Thanks to a three-year integrated weed management trial, IWMPRAISE, carried out at NIAB EMR’s Kent-based research vineyard several years ago, it is well proven that mechanical weeding methods can be just as effective as herbicides while also positively impacting the health of the vine and yield.
One of the mechanical weeding tools used in the trial was a rotary star tiller and finger weeder. Instead of breaking the soil, rotary tillers effectively move through it, making it more friable, light, and fluffy. The horizontal finger weeder then distributes and levels the soil. This creates an inhospitable environment for weeds looking to establish themselves.
Indeed, Braun’s steel star-shaped Rollhacke, first developed in 1991, has long been the mechanical weeding tool of choice. Around 150,000 units have been produced and sold over the years thanks to the popularity of its tool-free adjustment, low maintenance requirements, and the ability to work both in and out of the soil, with flexible mounting options.
However, in 2026, amid concerns about soil erosion and a shift towards prioritising sustainability, growers are increasingly adopting weed control methods that avoid disturbing the soil.
Over the last few years, we have sold an increasing number of Braun Vine Stem Cleaners. Originally designed for bud rubbing, vineyards have found that these mountable heads can be easily adapted for weed control by replacing the thick rubber paddles with strimmer cord.
Understanding customer needs, Braun has recently adapted the Vine Stem Cleaner, creating the new Modul Clean, which now features a larger hydraulic motor (to increase revolution speed) and robust strimmer cord as standard (in place of the black paddles) to improve the removal of grass and weeds.
In addition to this, Braun has, this year, also introduced a range of new under-vine rotary brushes. Growers can choose from three different units depending on soil type and working preferences. The biodegradable polymer bristle option is primarily for clearing debris beneath the vines. The combined polymer and steel bristle option is more suited to undervine weeding, while the fully steel bristle option is for ultra-shallow soil cultivations.
In keeping with Braun’s modular approach, both the new Modul Clean head and rotary brushes can be fitted onto Braun’s frames and mounting systems, including on the side of the Alpha vari-width mower.
For orchard, vineyard and soft fruit growers looking to tackle under-vine weed management and mowing in one pass, we have also always been impressed with the range of compact mowers from Fischer.
A mower may not kill weeds, but thanks to its two hydraulically controlled swing arms, the Fischer GL4 range competently tackles all vegetation and growth right up to the base of the tree trunk, vine, or tabletop system legs.
Noted for being rugged and robust, the GL4 blade mowers come in a range of front- or rear-mounted configurations, with growers also able to opt for hydraulic side shift. The most popular is the rear-mounted model with hydraulic precision sensors, grass chutes, mounted slide disks and height-adjustable wheel rollers.
Sticking with the Fischer brand, the BV also offers growers access to a powerful and versatile mower with three over-sized steel-cast gearboxes, a rugged, hard-wearing and wear-resistant steel plate housing, two counter-rotating blade rotors with four flexibly mounted mower blades all working to ensure a permanently clean cut, even at high cutting speed.
For those keen to steer away from chemicals, the BV can be fitted with Fischer’s Tornado and Twister bio brushes that effectively act like strimmers.
Alternatively, the BV can be fitted with a 50- or 120-litre herbicide tank and double sided valves to spray weeds at the same time as mowing.
When it comes to weed sprayers, we continue to design and manufacture bespoke units for growers with or without enclosed nozzles to improve targeted coverage and reduce the levels of drift.
We can supply Micron Flexidome and Undavina spray heads, both utilising Micron’s CDA (Controlled Droplet Application) technology. As well as enabling efficient spraying right up to the shoulder of the bed, Micron’s spray heads are also completely covered by the soft plastic domes to contain the spray droplets and eliminate drift, thus enabling the spraying operation to be carried out in windy weather conditions.
Whether your priority is reducing herbicide use, minimising soil disturbance, or simply keeping weeds under control as efficiently as possible, there is no shortage of options available to today’s growers making it possible to tailor weed management programmes to the specific needs of each orchard and vineyard.
For more information on mechanical weed control, mowers and weed sprayers, please contact the NP Seymour sales team on 01580 712200 or email sales@npseymour.co.uk