Mechanical weed control in organic orchards using roll hoes

Mechanical weed control in organic orchards using a roll hoe with 4–6 star-shaped tines is effective where herbicides are banned and surface mowing is insufficient. The tool, passively driven by tractor movement and ground resistance, controls weeds and mounds soil in the tree row. It operates best at 5–8 km/h on dry, even, straight rows, with adjustable tine count and angle for varying row widths. Performance declines in wet or heavy soils. The inter-trunk area requires supplementary treatment with a finger hoe. Effective when weeds are under 30 cm in height and density. Suitable for year-round use, especially in dry conditions. Developed by FÖKO within the BIOFRUITNET project and available in English (USA) on the Organic Farm Knowledge platform.