Contraptions, contrivances and thinking like a “control freak”

What I will discuss…Contraptions• 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 like a “control freak”

Contraptions

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 wands—not scaled up to meetdemands, flimsy design and expensive—cheapalternative presented later

Stuff that is more trouble than good• Some wicking wands available commerciallyleak a lot, break a lot and are difficult tocalibrate, and 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 and underengineered,but there are good designs

Contrivances

How to make 2 easy tools• Tool number 1—herbicide wand adaptationfrom your backpack sprayer wand and nozzle• Tool number 2—backpack wicker for twopersonoperation

Think like a control freak1. Always be on the lookout for ideas2. Understand the scale of your needs3. Know the ins and outs of your treatments—learn the limits of thechemicals you use by reading labels and performing field trials4. Think about “what would be really great” a lot5. PAY ATTENTION to effects, both immediate and longer-term…didyou need to re-treat, how soon and 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 and feedback helps everyone.

Practice Adaptive Management