Contraptions, contrivances and thinking like a âcontrol freakâ
Contraptions, contrivances and thinking like a âcontrol freakâ
Contraptions, contrivances and thinking like a âcontrol freakâ
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What I will discuss…<strong>Contraptions</strong>• Commercially available stuff that has worked• Commercially available stuff that works, but has limiteduse in natural areas of any size• Stuff that is more trouble than goodContrivances• How to make two easy tools to stretch your ability tocontrol weeds selectively, using less herbicide per acreor apply more acreage in less time• Where to buy materials• How to think <strong>like</strong> a “control freak”
<strong>Contraptions</strong>
Commercially available stuffthat has worked• Backpack sprayers• FIMCO style spray tanks• Boomless nozzles such as “Boombusters”—goodfor in-house applications on large or smallacreages, roadsides, fencerows, under prunedtrees, tight spaces• Terragator contracting for large acreage totalkill—reduces cost per acre in many cases• Helicopter application for large acreage totalkill—reduces cost per acre in many cases
Commercially available stuff thatworks, but has limited use innatural areas of any size• Herbicide lances—injects trees with capsulesof herbicide• Herbicide syringes, stem picks, or other small,single-stem applicator device• Commercially designed herbicide weedwicking w<strong>and</strong>s—not scaled up to meetdem<strong>and</strong>s, flimsy design <strong>and</strong> expensive—cheapalternative presented later
Stuff that is more trouble than good• Some wicking w<strong>and</strong>s available commerciallyleak a lot, break a lot <strong>and</strong> are difficult tocalibrate, <strong>and</strong> don’t do what they are intendedto• Hypo-hatchet—jams, leaks, parts break,dangerous, ineffective just when you need it• Many commercially available wickingapparatuses are leaky, heavy <strong>and</strong> underengineered,but there are good designs
Contrivances
How to make 2 easy tools• Tool number 1—herbicide w<strong>and</strong> adaptationfrom your backpack sprayer w<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> nozzle• Tool number 2—backpack wicker for twopersonoperation
Think <strong>like</strong> a control freak1. Always be on the lookout for ideas2. Underst<strong>and</strong> the scale of your needs3. Know the ins <strong>and</strong> outs of your treatments—learn the limits of thechemicals you use by reading labels <strong>and</strong> performing field trials4. Think about “what would be really great” a lot5. PAY ATTENTION to effects, both immediate <strong>and</strong> longer-term…didyou need to re-treat, how soon <strong>and</strong> why? What did a singletreatment cost? What did treatment over time cost?6. Take a skeptical view of new, “magic” treatments—if it sounds toogood to be true, it is. Does it contradict label specs? Ex: Garlonhas no enduring effect on cogongrass, no matter what it is mixedwith.7. Form relationships with chemical representatives. Goodcommunication <strong>and</strong> feedback helps everyone.
Practice Adaptive Management