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Burning weeds vs roundup- which is best for weeds?
Is burning weeds better than spraying the uninvited plants with roundup? The answer is – it depends.
Let’s face it –natural weed killers like boiling water are often unreliable at controlling dandelion, crab grass, foxtail, common ragweed, etc.
On the other hand, old-school methods such as weed pulling or even hoeing the unwanted greens are simply backbreaking and no fun at all.
That brings us to two very common alternatives- Burning weeds vs roundup.
Interestingly, each method receives a lot of criticism – sometimes even from authorities (glyphosate, the main ingredient of roundup has, for example, been restricted or banned by several municipalities).
Read on for a brief overview of how the two techniques compare and the ins and outs of burning vs spraying weeds.
Burning weeds vs roundup- which is best for you?
Both burning weeds and resorting to spraying roundup are effective ways to kills unsightly weeds and brush.
But there is a world of things to weigh when it comes to choosing an ideal method to get rid of weeds from your overgrown yard.
We will first go through the key points that make roundup the world’s most popular weedkiller- it’s basically used by everyone from gardeners to foresters to biologists battling invasive exotic plants.
How does roundup work?
Roundup (based on glyphosate) work on a simple biochemical principle – it slows down the activity of the EPSP synthase enzyme, which is responsible for producing proteins vital to weed growth.
As a consequence, the menaces yellow and die in a few days.
And so it will restore the gorgeousness of your landscape pretty fast.
Pros of using roundup
Besides being extremely effective in killing any unwanted plant, Roundup triumphs over an electric heat gun for weeds (and other weed burning equipment) in several other ways:
1. Ease of Use
Roundup is relatively easier to apply since all you need to do is spray it on the nasty weeds. It will take over at that moment and compromise the plant’s biological processes, killing them.
Conversely, weed burning devices take a little longer to work.
Plus, you must be more diligent (Google how to burn weeds with a blowtorch to confirm) when torching weeds otherwise you’ll burn the entire yard to ash!
In fact, torches should be used to eradicate weeds growing on non-flammable areas like sidewalk cracks.
2. Low cost weed-control method for large acreage
Roundup is perhaps the most economical way to handle terribly widespread weed problems, especially for large acreage.
For instance, one 2.5-Gal of Roundup can cover up to 435600 sq.ft.!
Needless to say, we cannot imagine you burning weeds with a propane torch weed burner like this in a large weeded area- we instead find them best for burning weeds in rocks, gravel driveways, and paver patios.
Cons of using roundup
Just like other Glyphosate-based herbicides, there are issues surrounding the use of Roundup to kill weeds that are making folks to shun Roundup.
Keep reading to learn why this massively potent weed killer could be bad for you (and your plants).
1. You’ll kill the lawn and pretty much everything else
Glyphosate is nonselective meaning that Roundup not only kills the weeds but all other green plants that it comes into contact with- it actually seeps down to the roots when properly applied, killing them permanently!
In contrast, selective herbicides such as 24-D Weed Killer target grassy or broadleaf weeds while sparing others.
2. Roundup is outsmarted by “superweeds”
Perhaps because of repeated Roundup use, some weeds are thought to have become glyphosate-resistant and will regrow soon after the treatment.
These include Horseweed (marestail), Common ragweed, Palmer amaranth (or pigweed), and Waterhemp in certain localities (see the full list here).
3. Health effects
More worrying is the potential damage Roundup can cause to your systems the fact that countless studies claim that the herbicide is safe and even environmentally friendly notwithstanding.
Now, Roundup is a controversial topic in health circles and a lot of studies claim that glyphosate probably multiplies the risk of a plethora of diseases.
These include cancer, celiac disease, kidney disease and more.
Burning weeds vs roundup : How fire eliminates weeds
When hot enough, the flame ravages the cellular makeup of weeds, resulting in death.
In reality, 1/10th of a second may be sufficient to break up the weed’s cells- you direct the flame specifically to the plant until it wilts.
Upsides of burning yard to get rid of weeds
Fire has a few advantages over herbicides like Roundup:
1. Low environmental impact
There are no harmful chemicals being released unlike when using Roundup -the contamination created when glyphosate mixes with rainwater harm plant life and wild creatures in aquatic ecosystems.
2. Fire kills seeds
According to a study published in a past issue of the Journal of Weed Science, burning destroys not only the plants but also surface-deposited seeds as long as the seeds come in contact with the flames.
That said, the effectiveness and impact of fire is correlated to the exposure time and intensity.
3. There’s nothing like fire-resistant weeds
There is no weed species spared by fire, no matter how stubborn!
It’s as simple as that.
Downsides of using fire to eradicate weeds
On the flip side:
1. Hardy weeds keep growing back
Since the fire doesn’t touch the roots, hardy weeds will, in all likelihood, sprout again.
We suggest that you burn any freshly-growing weeds again after about 7 days to clear out the eyesore completely.
2. Beware of fire hazard
As mentioned earlier, propane flamers and other “weed burners” are a serious fire hazard and unsuitable for use near buildings and highly flammable materials, particularly during dry weather.
You can, however, reduce the risk of unintentional fires by burning weeds a couple of days after a downpour.
Burning weeds vs roundup- which is better?
There are weed control situations in which either method has a place and it really depends on your needs.
We must however say that equipment-controlled fire may be more ideal for simpler weeding jobs such as controlling weeds between stone pavers, driveways, or curbs effectively.
If you’re to take that route, we recommend this 3-in-1 Electric Weed Burner (it reaches a temp of up to 650°C quickly killing weeds) or this propane torch weed burner if you prefer gas.
You may go for Roundup for large jobs or choose more environmentally friendly strategies including spraying weeds with vinegar (consider vinegar with the strongest concentration).
