There are few gardening tasks more tedious than tackling problem weeds. While there are many manual garden tools available to help, we're suggesting you go for the big guns for your next weed removal mission and invest in the best weed burner. These wand-style garden tools work by applying intense heat directly to the plant, making them wither, shrivel up, and die. The heat or flame attacks the plant's cell structure rendering it unable to photosynthesise, so the root eventually dies too.
Using a weed burner over traditional methods, such as digging weeds out with a garden trowel or applying a weed killer, has many advantages. Chemical weed killers don't always reach the weed's roots and in the meantime, pose a toxic risk to children, pets, wildlife, and other plants. Removing weeds by hand may scatter weed seeds as you disturb the plant, and if you snap the weed off rather than completely dig it up, it will just eventually regrow. Weed burners, when used correctly, kill both the plant and the root with minimum fuss.
Best weed burners at a glance:
There are two main kinds of weed burners; gas-powered and electric. Both are effective in removing weeds from any surface that can stand to be scorched, such as paths, patios, driveways, and walls, but it could be argued that gas-powered burners, with a potent butane-powered flame, are more effective on stubborn, well-established weeds, and are better for large outdoor spaces thanks to their portability. That being said, electric weed burners are great for your everyday weed-burning needs, and may better appeal to those not confident in handling gas canisters. We're taking a look at both types in our savvy selection of the best weed burners currently available.
Best weed burners to bring the heat to your outdoor spaces
Best overall weed burner
DraperThe Draper 2000W Electric Weed Burner has a powerful 2,000 watt heating element that can generate a hot air stream capable of reaching temperatures of up to 600 degrees. That heat level can be adjusted to two settings - gentle and intense - to best treat the weeds you're tackling.
This boasts a detachable soft-grip handle, a fixed stand, and you get an interchangeable nozzle so you can use this tool to light charcoal. Your safety is taken care of with built-in overheat protection and auto shut-off.
Pros
- Can switch between handheld and stationary use
- Built-in overheat protection and auto shut-off
Cons
- Power cable is only 1.7 metres long
Best gas-powered weed burner
OnkruidbranderIf you're shopping for a gas-powered weed burner on a budget, you won't find anything much more affordable than this Onkruidbrander option. Adding to its value proposition is the fact it comes complete with four butane gas cannister which should be capable of annihilating a fair few weeds.
This has a handy push-button, auto-ignition starter switch making it easy to use. Once you've got this fired up, it can create a flame that burns at 1,300 degrees. This is lightweight at 470 grams and has an ergonomically designed handle.
Pros
- Simple push-button, auto-ignition starter switch
- Capable of generating temperatures of up to 1,300 degrees
Cons
- Doesn't work very well in windy conditions
Best electric weed burner
Parkland This electric-powered option from Parkland is a great choice for occasional use on your average garden weeds. Its cone-shaped nozzle is designed for precision and to avoid damaging other plants that don't fall into the weed category. Parkland bundles this tool with a small nozzle that's suitable for lighting BBQs.
This 2,000 watt tool offers you two temperature settings; one set at 50 degrees, and one that can reach 600 degrees. This weed burner breaks down into two parts for space-saving storage.
Pros
- Comes with a separate nozzle designed for lighting charcoal
- Two different temperature settings for various tasks
Cons
- Some reviewers say it takes a while to warm up fully
Best weed burner for reach
Gloria This professional-level weed burner from Gloria runs off standard gas canisters, but as it's a German product you will need to buy a separate reducer/regulator to get it hooked up. This minor hindrance hasn't stopped this tool from racking up nearly 4,000 four-star Amazon reviews.
We like this weed burner for its potential reach - the wand itself measures 94cm long and the hose line is five metres, making this a great choice for larger spaces. This tool's flame reaches 1,000 degrees and is carefully targeted through the chrome burner spout.
