A Weed Wiper for Drainage Ditch Brush Control

In 1996, the Bioresources Engineering Department at the University of Delaware began to test a weed wiper unit. The weed wiper used the concept to wipe targeted growing woody vegetation with herbicides, leaving low growing vegetation to maintain stability on the horizontal and slope areas of the drainage ditches. Since that time three different wiper designs have been tested. A 20:1 glyphosphate Arsenal mix is effective to control sweetgum, cherry, tulip, popular, sumac, oak, birch, devils walking stick and maple at a rate of 1.85 to 2.77 L/ha. Early summer to late fall applications are most effective. The estimates cost for using a 20:1 mixture of glyphosphate to Arsenal mix at an application rate of 1.85L/ha is $84/ha. This is cheaper than broadcast spraying or mowing.