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RE: Vasey Grass and Wick Applicators

Here is a list of wick applicator suppliers/manufactures that have been used by Applied Ecological Services (AES). We mainly do spot wick application in sensitive natural areas, but also do some larger scale wick applications.
 
Bowman Manufacturing Company
2450 Jackson Road 36
Newport, AR 72112-9560
(870) 523-2785
http://members.tripod.com/~bowmanmfg/ (I have not been able to connect to this site so it may be an incorrect address)
Carries rope wicks made out of PVC pipe. Very simple, durable. AES uses their 2 foot, 6 inch and dabber units. Works well on reed canary grass. OK on loosestrife (tends to wedge branching stems between fittings and ropes).
 
Contree Sales, Inc.
N2614 River Rd
Columbus, WI 53925-9008
(920) 623-3827
Carries rope wicks made out of PVC pipe. Very simple durable. AES uses their 8 foot rope wick boom applicator.  Cattail heads tend to wedge in between fittings and ropes.  Works well if no heads are up yet.
 
Speidel Applicator, Inc.
7800 S. 40th
Lincoln, NE 68516
(402) 423-4003
Carries canvas wick applicators. Very durable and easier to clean. AES uses their 18" applicator, but they make all sizes. Works well on cattails and loosestrife. Large capacity.
 
H.G. "Hank" Schnider Inc.
P.O. Box 16
Hugo, MN 55038-0018
Manufactures Walk-A-Wick, a sponge applicator, distributed by:
Forestry Suppliers
P.O. Box 8397
Jackson, MS 39284-8397
(800) 647-5368
Stock #18020 Model 200 $39.50 + shipping (the picture in the catalog shows a Sudbury Swiper, but when we ordered it we got the Walk-A-Wick which I think is better.)
and
Hummert International
4500 Earth City Expressway
Earth City, MO 63045
(800) 325-3055
Stock #06-4143-1 Model 200 $39.50 + shipping (also sells replacement pads and bottles)
The Walk-A-Wick is more delicate than the PVC models but works well in certain applications. AES uses it around the nusery only.  Works well on grasses. It does not work as well on thistles or stemy material. The webbed sponge does not last as long as the rope wicks. It does have a large capacity - 32 oz, though (compared to 16-24oz for the Bowman units).
 
Sudbury Lawn & Garden Products
P.O. Box 34820
Phoenix, AZ 85067-4820
Produces the Swiper (see picture in Forestry Suppliers catalog). A smaller version of the Walk-A-Wick and even more delicate.  I don't know if this is still available, but wouldn't recommend it anyway.
 
The hardest thing about any of these units is to find a way to store them so that they do not contaminate anything else.  They are messy. Putting the hand wicks in plastic bags is a cheap solution for temporary storage, but for long term you should put them in some sort of locker with a drainpan.  We do not have a good method for storing the boom wick (right now it is in a back corner of the machine shed).  I have thought that one could construct a storage case out of a 12" diameter PVC pipe with a drain at one end to collect whatever drips out of the wick.
 
I hope that helps a little.
 
Patrick Daniels
Staff Ecologist
Applied Ecological Services
P.O. Box 256 Brodhead, WI 53520
(608) 897-8641 FAX (608) 897-8486
p*@appliedeco.com http://www.appliedeco.com
 
From: owner-prairie@mallorn.com [mailto:owner-prairie@mallorn.com]On Behalf Of Colin Shackelford
Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 1998 9:30 AM
To: Prairie List Serve
Subject: Vasey Grass and Wick Applicators

To The List,

I'm looking for information on wick applicators.  Does anybody have a
list of manufacturers or suggestions on how to fabricate one?

I'm also looking for hints on how to control Vasey Grass, Paspalum
urviilei.  There is a 75 acre tract of remnant wet prairie that we are
restoring.  It has quite a bit of Vasey mixed in with the natives.  The
Vasey is the first thing to get some height to it after a growing season
burn and I thought using a wick applicator might get the job done.  Any
ideas or suggestions?  Thanks

Colin Shackelford
Texas Agricultural Extension Service

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