www.sare.org publications steel-in-the-field horticultural-crop-tools rotary-tillers-convertible Rotary tillers, convertible Horticultural CropsRotary Tillers (convertible to cultivating) Overview: Rotary tillers have blades anchored on rotors that are bolted directly to a single horizontal power shaft that is 8" to 12" above the soil surface. For row-crop weeding they are more expensive and require more maintenance compared with sweep cultivators. They can be operated faster than sweeps […]
www.sare.org publications steel-in-the-field horticultural-crop-tools rotary-tilling-cultivators Rotary tilling cultivators Horticultural CropsRotary Tilling Cultivators (multiple heads) Overview: The spaces between their independent gangs and their vertical clearance of 18" to 24" allow weeding in many crops long into the season. Metal housing around the tilling blades protects plants and contains moving soil. These tools are designed and constructed for shallow tillage - high-speed slicing of […]
www.sare.org publications steel-in-the-field horticultural-crop-tools flamer-backpack-wheeled-manifold-type Flamer, backpack (wheeled manifold type) Horticultural CropsBackpack Flamer (wheeled manifold) Overview: Commercial market gardeners without tractors can flame stale seedbeds over a substantial area with this tool. Operator pushes from walkway for raised beds, or between beds in flat fields. Works close to plants developed enough to tolerate indirect heat from flame. Design Features: The 2' housing holds four 2" […]
www.sare.org publications steel-in-the-field horticultural-crop-tools flamer-backpack-wand-type Flamer, backpack (wand type) Horticultural CropsBackpack Flamer (wand type) Overview: These portable units are intended for spot weed control or stale seedbed coverage on limited acreage. They require at least modest physical strength but weigh less than 25 pounds. Regular 30" wands work for reaching weeds near one's feet. Extended wands allow the operator to reach across a row […]
www.sare.org publications steel-in-the-field horticultural-crop-tools brush-weeder Brush weeder Horticultural CropsBrush Weeder Overview: Vertical brush weeders use rotating nylon bristles to pull weeds and aerate soil about 1" deep. Rapidly spinning bristles turn in the direction of travel and run between the rows. The bristles penetrate the soil crust as they pull and shred weeds. The flexible bristles don't create compaction, but leave worked […]
www.sare.org publications steel-in-the-field horticultural-crop-tools multiple-component-weeding-frame Multiple component weeding frame Horticultural CropsMultiple-Component Weeding Frame Overview: This flexible unit performs many weeding tasks on wide-row or bedded vegetable crops. Its precision furrow-following guidance system holds tools within 1" of the row, using guide wheels in the furrow or guide cones that hug the shoulders of raised beds. It can be used as a broadcast-tillage weeder before […]
www.sare.org publications steel-in-the-field horticultural-crop-tools basket-weeder Basket weeder Horticultural CropsBasket Weeder Overview: Rolling baskets made of quarter-inch spring wire thoroughly weed the top inch of soil without moving soil into the crop row. Works only with small weeds in soil that is friable and not crusted, and cannot handle long-stemmed residue. One of better tools for emergency weeding in moist soils with minimal […]
www.sare.org publications steel-in-the-field horticultural-crop-tools finger-weeder Finger weeder Horticultural CropsFinger Weeder Overview: Steel cone wheels - rotated by ground-driven spike tines - push rubber 'fingers' just below the soil surface, reaching into the row. Fingers can work safely in the row in crops that have sufficient stem strength and root resistance, such as corn, strawberries, nursery stock. Tool dislodges small weeds (up to […]
www.sare.org publications steel-in-the-field horticultural-crop-tools spring-hoe-weeders Spring-hoe weeders Horticultural CropsSpring Hoe Weeders Overview: Paired sets of elongated, 10-gauge metal plates that kill small weeds (up to 1") by slightly moving the soil between crop plants in the row. More aggressive than torsion weeders, made from flat spring steel that flexes and vibrates next to the row just below the soil surface. Usually follow […]
www.sare.org publications steel-in-the-field horticultural-crop-tools torsion-weeders Torsion weeders Horticultural CropsTorsion Weeders Overview: Square tines of 3/8" steel used in pairs, mounted on either side of the row and angling downward and back toward the row. Coiled base allows tips to flex with soil contours and around established crop plants, uprooting weeds in the white-root stage within the row. Usually follow Sypders, sweeps or […]