Pros
- Five-metre hose line for great range
- 94cm wand length to keep you well away from the flame
Cons
- Requires a pressure reducer/regulator that's sold separately
Best weed burner for precision
ToolTronix The ToolTronix electric weed burner works across multiple surfaces to incinerate weeds in as little as five seconds. This is thanks to the 2,000 watt heating element that can deliver two levels of heat from 50 degrees up to 600 degrees.
This has a precision cone for targeted burns. The wand has a hook handle section that can be removed, either for storage or to convert this into a handheld tool which may be a more useful format for smaller weeds and tight spaces.
Pros
- Eliminates all kinds of weeds in as little as five seconds
- Can be used as a handheld tool for tasks in tight spaces
Cons
- No separate charcoal / BBQ nozzle supplied
Best gas-powered weed burner bundle
Green Haven If you have a big weeding job to tackle, consider this great value bundle from Green Haven that provides you with a capable gas-powered weed burner and no less than eight butane gas canisters. This tool boasts a state-of-the-art piezo auto ignition system which means you simply need to turn a knob to release the gas, then press a button to ignite it.
Once you've got the flame going, you can adjust the intensity via the control knob to allow you to fine-tune your flame age. This tool's wand is made of super-durable stainless steel and the non-slip handle has ridged finger grips.
Pros
- Great value bundle with eight butane gas cannisters included
- User-friendly state-of-the-art piezo auto ignition system
Cons
- Some taller reviewers find the wand a little short
Best handheld weed burner
MyGarden Mygarden's weed burner is a little different from the other wand-style tools we're featuring - it's a gun-style, handheld option. This electric burner comes with five different nozzles; a standard heat gun nozzle, a more narrow option for precision, a weed burner cone, a BBQ lighter nozzle, and a concentrator nozzle for ultra-precision.
There is also an extension attachment if you want to use this burner at a greater distance. Powered by a 2,000 watt heating element, this has two heat settings and can generate temperatures of up to 650 degrees.
Pros
- Comes with five different nozzles suitable for many tasks
- Can choose between 50 and 650 degree heat settings
Cons
- Some find the cable management clip ineffective
How we chose the best weed burners
All of these weed burners have been hand-selected by our team of Modern Gardens shopping experts. We carefully considered the power source, heating capacity, and usability in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching weed burners to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.
Where possible, we also test and share the latest and best products you should know about. And with help from Modern Gardens Magazine, Garden News and Garden Answers, we share expert gardening knowledge to help you get the most from your product.
Gas-powered weed burners vs electric weed burners
Both types of weed burners will see effective results in your battle to tackle weed growth in your garden, but you may want to consider which design would best suit you.
Gas-powered weed burners are favoured by professionals and people with larger areas to cover. This is because they are more powerful than electric options, capable of generating a flame that burns at over 1,000 degrees. Their gas power also makes them more portable - you don't need to worry about the limitations a power cable imposes on you.
Electric weed burners are arguably more convenient in terms of the unlimited power source and no worries about replacing gas canisters. There are also no fumes or open flames to concern yourself with. Electric options are not as powerful though, and may take more effort, requiring you to spend longer, in an effort to eliminate your weeds.
FAQs
Is a weed burner worth it?
Investing in a weed burner isn't a bank-breaking purchase, but you may question if you need to pay out on another garden tool. We suggest they are worth it as a savvy alternative to back-breaking manual weeding or resorting to using nasty chemical weed killers.
Weed burners offer a quick and simple way to kill weeds by scorching the plant and stopping its ability to photosynthesise, rendering it dead in the ground.
These tools can also be employed for other uses. They can help defrost paths and other frozen ground, they can light your BBQ grills or outdoor firepits, and they can even be used - by those who know what they're doing - to defrost frozen pipes.
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Amy-Mae Turner is a Commerce Content Writer for Modern Gardens. When she's not pottering in the garden or mucking around in the kitchen, she can be found having doggy cuddles with her two beloved cockapoochis.