'We expect to stop using crop protection products altogether very soon'

ARTICLE

GARDEN AND PARK TECHNOLOGY

Emiel te Walvaart, Monday 14 July 2025

218 sec

Tree grower Jan van de Bijl of Boomkwekerij Het Binnen is very enthusiastic about the brand-new WEEDELETE hoeing machine

Never having to spray again. The fulfillment of this wish of Boomkwekerij Het Binnen is coming closer. The 'miracle tool' is the recently purchased WEEDELETE hoeing machine from Van Tuijl Innovations. Tree grower Jan van de Bijl is already very enthusiastic about the implement, which has only recently been put into use at his avenue tree nursery in Lienden. 'The trees suffer less damage caused by crop protection products. In addition, I already see more growth.'

The WEEDELETE in action at Boomkwekerij Het Binnen

Boomkwekerij Het Binnen is a new user of the WEEDELETE hoeing machine, manufactured by Van Tuijl Innovations. 'We received the new machine at the end of March. I first encountered the WEEDELETE during a demonstration at Mabo Boomkwekerijen. That's how I got in touch with Van Tuijl Innovations. They later demonstrated the hoeing machine at our nursery as well. I liked what I saw. Moreover, it's becoming increasingly difficult to use crop protection products, and in the future, they will likely disappear altogether. That's when we decided to purchase a WEEDELETE,' says co-owner Jan van de Bijl of Boomkwekerij Het Binnen.

No more spraying

In the meantime, the nursery in Lienden has already made extensive use of the new hoeing machine. 'We hardly spray anymore. Last year we still sprayed all the weeds. Since recently, we use the sprayer as little as possible. Only around small trunks do we occasionally spray, because it's hard to reach them with the hoe. That may also be due to our lack of experience with the machine. Moreover, Van Tuijl is still developing the WEEDELETE, so it will continue to improve. I therefore expect that in the future we won't use any crop protection products at all. At least, I hope we won't have to spray anymore.'
That Van Tuijl is serious about perfecting the WEEDELETE is something Van de Bijl also notices. Gijsbert van Tuijl: 'We have a good relationship with Van de Bijl; if we want to test a new development, we're allowed to do so at their nursery. In this way, Het Binnen contributes to the entire tree nursery sector by making innovation practically possible.' Van de Bijl also gives feedback on his findings to Van Tuijl and is very pleased with the WEEDELETE. 'Besides my regular tractor operator, who is also enthusiastic, I've driven it a few times myself. The hoeing machine is fairly easy to use. You need to set the depth properly in advance, and then it basically runs on its own.'

Only mechanical weed control

The Lienden-based grower uses the hoeing machine both for weeds in the rows of trees and between the rows. Some plots are covered with grass; the implement is useful there too. 'In the center of the machine is a hoeing bar with the same rotating hoes; you can simply lift it up. That way, you only hoe the black strip. We also have plots without grass where we hoe the entire soil surface, with the central hoeing bar lowered.'
Mechanical weed control may be a bit more labor-intensive, but at some point, it becomes inevitable, says Van de Bijl. 'Applying crop protection products seems easier: spray and you're done. But looking to the future, that's a no-go. It's still partly allowed, but it's better to start experimenting with hoeing now. If it doesn't work out, you can still fall back on chemicals. But the aim is to make them unnecessary. More and more municipalities and buyers like garden centers are asking for spray-free crops.'
Colleague growers are also increasingly working on such developments. 'Recently, a local grower saw the WEEDELETE at work on our plot and inquired about it. He wants to buy one next year too. Many people see the change coming. Another grower in the area already uses the same hoeing machine. He's very satisfied with it too. That really confirms your feeling, doesn't it.'

Jan van de Bijl is happy with his WEEDELETE

More and more municipalities and buyers like garden centers are asking for spray-free crops

More growth

According to Van de Bijl, only a few weed control products remain in circulation today that you wouldn't have dared to use in the past. 'You had to apply them due to lack of alternatives. But they don't benefit the tree. Spraying really does cause damage here and there. But now that we are practicing mechanical weed control, that no longer happens. Even though I've only used it for a short time, I'm already seeing more growth. One way or another, spraying always affects the tree somewhat. The product may harm the weeds, but it's not good for the trees either. With some species, you'll see the difference in growth and quality when you've hoed the weeds instead. Next year we'll know for sure,' he says with a smile.

The grower cannot say how often he will use the WEEDELETE against weeds. 'We're currently in a very dry spell. You hoe, and the weeds are gone. But there's no rain, so the seeds still in the soil don't germinate due to lack of moisture. If it rains next week, the small weeds will sprout again after a while. Then you can drive again. In these dry conditions, no new weeds emerge. However, spring 2024 was the complete opposite. It was so wet that hoeing wasn't possible either. Last year everything went with difficulty. We're currently waiting for some rain, but the present conditions are still better.'
The hoeing depth and pressure can be adjusted precisely depending on soil firmness and type. 'That's an important feature of the machine. You only want to loosen the top layer. Getting the settings right is a matter of getting to know the machine. All in all, the WEEDELETE is a fine tool for the future,' Van de Bijl concludes.

WEEDELETE

This solid intra-row weeder of Opheusden origin was developed in collaboration with tree growers. Thanks to the unique rotating hoeing system, both large and small weeds can be removed with exceptionally high reliability. Additionally, it simultaneously levels the soil. The WEEDELETE accounts for obstacles and drip lines and causes no damage to the crops.

Boomkwekerij Het Binnen

Boomkwekerij Het Binnen, a family-run business in Lienden, grows trees with a trunk size from 8-10 to 18-20 centimeters, in three- and four-year cultivation. On the 40-hectare area, mainly avenue trees are grown in open ground. Additionally, the nursery also has some container cultivation. Jan van de Bijl runs Het Binnen together with his father, with his father handling sales and Jan responsible for cultivation.

This article was previously published on 11 June 2025 on the website of Boom In Business.

Van Tuijl Innovations

Mabo Boomkwekerijen

COMMENTS

There are no comments yet.

Tip the editors