Using the rotary hoe for weed management

Rotary hoeing is effective in controlling small weeds,  <0.5" tall, in the white pre-emergent  shoot stage.  Hoeing can be take place before the crop has emerged, and after.   The timing differs for different crops.  Here are general recommendations for corn.

Pre-emergence:   3-5 days after planting

Post-emergence:  at spike stage, and 5-7 days later

For other crops, check the extension publications links

Here are some tips on choosing and using a rotary hoe:

Choosing a rotary hoe:

• The wider the better, with exceptions

Because there is normally a short window of opportunity when rotary hoeing will give the best results, the wider the hoe you have, the more ground you can cover during that window.

• Folding wings with gauge wheels

Folding wings make it much easier to transport a wide hoe.  They also give you  more configurations to match different crop and field conditions.  The gauge wheels allow a wide hoe to flex and work properly over rolling fields.

•   Three point hitch

A three point hitch makes the hoe easier to transport, permits backing, reduces damage to turn rows, and makes unclogging the hoe easier.

• Designed for heavy residue or trash deflectors

This is too avoid unnecessary crop damage due to wheels that are jammed by crop residues.

• Wheel bearings mounted with bolts not rivets

With bolts, the wheel bearings can be more easily changed in the field.

• Adjustable pressure on hoe wheels

This allows you to adjust the hoe for use in a wider range of conditions.

• Match row spacing

This is necessary if you do not want to skip or overlap rows that are hoed.

Tips for using the rotary hoe:

• Best done when hot, sunny and windy

The small weeds unearthed by the hoe die quickly in these conditions.

• Do turn rows first

Weed control is better if these areas are hoed before they become packed by repeated turning.

• High speed, 7-12 mph, depending on crop size

The action of the hoe teeth is improved at higher speeds.  The low end of this range is for small, delicate crops, with the high end for well established crops.

• Start and Stop abruptly

Because speed is important, areas where you make gradual stops and starts will have less effective weed control.

Adapted from Future Harvest, Pesticide-free Farming, by Jim Bender.  University of Nebraska Press, 1994.

Extension Publications

Mechanical Weed Control with a Harrow or Rotary Hoe

Using the Rotary Hoe in Small Grains