The boring thread.....

[Mups]

Too late to say good morning,  so its just 'Hiya'  today. 

I have been really lazy so far. 
I got up, let the dogs in the garden, made a mug of tea,  then went back to bed.   
After dunking my biccies,  and drinking the tea, I fell fast asleep again.   
Oooh such luxury - and its all free.   


*P.s.  Anyone heard from Michael?  He hasn't been on the games for a few days now.
Hope he hasn't had another fall . .

[Alex]

A hiya from me too.  I'm still in my DG but have cooked breakfast,  done some washing, brushed the patio and did a bit of tidying up.  Now I'm ready for my shower and a football day with my grandson - biggest game today 

[Raven]

Afternoon All, Dull and Cloudy again here but so far dry, had a fine morning playing with my new toy, I got an electric weed burner as I'm fed up with getting a sore back all the time while I yank out the weeds. Revenge Time for the buggers keeping growing ha ha. I had to call Dunc in as I couldn't get the metal rod that connects the 2 bits together to slot in. He did it in moments, gave me a look and called me a dopey mare then strode off again.....Cheeky Bugger, Coffee time and feet up now.






Yesterday at 02:46:35 PM

*P.s.  Anyone heard from Michael?  He hasn't been on the games for a few days now.
Hope he hasn't had another fall . .

 I hope he's ok too, he seems to be away more than he's here these days. Maybe he's got one of his family staying with him just now....Maybe.
I certainly miss all the daft wee games we play.

[Mups]

Raven,  how do you get on with the weed burner?
I bought one last year,  but couldn't get the hang of it  (surprise surprise!), and ended up giving it to my son.

[Michael Rolls]

dull but dry

[Mups]

dull but dry

Aha!  There you are.   
We were wondering if you were alright.
Did you see the message, Michael?

[muddy]

Raven,  how do you get on with the weed burner?
I bought one last year,  but couldn't get the hang of it  (surprise surprise!), and ended up giving it to my son.

poor little weeds

[Raven]

Raven,  how do you get on with the weed burner?
I bought one last year,  but couldn't get the hang of it  (surprise surprise!), and ended up giving it to my son.

I was OK, got better as I went on. I was using the wide area end and the narrow thin one, I doubt I'd use the others.
My problem was getting the long metal rod to click in place. Then waiting for it to cool down so it could be put away.

[Scrumpy]

Wow!! A flame thrower.. !!! 
I want one..
It is so dry here.. and warm.. Everything would go up in flames.. even the garden shed...
Haven't had rain for a while..

[klondike]

Raven,  how do you get on with the weed burner?
I bought one last year,  but couldn't get the hang of it  (surprise surprise!), and ended up giving it to my son.

You probably expected the weeds to burst into flame. They don't and don't need to either. All they need is long enough to partially dry them out. They won't recover. If you try to burn them right off it will take an age and cost a lot in electricity.

I have one but they are not rapid. There are ones that run on butane too they are a bit quicker but again there is no need to burn right off. My grandfather had one that ran on paraffin that you pumped up. It was basically and old fashioned blow lamp with a long neck. I got banned from using it by my wife after I accidentally set light to some pampas grass by getting a bit too close. That never recovered so they do work.

These things only kill what's on top (unless it was something you didn't intend to burn) so the weeds will eventually grow back.

[Mups]

Ah well,  too late Klondie,  its gone now.  Thanks anyway.  
Perhaps I should have persevered more.   I'm not good with gadgets.  

[klondike]

I rarely use mine now. Nor do I use the butane one I have much either. Both work but are slow to use. My weeding is killing the weeds that come up through the cracks in my block paving. Chemical weedkillers are quite expensive and also leave unsightly stains along the cracks where they are sprayed or at least the ones I tried did.

There are better materials to fill the cracks but it's a lengthy job, probably expensive and I'm not confident would last long enough to justify the cost and effort.

I tried a mix of bleach washing up liquid and salt. That worked but if the sprayer is not really well cleaned out it destroys the seals in the pump. I'm currently using 20% white vinegar diluted by 50% instead of the bleach. It gives a quick knockdown but I don't know yet how long it will last. The main advantage of spraying is that it is fast and those mixtures are cheaper than commercial weedkillers.

The war continues. Of course the weeds will win the in the end when I can no longer engage them but meanwhile I show no mercy.

[Mups]

Perhaps we should take our hats off to weeds in a bizarre sort of way.
All the nurturing we do with plants we want to keep,   yet the weeds get  attack after attack from us,  plus they survive floods, freezing cold,  droughts and heatwaves.   Tough cookies indeed.