We time-lapsed a trial of the most common weed control methods used in potted plant production around the world - to compare against the PotHead device. Each pot was sown with lawn seed both before and after applying the weed control treatment. From left: Control (no protection), Mulch 4cm thick, Coir weed mat, PotHead device. See more trials at Deeweed.com.au
Weed control trials - Hosted by participating Australian nurseries
Two rounds of extensive testing were performed in 2021-2022 and 2022-23, examining weed growth in pots. Experiments were run in association with a number of participating commercial nurseries across Australia. PotHeads were compared to control (uncovered) pots, pots with coir mats and pots treated with herbicide at maximum label rates and recommended application times (favouring herbicide). Each group contained 100 pots. Weed growth was monitored over 3 months in the 2021-22 study and 6 months in the 2022-23 study. The time required to weed as well as total weed biomass was also measured in each group at the end of the trials.
In the 2022-23 study; the two PotHead cohorts significantly outperformed the chemical free methods with negligble weed growth evident. Freehand herbicide applied at maximum label rates and recommended times gave complete weed control. Interestingly in the previous (2021-22) trial using Dismiss herbicide, mosses and a resistant weed species rendered this the poorest weed control group. Mulch was poor but slightly better than coir mats and control cohorts which showed very poor weed control.
The 2021-22 Preliminary trial compared weed control over 3 months in cohorts of 50 plants. Cohort treatments were: Dismiss herbicide (maximum label rate applied), Coir mats, Control and PotHeads. PotHeads were overwhelmingly the strongest group for weed control.