Home-Built Devices Keep Pond Weed-Free

Home-Built Devices Keep Pond Weed-Free CROPS Weed Control Gary Miller Peru Ind wanted to control the weeds in his 1 1/2-acre pond without using chemicals So he invented 3 tools that let him do that Electric Mowing Scythe It consists of an electric hedge trimmer which he bought used mounted on an old scythe He cut the scythe’s blade in half and used hose clamps to secure the body of the hedge trimmer to the remaining part of the blade The hedge trimmer came equipped with a plug-in outlet He plugged a 4-ft long cord into it and runs a 100-ft long extension cord from it to a generator that’s mounted on a trailer “It’s fairly efficient and can mow larger plants than an ordinary weedeater ” says Miller “I go all the way around the pond with it cutting down young willow trees It leaves the edge of the pond looking real neat “I can also use it to cut weeds off under the water as long as the trimmer’s motor stays above water I cut in both directions as I swing the scythe back and forth If I want to use the hedge trimmer on land I just unclamp the hedge trimmer from the scythe ” 10-ft Wide “Top Rake” His 10-ft wide “top rake” is designed to mount on front of a 12-ft trolling boat Made from wood it floats on the water to skim weeds off the pond’s surface The rake consists of a 10-ft long treated 2 by 4 with pole barn spikes spaced 2 in apart It’s supported by a pair of wooden arms attached to a 1-in dia pipe The pipe runs through holes in the arms and is held in place by hose clamps No modifications were made to the boat A length of 2-in sq aluminum tubing is used to raise and lower the rake by means of an anchor winch and rope mounted on back of the boat The pipe and tubing are held in place with a ratchet strap fastened to a cross brace on the boat’s floor The rope passes through an eyelet on back of the tubing and through a pulley on front The operator cranks the winch to let the rope out or bring it back in “I drop the rake and pull weeds away from shore as I back the boat up into clear water ” says Miller “Then I lift the rake out of the water drive the boat behind the pulled-out weeds drop the rake and push the weeds toward shore ” 6-ft Wide “Bottom Rake” He uses a 6-ft wide “bottom rake” with his Cub Cadet garden tractor to get rid of weeds at the bottom of the pond The rake teeth - nine 1/2 by 10-in grade 8 studs - are welded to a 6-ft long metal sign A 3-ft length of 1 1/4-in dia pipe is welded to the center of the post and supported by 1/2-in dia rebar A U-shaped rod welded to the end of the pipe forms a hitch A 200-ft long rope is used to attach the rake to the garden tractor Miller then places the rake upright on front of his boat and backs it out into the water until there’s no more slack in the rope and the rake is dropped to the bottom of the pond The tractor driver then pulls the rake toward shore Once the rake has reached shore the weeds are removed and the process starts all over again Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Gary B Miller 997 N Paw Paw Pike Peru Ind 46970 ph 765 472-1023

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