Hi

Does anyone have any thoughts on whether using a flame gun is an effective
way of clearing ivy?

I am currently using a swiss-switch and a rake, but it is apparent that its
going to take several repeats to clear.

It quite a large area approx 40' x 40'.

TIA

On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 20:44:12 GMT, "jools"
wrote:

Hi

Does anyone have any thoughts on whether using a flame gun is an effective
way of clearing ivy?
I am currently using a swiss-switch and a rake, but it is apparent that its
going to take several repeats to clear.

You didn't say what it is growing on. No good if it is growing over a
wooden shed!


Pam in Bristol

"Pam Moore" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 20 Apr 2006 20:44:12 GMT, "jools"
wrote:

Hi

Does anyone have any thoughts on whether using a flame gun is an effective
way of clearing ivy?
I am currently using a swiss-switch and a rake, but it is apparent that
its
going to take several repeats to clear.

You didn't say what it is growing on. No good if it is growing over a
wooden shed!


Pam in Bristol

Hi Pam in Bristol

Its growing on the ground

Me, just out-of-town in Nailsea

"jools" wrote in message
. uk...
Hi

Does anyone have any thoughts on whether using a flame gun is an effective
way of clearing ivy?

Dynamite is better, but the fragments will re-root unless you burn them
(just to be sure).
--
Brian

"jools" wrote in message
. uk...
Hi

Does anyone have any thoughts on whether using a flame gun is an effective
way of clearing ivy?

I am currently using a swiss-switch and a rake, but it is apparent that
its
going to take several repeats to clear.

It quite a large area approx 40' x 40'.

Angle Grinder!

or

Flail mower. Ask at your local farm or hire shop etc.

"Janet Baraclough" wrote in message
...
The message
from "jools" contains these words:

Hi

Does anyone have any thoughts on whether using a flame gun is an
effective
way of clearing ivy?

I am currently using a swiss-switch and a rake, but it is apparent that
its
going to take several repeats to clear.

It quite a large area approx 40' x 40'.

Even green ivy is waxy and burns well. You could certainly burn off
the leaves (repeatedly) until eventually the ivy died, but my guess is
it would take several months (waiting for new growth to appear, flaming
again etc) and you might still have to dig out the thicker roots.

What's a swiss-switch btw?

Janet

A clearing hook, I find it pretty good. I think I will complete one pass
with the hook & rake - getting rid of most of the leaf and a good deal of
stem, then flame the remainder.
http://www.cjindustries.co.uk/it100004.html

"Brian Watson" wrote in message
...

"jools" wrote in message
. uk...
Hi

Does anyone have any thoughts on whether using a flame gun is an
effective
way of clearing ivy?

Dynamite is better, but the fragments will re-root unless you burn them
(just to be sure).
--
Brian

Ill check my local garden centre and DIY store;-)

jools wrote:
"Janet Baraclough" wrote in message
...
The message
from "jools" contains these words:

Hi

Does anyone have any thoughts on whether using a flame gun is an
effective
way of clearing ivy?

I am currently using a swiss-switch and a rake, but it is apparent
that its
going to take several repeats to clear.

It quite a large area approx 40' x 40'.

Even green ivy is waxy and burns well. You could certainly burn off
the leaves (repeatedly) until eventually the ivy died, but my guess
is it would take several months (waiting for new growth to appear,
flaming again etc) and you might still have to dig out the thicker
roots.

What's a swiss-switch btw?

Janet

A clearing hook, I find it pretty good. I think I will complete one
pass with the hook & rake - getting rid of most of the leaf and a
good deal of stem, then flame the remainder.
http://www.cjindustries.co.uk/it100004.html

Do tell us how you get on: it's a topic which comes up quite often.
Meanwhile, I'll buy you a beer if the flame gun, used as you describe,
does the job -- I'll be surprised if it does the slightest good, even if
you attack the leaves. For my money, digging's the answer: you'll
probably be able to pull out a lot of it first, which will make the
digging a bit easier.

Some like flame guns for weeding, but I've never had any luck with one.

--
Mike.

In article ,
"Mike Lyle" writes:
|
| Do tell us how you get on: it's a topic which comes up quite often.
| Meanwhile, I'll buy you a beer if the flame gun, used as you describe,
| does the job -- I'll be surprised if it does the slightest good, even if
| you attack the leaves. For my money, digging's the answer: you'll
| probably be able to pull out a lot of it first, which will make the
| digging a bit easier.
|
| Some like flame guns for weeding, but I've never had any luck with one.

