Question About Torching Weeds in Driveway and Pavers Illinois

I used my Flame King torch for the first time on my driveway weeds and have a few questions before moving on to the backyard pavers. Will the dark/burn spots on the driveway wash away with rain or do I need to power wash? And are these spots something that can’t be avoided?

Also, after torching the weeds, will I still need to scrape them up with a screwdriver or power washer, or will they eventually break down and blow away with wind and rain?

I torched the weeds pretty well, but I’m unsure if I did too much or too little. I’m aiming to be as efficient as possible, so any tips or advice would be helpful.

You’re over-torching it. The proper way to use a weed torch is to boil the weeds. It’s like a 1-second exposure time. You’ll see them turn a sickly dark green and wilt abruptly. Charring them is actually less effective. Boiling causes the cells to burst, which dries out and kills the roots. When you char them to ash, the roots are more likely to regrow

A pressure washer should help remove the soot marks

@Greer
Extremely helpful, thank you

@Greer
Thanks for the reply. I’ll torch less when I do the pavers

Tatum said:
@Greer
Thanks for the reply. I’ll torch less when I do the pavers

After you torch the weeds, let them dry and die, then you can probably pressure wash the remains off as well

Tatum said:
@Greer
Thanks for the reply. I’ll torch less when I do the pavers

Nah, don’t listen to him. Set that thing on high and blast them. We all know that’s the more fun way to do it, and if it’s fun, we’re more likely to do it

(That’s what I tell my wife at least)

@Greer
Do you think I need to dig out the charred weeds with a screwdriver or power wash them out?

Tatum said:
@Greer
Do you think I need to dig out the charred weeds with a screwdriver or power wash them out?

I wouldn’t waste time digging them out since they’re already dead. Just power wash them or use a shovel to break them off and blow them with a leaf blower

Tatum said:
@Greer
Do you think I need to dig out the charred weeds with a screwdriver or power wash them out?

Why didn’t you just dig them out first?

Is a flamethrower too exciting?

You could have dug them out without spending money and without a cleanup effort that you seem unsure how to handle since you’re asking for help online

@Elliot
Okay, let’s get you back to bed, grandpa

@Elliot
Just trying and learning. Most recommendations are to torch. I don’t know what questions to ask or anticipate if I don’t try it first

Tatum said:
@Elliot
Just trying and learning. Most recommendations are to torch. I don’t know what questions to ask or anticipate if I don’t try it first

This person has a point. If you’re going to dig them out, you could have started there. I wouldn’t do both methods of removal

Tatum said:
@Elliot
Just trying and learning. Most recommendations are to torch. I don’t know what questions to ask or anticipate if I don’t try it first

No professional would ever tell a homeowner to buy a torch for weeds

It’s ridiculous

@Elliot
What a dumb question

@Greer
I was gonna say, isn’t the ash good for it and serve as a nutrient to encourage growth?

@Greer
I always wondered about this. Thank you!
I’ve started spraying the weeds and just using the torch to burn off the dead because I too was over-torching and thought it wasted too much propane

You know what worked well for me? Concrete sealant. I sealed my driveway in summer and pulled out all the weeds as I went. I sprayed extra in all the joints hoping it would seal up and prevent weeds from coming back. It worked! All my joints are weed-free still :smiley:

We’ll see how it goes next year. I might add backer rods and a self-leveling joint compound

@Dane
I feel like organic debris gets in the cracks over time and things start to grow. My bet is it comes back

Bao said:
@Dane
I feel like organic debris gets in the cracks over time and things start to grow. My bet is it comes back

Yeah, it’s only a matter of time until enough dust fills in to create a new bed for a weed to grow. That’s why I’m thinking backer rod and compound, just to eliminate the crevice for good. I’m not sure if the compound will look bad, I like how it is now with clean cut joints… I’ve got this huge 8-car concrete driveway with a stamped border, it’s immaculate for being 55 years old - zero cracks, a real beauty that was masterfully crafted, so I try to take good care of her

Where did you get your torch? I need to get rid of the weeds!