How to Use a Flame Weeder

Weeds have the habit of popping up in the most obnoxious places, including the cracks of sidewalks, gravel pathways, and the spaces between bricks on patios. Instead of reaching for a toxic herbicide, consider fighting weeds with fire! Flame weeders, which are ostensibly portable propane torches, are a very useful tool for organic gardeners. They kill weeds by heating up the water inside the plants’ cells, causing the cells’ membranes to break apart. This simple organic weed control tool is easy and safe to use if you take a few sensible precautions.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Flame weeder attachment
• Propane tank

1. Flame weeders work best on hard, nonflammable surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, pathways and patios. You can also use them to kill weed seedlings in newly prepared vegetable garden beds. Avoid using flame weeders around dry, flammable material like mulched garden beds or dormant grass.
2. Put on pants, long sleeves, leather shoes and gloves. Hook up the flame weeder nozzle and flexible hose to the propane tank. (Make sure to read and follow the directions that come with the flame weeder carefully.) Special fuel tank dollies are available to make transporting the tank easier.
3. Pull out your garden hose, turn it on and keep it nearby just in case!
4. Turn on the flame weeder and adjust the nozzle to make a low flame. Pass the flame a couple of inches over the top of the weeds, pausing for a few seconds over each weed. The goal is not to catch the plants on fire, but to get them hot enough that their cell membranes begin to disintegrate. Make sure that you’re getting the plants hot enough by occasionally pressing a weed between your thumb and forefinger. If you see a fingerprint, you’re good to go. If not, pass the flamer back over the weeds for a few more seconds.
5. Weeds that have been “flamed” will wilt within a few hours. Flame weeding is especially effective on younger plants, so try flaming every few weeks in spring to kill emerging weed seedlings.

Tips & Warnings

• Flame weeder attachments are readily available at garden centers and major hardware stores.