I believe that the possession of an effective one will get you life in
Belmarsh, without putting you through the hassle of a trial.

As ivy is shallow rooted, a grub axe is very effective. 40'x40' will
take a while, but not as long as all that.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

"jools" wrote in message
. uk...
"Brian Watson" wrote in message
...

"jools" wrote in message
. uk...
Hi

Does anyone have any thoughts on whether using a flame gun is an
effective
way of clearing ivy?

Dynamite is better, but the fragments will re-root unless you burn them
(just to be sure).

Ill check my local garden centre and DIY store;-)

Apparently some garden centres in Ireland used to carry stocks, but have to
make do with weedkiller now.

:-)

--
Brian
"Fight like the Devil, die like a gentleman."

In article ,
Janet Baraclough wrote:
... I suspect that
most people who don't get on with them are either, using those tidgy
little gas-canister models*, or, not following the recommended method.
Or, too scared to use it on full-burn :-)

My experience is with a couple of paraffin jobs, one of which was a
Sheen, but they had diddy little paraffin canisters attached to the
'rod'. OK for shrivelling grass seedlings in gravel, but not for
much else.

*If a flamegun can't produce a 15 ft gush of liquid flame where's the fun?

Or the use. I needed to use them on dandelions.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Janet Baraclough wrote:
The message
from (Nick Maclaren) contains [...]
I believe that the possession of an effective one will get you life
in Belmarsh, without putting you through the hassle of a trial.

I'll keep HMG's generous offer in mind if I ever need permanent
residential care.

Now, there's a financial-planning thought. If they bang you up in the
hoosegow for your declining years, I doubt if they make you flog the
house to pay for it. My children may suddenly start surreptitiously
introducing large quantities of suspicious substances into my shed.

--
Mike.

Janet Baraclough wrote:
The message
from "Mike Lyle" contains these
words:

Janet Baraclough wrote:
The message
from (Nick Maclaren) contains [...]
I believe that the possession of an effective one will get you life
in Belmarsh, without putting you through the hassle of a trial.

I'll keep HMG's generous offer in mind if I ever need permanent
residential care.

Now, there's a financial-planning thought. If they bang you up in the
hoosegow for your declining years, I doubt if they make you flog the
house to pay for it.

My thought too. Won't even have to pay for meals on wheels. Also,
it's guaranteed we won't be forced to do movement to music, take part
in Reminiscence Hour, or have singalongs with the vicar and his
tambourine band.
[...]

Yeah, while we're heading so far OT, why do schoolteachers think old
folks want to hear kids singing "It's a long way to Tipperary", when
said o.f. actually grew up on "Rock around the clock"?

--
Mike.

Janet Baraclough wrote:
The message
from (Nick Maclaren) contains these words:


In article ,
"Mike Lyle" writes:
|
| Do tell us how you get on: it's a topic which comes up quite often.
| Meanwhile, I'll buy you a beer if the flame gun, used as you describe,
| does the job -- I'll be surprised if it does the slightest good, even if
| you attack the leaves. For my money, digging's the answer: you'll
| probably be able to pull out a lot of it first, which will make the
| digging a bit easier.
|
| Some like flame guns for weeding, but I've never had any luck with one.

I've used nothing else but my Sheen X500 flamegun for weeding
(large) gravel drives, for the past 22 years. I also use it for
weedkilling under the hawthorn hedge (no detriment to hedge) and have
used it in the past for clearing weedy ground. It's fuelled by
pressurised paraffin. My neighbour took one look at how easy and
effective it is and bought his own for the same uses. I suspect that
most people who don't get on with them are either, using those tidgy
little gas-canister models*, or, not following the recommended method.
Or, too scared to use it on full-burn :-)

*If a flamegun can't produce a 15 ft gush of liquid flame where's the fun?

I believe that the possession of an effective one will get you life in
Belmarsh, without putting you through the hassle of a trial.

I'll keep HMG's generous offer in mind if I ever need permanent
residential care.

Janet.


OT I'm afraid, but as the expert on flame guns Janet, any idea if they
can be used on block paviours, or would they cause damage?

--
Please do not reply to this Email address,
as all Emails are deleted before opened.

"jools" wrote in message
. uk...
Hi

Does anyone have any thoughts on whether using a flame gun is an effective
way of clearing ivy?

I would not waste your time using a flame gun, all they do is to kill off
the leaves which then regrow, some sort of weedkiller would be more certain,
like SBK, would be much more effective.

Alan