Allotments 4 All

Has anybody got experience from clearing plots with a flame gun?Do they kill the perennial weeds as well as annuals and pests?

Flame guns do not kill deep rooted weeds (docks, dandylions, horseradish etc.). The method of using a flame gun is to scorch the weeds, then let them die off and go over them again to burn the tops off. When farmers used to burn the stubble off, they used the excuse that it killed the weed seed. But look at the field a week or two later and you will see it coming up green again, just proves it didn't work.

Flame guns certainly do the job...
I still have a couple of Sheen's, the big gun and the wand ..I used to find them very good at killing weeds  and also sterilizing soil and potting composts..But the way paraffin rocketed up in price it was getting so it was like burning money. You can nail docs and dandelions with em ..I have been wondering wether to get one of those propane ones. Maybe they would work out cheaper to run..

If you can leave ground fallow for a while before planting, they're just the thing for killing off the weed seedlings which are coming up. They will kill perennials, but only if you keep at it.

Never used one, but it seems like a very expensive way to be weed free.

I've no personal experience, but I've seen one used.

For getting rid of weeds, a table fork would have been quicker & more ruthless.

Big boys' toys....

and big girls toys trevor  ;D I find mine most effective to go between rows when weeds are about 2 inches high I dont know about the cost I got the nod from a friend that parafin was going up and stocked up

Quote from: growmore on September 17, 2008, 09:14:49
Flame guns certainly do the job...
I still have a couple of Sheen's, the big gun and the wand ..I used to find them very good at killing weeds  and also sterilizing soil and potting composts..But the way paraffin rocketed up in price it was getting so it was like burning money. You can nail docs and dandelions with em ..I have been wondering wether to get one of those propane ones. Maybe they would work out cheaper to run..

I doubt it, I use propane for heating and cooking and the price has rocketed along with petrol (not so much up and down as steadily up), the price has doubled in the last two years. 47Kg cylinder is now £40+.

ber77tie.
where is your plot?
welcome to a4a

I have 2 plots in  Surrey.Thanks for the welcome  . :)