Going Glyphosate/Chemical free

[dumper]

Has anyone tried the hot water/foam based sprayers 

[Baldbloke]

Has anyone tried the hot water/foam based sprayers 

Can you explain?

As a user of Glyphosate I’d be interested in viable alternatives.

[dumper]

Google mantis ulv there are others 

[markieg31]

Rootwave. Been using it recently, only just started using on knotweed. Theory seems good. Zero chemicals, if your going chemical free this kills the root so deals with the plant underground rather that most mechanical methods only dealing with above ground.

[markieg31]

Rootwave. Been using it recently, only just started using on knotweed. Theory seems good. Zero chemicals, if your going chemical free this kills the root so deals with the plant underground rather that most mechanical methods only dealing with above ground.

Sorry got to add it is electricide. Lots of current through stem and roots to kill plant

[donnk]

41 minutes ago, markieg31 said:

42 minutes ago, markieg31 said:

Rootwave. Been using it recently, only just started using on knotweed. Theory seems good. Zero chemicals, if your going chemical free this kills the root so deals with the plant underground rather that most mechanical methods only dealing with above ground.

Sorry got to add it is electricide. Lots of current through stem and roots to kill plant

could use a welder to do the same I guess, earth clipped to a ground stakke and live slipped to end of hoe. Wooden handle of course. 

 

Bet is takes bloody ages though on a patch of nettles...

[markieg31]

could use a welder to do the same I guess, earth clipped to a ground stakke and live slipped to end of hoe. Wooden handle of course. 
 
Bet is takes bloody ages though on a patch of nettles...

Yep does take a while but you are not using a carcinogenic chemical.
I am involved with a trial with the rootwave machine and my first thoughts were that this is going to be slow going!
Certainly suited more to situations where you catch an out break early rather than being presented with a vast stand.

I did think a welder would do the same job! Obviously a lot has gone into research and development of the machine to ensure effectiveness and safety.

[donnk]

id be looking at a 8 x 4 sheets of steel mesh then clamping the welder to them to cover much larger areas in one hit. Obviously its going to kill eveything but would be loads quicker. Could drag it behind a quad bike or something to speed the process up and carry the genny.

 

from the specs its driving by an 8.5kva genny so i would guess 30a @ 240v then stepped up to high voltage using the box. Does it say on it anywhere exactly what the voltage is ?

Edited November 4, 2019 by donnk

[Stere]

I think people need to alter the whole outlook on weeds and accept there existence in some areas as they are good for wildlife

 

(obviously they need to be controled on farm land for crops etc I mean more public LA spaces)

 

Often see verges sprayed along public footpaths when strimming would be ok and for the 1000's of miles along motorway edges  central reservations isn't there another method?

 

Also repeated spraying seems to make the weeds worse after several yrs as stuff like docks & perennial weeds grow on the bare ground created

 

 

[htb]

9 hours ago, Stere said:

Also repeated spraying seems to make the weeds worse after several yrs as stuff like docks & perennial weeds grow on the bare ground created

Nature abhors a vacuum