Czech nursery works with WEEDELETE ZRS: 'Hoeing near drip lines is very important for us'

ARTICLE

GARDEN AND PARK TECHNOLOGY

Huub Snijders, Tuesday 6 January 2026

201 sec

Mechanical weed control is gaining importance at European tree nurseries. Not only because the number of approved herbicides continues to decline, but also because growers want to organise inter-row work in a more reliable way. At Arboeko, one of the larger nurseries in the Czech Republic, this need had existed for some time. Since last year, a WEEDELETE ZRS from Van Tuijl Innovations has been in operation there. We spoke with David Volf about a full season of working with the machine on plots ranging from loose sand to heavy clay.

The Czech nursery Arboeko

Arboeko is one of the larger tree nurseries in the Czech Republic. The company was founded in 1994 in Obríství, northeast of Prague, and grows a broad range of avenue and ornamental trees, specimen plants and conifers. Total production covers more than one hundred hectares, spread over several plots with varying soil types. Arboeko supplies municipalities, landscape architects and international green projects and is known for well-organised cultivation logistics and a high level of mechanisation.

The drip lines run along neat, straight rows

Precision work near drip lines

Arboeko has been working for years with sown grass strips between the rows. This keeps the plots stable and reduces erosion, but makes maintenance near the drip lines labour-intensive. 'That is the only place where we have to remove weeds,' says Volf. 'There are hardly any machines that can hoe near drip lines without problems. That was our search, and that's how we ended up with WEEDELETE. We needed a solution that would not damage the lines but would remove the weeds. And we wanted to become less dependent on herbicides.' This led to the switch to mechanical precision work.

Testing first to see if it fits

Before Arboeko purchased the WEEDELETE ZRS, Volf visited the supplier twice: once to inspect the machine, and later for a demonstration at a neighbouring nursery to see whether it could really hoe near drip lines. This fits Arboeko's approach to new technology: first see and experience whether it suits the company.

A plant spacing of 90 centimetres in the row requires precise work. In addition, soil types vary over short distances from light sand to heavy clay. This makes uniform hoeing difficult. The WEEDELETE handles this thanks to its soil-following system and easily adjustable ground pressure and working depth.

Soil structure, soil life and timing are vital

During the first season, it became clear to Arboeko that the machine offers many possibilities, but that conditions are also important for the result.

'How often you need to hoe depends on timing. Shallow hoeing is important for soil life and soil structure, as well as for the roots of the trees. Soil moisture is very important. When the soil has the right structure, the WEEDELETE ZRS works cleanly and predictably,' says Volf. According to him, the result is very neat.

A second important factor is the growth stage of the trees. 'When the trees are tied to bamboo canes, you can work closer and tighter around the tree. With small trees without bamboo, there is a higher risk of slight damage, so you can adjust the sensitivity of the feeler accordingly.'

Operator experience remains necessary

Volf is matter-of-fact about daily maintenance: the machine requires little maintenance. This means that almost anyone can work with it. 'The tractor driver does need a certain level of skill; after all, this is a living crop.' The WEEDELETE ZRS allows precise work thanks to the rotating hoes, but the operator decides how close they dare to work.

'The WEEDELETE ZRS is a practical machine for nurseries that want to organise inter-row work more tightly and reduce or even completely eliminate herbicides.'

Commissioning without guidance: what does that say?

A striking detail is that during the first season Arboeko did not contact the supplier once for additional explanation, adjustment or parts. The machine was mounted in the Czech Republic using standard instruction videos, without anyone from the supplier visiting the site.

According to Volf, this says something about both the people at the nursery and the machine: 'We have experienced staff here who quickly pick up new technology.'

It also says something about the design of the WEEDELETE ZRS: the system contains no electronics and is simple and reliable thanks to its mechanical-hydraulic setup. This makes adjustment straightforward and limits the number of components sensitive to failure. Although one year of use is too short to say anything about long-term service, the start-up phase passed without interventions.

Work result: clean finish near staked trees

What does Arboeko notice in the field? 'When the trees are staked, you can work through at a good pace,' Volf notes. This is mainly due to stability and the fact that the hoes do not pull at the roots. As a result, the cut stays close to the trunk and gives a clean appearance, especially on plots with a uniform structure.

Developments: more accuracy, not more complexity

According to the supplier, further extensions are being developed. This year, automatic side-shift has been introduced, allowing the machine to correct itself in relation to the row. For nurseries that do not plant using GPS, this is a clear advantage. Combining hoeing and mowing in one pass is also among the new options, as is exchanging the hoeing head for a mowing head to mow weeds in wet seasons. These are developments that suit a sector aiming to work more efficiently with high control reliability and less weather dependency, without a desire for complex electronics.

Matter-of-fact conclusion

The first season at Arboeko shows a clear picture: the WEEDELETE ZRS is a practical machine for nurseries that want to organise inter-row work more tightly and reduce or even eliminate herbicides. The machine performs well on all soil types, preserves soil structure and soil life, requires little maintenance and can be used without guidance by experienced staff. At the same time, the operator remains decisive for the end result. Mechanical precision work is both technology and craftsmanship. For Arboeko, that is exactly what it needed.

This article was previously published on 2 January 2026 on the Boom
In Business website.

Van Tuijl Innovations

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