Machine weeding shrubs from conifer plantations
A series of machine attachments have been designed, constructed, and tested on a variety of prime movers for removing unwanted shrubs from conifer plantations. Early investigations revealed that many of the common forest shrubs could not withstand vertical force application. Small machines, with appropriate tools can lift these plants, including most of their root system, out of the soil. Because these systems are treating one plant at a time, they are most efficient with stands of larger shrubs. These methods avoid the use of herbicides and are substantially cheaper than the use of hand crews.