Is A Weed Burner The Perfect Tool For Gravel Or Is It Asking For Trouble?

Nothing ruins the stylish appearance of gravel paths and driveways like weeds cropping up. Pulling them by hand can be a pain in the...back. You could make up a DIY weed killer, but it takes several days to work, and in the meantime, you're simply looking at brown and shriveled weeds instead of green ones. Landscape fabric can help but requires lifting existing gravel, and it doesn't always prevent new seeds from sprouting on top. Another popular solution is a weed burner. These destroy plants fast, but is a weed burner the best solution, or are you asking for trouble?

There's no doubt a weed burner is an effective way to kill weeds. Most plant material dies if exposed to temperatures above 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Propane weed burners can exceed 3,800 degrees Fahrenheit, so the weeds don't stand a chance. Experts say 10 seconds of flame is enough to kill most plants. Burning weeds is an environmentally friendly approach because the only residue is ash, plus water and carbon dioxide from the propane.

Some people worry that weed burners will scorch or blacken their gravel, but users report that this is not a problem. That said, with the wide variety of gravel available, you might want to test a patch to be sure. A weed burner can also be used to kill weeds in sidewalk cracks and most types of block and brick paving though again, a test is a good idea.

The biggest potential drawback of a weed burner is the flame. Better models, like the popular Quanie Weed Torch available at Amazon, have adjustable intensity, but there's still a danger of a fire getting out of control and posing a serious risk to your property. It's also important to keep kids and pets out of the area. There's a risk that they could get burned because it can be difficult to see the full extent of the area that's alight. If you use a weed burner where gravel meets the lawn, there's always a danger of scorching the grass.

The other problem is that weed burners only kill the visible growth. Perennial weeds often come back, so treatment every couple of weeks is recommended, at least at first. Over time, this will weaken the weeds, and they will eventually die. There are herbicides that can be more effective, but there are definitely some weed killers you want to think twice about using. Of course, you will also need to burn new weeds that sprout from time to time.

So, is a weed burner the perfect tool for gravel? It can be, but there are risks, so proper safety precautions are absolutely vital. Weed burners can also be used to light bonfires and melt snow and ice, so they can be handy tools to have around as long as you are mindful of the potential dangers of a very hot, open flame.