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