No More Hand Pulling: Weeds Will Be A Thing Of The Past With The Help Of This Garden Tool

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Pulling weeds out of gravel or from around pavers or brick edging by hand is a real pain, as it's so labor-intensive and requires you to bend and reach constantly — and you never really get the root out either. If you're one of the many people who are choosing to not use herbicides to remove weeds, you still need a reliable way to get them out before they get out of control. 

Enter the Bernzomatic JT850 outdoor torch. It's a weed torch with a 36-inch reach, a built-in ignition, and an adjustable flame. The length lets you kill weeds while standing instead of having to crouch, bend, or kneel. I'm a master gardener and a permaculture specialist, and I adore my flame gun. While it's not exactly a Xenomorph-killing flamethrower (yes, I'm old enough to have watched and loved "Aliens"), it is one of the best ways to dispatch pesky weeds in driveways and other hardscaped surfaces. 

Nothing is quite so satisfying as weeding with a flame gun, and it's a million times better than weeding by hand. But it requires the right technique, and it's not suitable for use on every surface. Because you are dealing with propane and a naked flame, there are certain safety precautions that you need to adhere to for safety. Also, know that if you've got established perennial weeds, their roots can survive, so they will most likely send up new shoots in just a few weeks. Therefore, be prepared to repeat the treatment, and you will eventually weaken the roots enough to kill the plant.

A flame gun like the Bernzomatic is probably my favorite gardening tool. Mine gets quite a lot of use, because it's so easy to use and very effective. To use it, the first thing to know is that you don't need to hold the lit torch over the top of the weed until it bursts into flame. All you're actually trying to do is damage the cell wall, which only requires a quick pass of a couple of seconds. By overheating the plant's cell walls with a brief exposure to the high heat of the Bernzomatic's flame, you essentially kill it. The damaged cell walls can no longer support the plant or effectively transport water and nutrients, so very quickly the plant wilts and dies off.

This is easier to do and more effective if you can catch the weeds while they're fairly small. Young broadleaf weeds, for example, are easier to kill with flame weeding than established ones. But given that the job is so quick and easy, it isn't really much of a chore to head outside with your flame gun every couple of weeks during peak growing season. If you have a large area full of overgrown or mature growth, I recommend cutting it back with a trimmer first. Then clear away the loose debris and start attacking the remainder with the Bernzomatic flame gun. Once the wand is lit, keep the gas cylinder upright and just sweep the burner back and forth with the flame around 2 inches above the ground. You'll see the plants start to look dull and slightly wilted. It can take from several hours to a couple of days for the weeds to fully die.

While its primary use is as a weed wand, the Bernzomatic has other uses too, such as lighting fire pits, smokers, and charcoal barbecues. The long wand lets you safely ignite the fuel at a 36-inch distance, reducing your risk of accidental burns. Just don't use it near lighter fluid, gasoline, or other flammable liquids. And whatever you're planning to do with the weed gun, pay attention to the weather and your local environment. Don't use it during heat waves or when there's a high wildfire risk. Avoid using it when it's windy, when the ground and foliage are excessively dry, or when there's a local burn ban. Even in ideal conditions, remember that you are dealing with fire, so keep water within reach at all times. Ideally, have a fire extinguisher nearby as well. 

Pay attention to your immediate surroundings, too. Keep the lit wand away from wooden fencing, dry mulch and grass, and exposed landscape fabric, as all of these things are flammable and pose a fire hazard. While vinyl or plastic fencing, edging, and siding may not immediately ignite, it can be damaged by heat and even start to melt, so avoid getting too close. There are plenty of other useful weeding tools you can buy for those areas. And it should go without saying, but don't use a weed gun in beds with plants you want to keep, because the heat from the gun will kill them. You're better off planting your beds densely to cut down on weed pressure. Lastly, brick and concrete also aren't immune to heat damage. Don't hold the wand against those materials for extended periods, as they can crack when exposed to high temperatures for too long.