Flame gun for weed killing

Hi

I have just come in from the garden feeling completely beaten by celandines!

About three weeks ago I spent hours carefully digging them out of a small section of border making sure not drop any bulblets (throwing lots of soil away), but now there are lots of fresh young plants. This is just a small section of the garden I need clear to of weeds before I do a major replant. I'm not keen on the idea of weedkiller as I have cats and don't like the idea of it anyway.

I was wondering about flame guns -- can't see anything about them on this forum, does anyone have any experience or opinion?

Any advice would be very welcome. Thanks

 

I got one of those with a cannister of butane but to be honest, not impressed. I returned to Roundup which is harmless both to animals and the environment but not, happily, to the weeds!

 

Hi Wrenhere and welcome. I have lots of celandines and have given up trying to get rid of them. The only good thing is that they will have disappeared by mid-summer when they die down and go dormant.
Good luck

 

Thanks for that. I know I will be able to read the roundup bottle, it if get it, but can you remember what it says about animals -- how soon can I let the cats out after I have sprayed? And if I get a good day and no rain, do you think one go would kill off the celandines?

I also have some Spanish bluebells -- I have dug out loads and loads of these, but I have got some which are growing in amongst hedge roots which makes it very hard to pull out with the bulb intact, would roundup sort these out as well?

thanks again

 

Thanks for the welcome Blackthorn. I am reluctantly putting up with the celandines in my woodland border, but they are everywhere and I want to start from scratch on two other borders - perhaps I'm being too much of a perfectionist - I'm quite new to this gardening lark!

 

Welcome, Wrenhere! I hope you enjoy the site and hope your determinatino is strong this time!

MMD, I thought Roundup was unfriendly to cats ... or is that after a period of time?

 

Hi Wrenhere,i have a Sheen Flame Gun X300,paraffin fuel.Find it very useful for driveways,paths etc.Included a link for anyone interested.

www.mower-magic.co.uk

 

I've had one (a Sheen) for about 10 years now and it's great. One big advantage over chemicals is that it incinerates any weed seeds that may be lurking close to the soil surface and waiting to germinate.It's also cheaper than chemicals. It's very good too for getting soggy bonfires going.
If you use one on gravel - walk backwards or you risk melting the soles of your boots on the hot stones.

 

Roundup is fine with pets as long as it has dried. I've used it with both cats and dogs - kept them off the area til it had dried, and it was fine.

Celendines should be killed by it, but may need a couple of applications. Bluebells, not sure, cos they are bulbs - but at this time of year, and applied a couple of times - maybe.

I've never used a flame gun - though from what Dave W says, it sounds very tempting. Better than chemicals - boiling water too, is said to work too, but I've never tried it.

 

We have a Sheen Flame thrower and they are very good at destroying weeds and their seeds.The only disatvantage we found was the weight of it when full of fuel,trying to carry it for any length of time.It makes your back ache especially if you have the hood fitted on the front,which adds to the weight.Mr K made up a strap in the end that could be attached to it which made life easier....

 

I've got one of the parasene weed wands Kandy that runs off the butane gas cannisters very light wouldn't be without it obviously no good for large areas but good for spot weeding

 

Walnut,we too have one of those Parasene wands,and have just restocked up with the cannisters.We have all but given up with the large Sheen one because of the weight of the thing.Those wands are good as well for starting off bonfires on the lottie.I wouldn't be without mine.I don't even know whether they make the large Sheen ones anymore.