How likely am I to be on the Failblog?

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meltdown75

Lifer
Nov 17, 2004
37,548
7
81
plant matter doesn't burn very well..........

unless it's dried :awe:

srsly tho, sounds like you need better gloves and a bit of elbow grease. man up, yank them out, chuck them over the fence or wherever you chuck your dead weeds ():)
 

skyking

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
22,769
5,932
146
Use a weedburner as linked before. You can get them at any feed store or home depot.
Use the bottle off your gas grill FTW.
 

chusteczka

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2006
3,399
3
71
Leather work gloves help to prevent the thistles. Then grab from the base of the plant where there are fewer thistles and pull up to flatten the thistles. Then pull the plant out. It is like working with bees. Most of the time all is good, except for that one that decides to bite you.

Besides, the stings are good for you. They increase circulation in that area and can prevent arthritis with more exposure.

Sometimes I run my bare hands through thistles just for the stings. In a lifestyle with few opportunities for the sensation of pain, the stinging can actually feel good. This is with the smaller thistles, though.
 

Ruptga

Lifer
Aug 3, 2006
10,246
207
106
Besides, the stings are good for you. They increase circulation in that area and can prevent arthritis with more exposure.

Sometimes I run my bare hands through thistles just for the stings. In a lifestyle with few opportunities for the sensation of pain, the stinging can actually feel good. This is with the smaller thistles, though.

o_O:hmm::\
 

Sentrosi2121

Platinum Member
Aug 8, 2004
2,567
2
81
Sometimes I run my bare hands through thistles just for the stings. In a lifestyle with few opportunities for the sensation of pain, the stinging can actually feel good. This is with the smaller thistles, though.

I take it Pinhead was your mentor?

But seriously, you may want to see what kind of weeds you have growing in your backyard. Burning them may cause you more harm than good. Take, for example, the Giant Hogweed. Nasty plant.
 

Krazy4Real

Lifer
Oct 3, 2003
12,221
55
91
Nothing could possibly go wrong. It isn't dry though so you may have to really pour on the lighter fluid to get the flames going. You should record video instead of just taking pictures.
 

Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
27,730
8
0
Sometimes I run my bare hands through thistles just for the stings. In a lifestyle with few opportunities for the sensation of pain, the stinging can actually feel good. This is with the smaller thistles, though.

Err, just a little masochistic . . .
 

chusteczka

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2006
3,399
3
71
Come'on guys, toughen up. :D LOL
I was dared to do it once. Yes it stung, but it felt good as the blood flow increased in my hand and the pain went away over the next 20 minutes. Now, if I am out walking a trail and see a thistle patch, the little green weed similar to a dandelion, I will put my hand through it just to remind me of the pain and enjoy the feeling as the stinging dissipates. It is not a big deal.
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
Come'on guys, toughen up. :D LOL
I was dared to do it once. Yes it stung, but it felt good as the blood flow increased in my hand and the pain went away over the next 20 minutes. Now, if I am out walking a trail and see a thistle patch, the little green weed similar to a dandelion, I will put my hand through it just to remind me of the pain and enjoy the feeling as the stinging dissipates. It is not a big deal.

That's not normal...
 

chusteczka

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2006
3,399
3
71
That's not normal...

Sure it is. Those beekeepers that work without protective gear deal with this situation every day. They do not want to get stung but they know it will happen. It is known that beekeepers that work without protective gear do not develop arthritis for the reasons I have explained.

Then there are the old-timer farmers that work without gloves. Their hands are tough as leather. I remember that my grandfather could pull those thistle bushes out with his bare hands.

Our lifestyle is just different now, much softer. It is good to be familiar with the old ways to know what our bodies are capable of.
 

Narse

Moderator<br>Computer Help
Moderator
Mar 14, 2000
3,826
1
81
Sure it is. Those beekeepers that work without protective gear deal with this situation every day. They do not want to get stung but they know it will happen. It is known that beekeepers that work without protective gear do not develop arthritis for the reasons I have explained.

Then there are the old-timer farmers that work without gloves. Their hands are tough as leather. I remember that my grandfather could pull those thistle bushes out with his bare hands.

Our lifestyle is just different now, much softer. It is good to be familiar with the old ways to know what our bodies are capable of.

Still not normal....
 

Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
27,730
8
0
Sure it is. Those beekeepers that work without protective gear deal with this situation every day. They do not want to get stung but they know it will happen. It is known that beekeepers that work without protective gear do not develop arthritis for the reasons I have explained.

Then there are the old-timer farmers that work without gloves. Their hands are tough as leather. I remember that my grandfather could pull those thistle bushes out with his bare hands.

Our lifestyle is just different now, much softer. It is good to be familiar with the old ways to know what our bodies are capable of.

You may make a valid point, but intentionally causing yourself pain isn't normal. :p
 

strep3241

Senior member
Oct 3, 2010
953
3
91
That roundup you buy from Lowe's or Home Depot is junk. You need to buy the concentrate and mix with water. There is a generic brand called Glysophate which is just as good and a little cheaper. Depending on how you mix it, it will take a few days at least before you start to see signs of death.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,279
14,699
146
Like hell I'm going to post my a Google Map view of my house on ATOT. :p

To answer your question, the front is desert landscaped and has no lawn. I do need to get some gravel in there, there was gravel there in the past, but I believe it was stolen before I moved into the house. The back yard was landscaped as well, oblong oval grass in the middle with gravel around the outside. Its been unmaintained.

Roundup doesn't do much and leaves massive gaps of live plants.

My plan is thusly.

- Purchase lighter fluid, the kind normally purchased for lighting charcoal grills. Purchase a hose, and spray nozzle with decent range. Connect hose to faucet in back yard, test water supply and range of sprayer.
- Spray some lighter fluid over a small section against the concrete wall furthest from my house and patio. Light with pocket lighter. Observe results. Extend flames with lighter fluid if required.
- Snap photos.

If Roundup doesn't work for you...you're doing it wrong.
Buy the super-concentrated stuff in the purple bottle. Mix it a bit stronger than recommended, add a bit of liquid dish soap when you mix it with water. Apply as directed. In about 3 weeks, everything you spray it on will be dead. BEST to do it when weeds are in a "growth cycle" though. I'm not sure how well it will work in the "winter months."

(I accidentally killed a large swath (2' x 10') in my front yard with the above mix...) :oops:

Otherwise, rather than the lighter fluid, I also recommend one of the propane weed burners. MUCH better...and you can set all kinds of stuff ablaze with them...a friend nearly burned his whole house down when he got too close to the siding...and the flames got under the siding and started the plywood underneath on fire.
 

alevasseur14

Golden Member
Feb 12, 2005
1,760
1
0
I didn't mean give us your adress. I just meant i didnt realize if you'd put your city in your profile.

Either way, knock yourself out. I still think fire is a pretty rediculous way to go about it but whatever...