The best sites to use the HerbaShield are new vineyards where the vine trunks are straight and the vineyard stakes are in better condition. The HerbaShield is probably better suited to vineyards with drip irrigation because the vineyard floor cane be maintained in a more level condition than furrow irrigated vineyards. Use of the Clemens can be limited after cane drop because of physical damage to the vine canes. Cane cutting can eliminate the problem, but it necessitates another pass over the vineyard floor using another piece of equipment. Exclusive use of the mechanical weed control device can cause excessive dust which can result in the development of mite problems.
Mites tend to be more of a problem in areas with high amounts of dust.
Benefits of mechanical weed control can be offset by the increased use of miticide to combat an outbreak of mites resulting from the increased dust generated by the mechanical weed control. Dust can be mitigated by disking and using the Clemens when soil moisture levels are higher. A benefit with the Clemens was reduction in berry mummies. This tended to reduce insect and disease levels in the vineyard. Future plans are to utilize the equipment for demonstration and research purposes on a continuing basis.