ebay and I was
wondering if there is anything to choose for or against in buying
one. The one I'm leaning toward getting says: "3000+ Fahrenheit" -
that's enough, right?

Here in Seattle, use of "weed burners" is illegal. FWIW.

Bob

Is the OP in Seattle? If not, who cares?

I just burned my "lawn" and garden off. It's finally time
to plant. And we're going to burn 20 acres of hay meadows off
that we weren't able to hay last year, due to Seattle-type
weather all frigging summer.

Jan in Alaska
The farmers here (NH) used to burn off their fields regularly. Burning
really spruced up the fields nicely, killing weed seeds and other
pests "reconditioned" the soil for the new crop. It was a nice,
organic time honored method.

But the environmentalists managed to outlaw field burning on air
pollution grounds. So now the farmers use chemical methods to control
weeds and other pests. This is a perfect example of the law of
unintended consequences.

Did those opposing field burning really accomplish anything?

JHMO

John