Flame Weeding 101:
How to correctly flame your weeds.
When flame weeding, the most effective method is to catch weeds early, from 1-4
inches. At this small stage, flaming is nearly 100% effective, whereas weeds over 4
inches are more difficult to kill without and extended dose of heat.
You only want to
heat
the leaves of the weed in need of removal. If the weed is
“burned to a crisp”, that plant will shut down its photosynthesis system (process in
which a plant produces its energy to survive and thrive”, only to grow back from the
unharmed root a few days later. The flaming process is a slow kill. By
heating or
steaming
the leaves, you disrupt the structure of the cells
(by boiling the moisture)
therefore killing the plant and the roots from which it grows. It takes only a few
days for weeds to dry up.
By
destroying
cell structure in the plant leaf, the weed will no longer put energy
toward growth so even on big weeds you will see stunting effect or even a kill,
depending on how established the root system is and how long the plant was
exposed to heat.
On smaller weeds a slow walk is usually the best pace - just a split second of heat
should kill unwanted weeds and grasses -
you don’t need to burn them to a crisp
. By
nature, some grasses will return following a flaming. Repeat applications, however,
will usually do the trick. For best results, increase exposure to the heat if weeds
are wet from dew. Water on the leaves acts as insulation and decreases cell damage
unless exposure time is increased.
It is important to remember when flaming in and around desirable plants
that
heating those leaves can cause damage as well
, so be careful around flowers and
shrubs - particularly evergreens.
Conifers are very flammable and should be
avoided. Poison ivy, oak or any poisonous plant should be avoided also - the
smoke from flamed leaves will cause a rash to your skin, eyes and lungs!
What’s the best advice we can give you? If in doubt, don’t. Always allow a safe
distance between the flame and desirable plants, shrubs and trees. Always keep a
fire extinguisher and water supply close in case of an emergency.
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