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Minnesota Gardening

I carry a torch for thistles?!

19 years ago

Once again I approach my new-found earth turning pals with a question. Patience please, I've only just begun.

A greybeard told me the quickest way to get rid of my rapdily spreading thistles is by torching them. I spent an hour this morning blasting away with a 400,000 BTU propane torch that incinerated everything in its path; almost the toe of one shoe!

As I worked it ocured to me that rather than destroy or inhibit growth of thistles I might , in fact,be heating the ground , thus PROMOTING a more energetic and bountiful outbreak !

Drat! Have I been foiled by the misinformation gremlins??

Featured Answer

kms4me

19 years ago

In 1969, my family moved onto a long-abandoned property which had a huge patch of thistles next to what became the vegetable gardens and for the next 3 years, it seemed we grew more thistles than vegetables. My father started burning their flowers with a propane torch, eliminating their seeds and dramatically decreasing the number of thistles that sprouted in the garden.

He took the process further and further the next several years until he was burning the leaves in early spring and repeating the treatment on a monthly basis. Though I'm sure it took a while (he was a very patient man), eventually the plants lost vigor, stopped blooming, and were choked out by more fire resistant and rampant weeds, but at least those were without spines.

So if you are committed enough, I think the propane torch might work.

Kate

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Comments (7)

leftwood
19 years ago
Doubtful. But I think just pulling them would be a little bit more effective as you would be removing a larger part(deeper into the ground) of the plant that would need to be regrown. If it is a thistle that spreads with rhizomes, you surely haven't seen the end of it.

I have often wondered about infecting it with that virus that you sometimes see yellowing thistle stands. But I am afraid it infect other plants too.

Rick
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There are about 12 different O2 tank sizes and capacities but I would want to check the other tanks they have in inventory to see how they compare. 600 #s to start does seem awfully low. There are also different acetylene fittings as you have discovered. Sometimes the solution is as simple as buying an adapter but ALWAYS be cautious that any torch tip you may use will not flow more than 1/7 the capacity of the acetylene tank. Acetylene is highly unstable so it is stabilized with acetone in the tank. If the acetylene is withdrawn too quickly the acetone comes out with it and makes the tank dangerous. Also never run your torch over 15# on the acetylene. Torch tip manufacturers provide flow info for their tips and torches. As a rule of thumb, get the biggest tanks that are practical for your application. The gas is also cheaper per cubic foot when purchased in larger quantities.
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I went to the hardware store and looked in the propane torch section. They had a few small butane torches similar to the "cook's" size. The brand I got is MagTorch. It's got a click ignitor with a little safety latch (much easier to operate than a regular bic lighter even!). It also has a slider that allows you to operate it without holding down the igniter button. I've had it for a couple years and use it every few months. It's always lit easily and worked flawlessly. Mine fills from a standard butane canister. One trick is to not overfill the torches, they often won't work at all if there's too much butane. Must be a safety feature or something! :) It's kind of a guess and check because you have to turn it upside down to fill and you can't read the fuel gauge accurately until you turn it right side up. Maybe it was a little more expensive than your average torch ($30), but I don't think I'll be replacing it any time soon. Bri Here is a link that might be useful: MagTorch-See picture at left-Model 780
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Always love your words of wisdom, Ed!
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I use a Weed Dragon in my gravel areas, my driveway, and some of my fence line. I love that it can be used in cold weather or in the rain. It's hot work and you can't go in under shrubs, but it works marvelously. Have a hose handy in dry weather. "i got one and spent a good amount on a good quality one. but keep in mind it just kills the leaves. it doesn't kill the roots. so you need to keep at it weekly" You're not supposed to incinerate the plant- that only kills the top portion. You'll get better results over the long term if you just lightly toast the weeds enough to wither them- then the whole thing dies roots and all over a span of a week or so. My husband has this same problem- he's trying to do a super good job but ends up doing nothing but incinerating foliage- it takes a long slow wilt to kill the whole plant.
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selkie_b
19 years ago
That yellow aster stuff that thistles get I believe also infects carrots and other memebers of that family :(
So that probably wouldn't be a good idea. Pulling them, spot spraying them, pouring white vinegar on them (works when they are small) -Oh yeah! I should mention that this works great to kill weeds sneaking up through pavement cracks and at the foundation! :)

-Marie
leftwood
19 years ago
That is exactly what was in the back of my mind about the virus, Marie. I suppose cider vinegar would work as well as white vinegar, but would also atract ants and/or bees.

Burning is fun! With water hose in hand, I torched a couple little bluestems this spring. Took about 5 seconds each, but it was quite spectacular.

Rick
selkie_b
19 years ago
Rick, I should probably post this on exchanges - but you want some more bluestems? I have some that really do stand up very upright and I am thinning them drastically this year - will have several pots for the June swap! I can't let many of them get too tall or go to seed as they fall into the alley and the neighbors and City get annoyed. I'm looking forward to hearing from folks about how to deal with some of my interesting stuff! :)

-Marie
selkie_b
19 years ago
Oh, and cider vinegar DOES work - silly me, got distracted there... but yep it does attract yellowjackets and flys.

-Marie
leftwood
19 years ago
Thanks Marie. I would like one of your Bluestems.

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