The invention concerns a weed control apparatus and a method for thermal weed control, wherein the weed control apparatus has a heating area to which is supplied secondary air, where the secondary air is preheated before introducing it to the heating area, where preheating of the secondary air is preferably effected by conducting it through a preheating area, where the preheating area includes one or more ducts which are preferably only separated from the heat exposure area by a heat conducting material, e.g. an iron sheet. The preheating of the secondary air with heat from the heat exposure area firstly contributes to recycling of the heat that otherwise would radiate off the top side of the apparatus.
Secondly, the preheating of the secondary air, which includes combustion of gas or liquid, provides enhanced efficiency to heating means, as the amount of heat supplied via the secondary air reduces the need for combusting gas or liquid while simultaneously contributing to a complete combustion.