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The Clamper
“A refined weapon with a gentle touch for invasive plant management ”
Developed by Paul Labus, John Drake, and the Southern Lake Michigan Rim project office of the Indiana Chapter of The Nature Conservany, the clamper is basically a modified version of a wicking bar for more accurate and specific herbicide application to individual target plants. It was designed and built from 32" E-Z Reacher pick-up tools (available through Forestry Suppliers Inc.) with the suction ends removed and replaced with cut-down PVC tube ends holding absorbent sponges. Herbicide is applied to the sponge ends with a trigger pump hand-sprayer. Only enough herbicide to keep the sponges moistened is required. Many plants may be treated in succession before re-spraying the sponges is required. Because the herbicide concentration is higher (generally 15% to 25% depending on label directions) only a small amount of contact with the target plant is necessary for kill. It is particularly useful in intact natural areas where only sporadic invasive plants may want to be treated with little or no impact to native species. The design of the clamper allows for herbicide to be applied to a single leaf or stem of a target plant. The herbicide may be clamped onto the leaf or stem by pulling the trigger mechanism, closing the arms and then releasing or may be spread up a long and smooth leaved plant such as cattail or common reed. Field results have proven largely successful at treating glossy buckthorn Rhamnus frangula, common reed Phragmites australis, hybrid cattail Typha X glauca and purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria with minimal collateral damage. The clamper is light and maneuverable and easy to carry. It is not heavy and cumbersome like traditional wicking bars and does not leak.
For questions, contact jhdrake@tnc.org
-Photo of Kate Howe, MIPN Coordinator, using clamper
(click on images to enlarge)
-Photo of Kate Howe, MIPN Coordinator, applying herbicide to clamper
(photo credit Crystal Rehder)
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For more information, contact MIPN via e-mail: Info at MIPN.org