Guides that sit around the field, not the office
This hub pulls together practical notes for growers weighing up laser weeding in onions, carrots, lettuce and brassicas. The articles deal with weed stage, row spacing, field access and the timing that makes a pass useful in the crop rather than awkward around it.
Laser weeding uses camera-guided detection to find weed growing points, then directs laser energy at those points. The unit is tractor-drawn and works with a trained operator, so the guide set also covers travel planning, arrival checks and what a team should expect on the day.
How to move through the guides
Start with the crop guide that matches your planting, then move to timing and field setup. If you already know your crop mix, use the notes on repeat passes and multi farm programmes to shape the season instead of treating each block on its own.
- Crop guides help with spacing, canopy cover and weed pressure.
- Timing notes focus on weed stage, not just crop age.
- Field visit guides explain access, turning space and block order.
- Season planning notes suit growers booking more than one pass.
What the crop notes cover
The crop pages are written for row crops where weeds sit between and around plants, and where herbicide-free control is part of the plan. They explain how timing changes once the crop closes, how early flushes are handled and why smaller weeds are easier to target than advanced growth.
You will also find notes on field speed, which shifts with weed pressure, crop layout and how even the stand looks on the day. That matters in the Western Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State, where conditions and crop calendars can differ quite a bit.
Before a field visit, these details help
A good field visit starts with clear block information and a practical route to the land. The guides point out the details that help the operator, scheduler and grower get on the same page before a unit arrives.
- Crop type and growth stage for each block.
- Row spacing, block length and any narrow headlands.
- Weed pressure, including patches with heavier pressure.
- Access points, turning room and any wet or soft ground.
- Whether the visit is for a trial strip run or full season booking.
Where the process changes from one farm to another
Some farms need one block checked, others need a full programme across several fields. The guides cover trial strip runs, repeat pass planning and travel coordination so growers can see how the work shifts from one farm to another, even inside the same district.
That matters for farms around Philippi, Ceres, Grabouw, Tzaneen, Bela-Bela, Nelspruit, Howick and Bethlehem, where terrain, crop mix and timing can move in different directions. A field that looks ready in one week may need a different pass plan once the canopy tightens or new weeds break through.
Who the guides are written for
These notes suit growers and farm teams who already know their blocks and want cleaner decisions before a laser weeding enquiry. They are also useful for anyone comparing field assessments, grower consultation and post pass reporting as part of one working season.
LaserWeeder Hire works from Philippi, Cape Town, with Mandla Adonis leading the business and a team that includes operations, scheduling, grower liaison, field work and workshop support. If you need to discuss a block, a programme or a crop timing plan, our contact form is on the contact page.