CULTURAL WEED CONTROL

Sometimes in Agriculture - Cultural Weed Control is used to describe things like crop rotation and plant choices. In Amenity, culture is more about the prevailing attitudes and way of doing things. We've set out some important cultural considerations below.

Changing The Contracts

Ensure that your tender and contract wording allows an integrated approach to weed management. If your contract states that "areas are kept clear of weeds through the application of an approved weed control chemical on five separate occasions throughout the year." Then it is not easy for a contractor or your staff to change their approach and adopt an integrated strategy for managing weeds.

IPM is complex and requires a highly individualised approach to meet the specific needs of the surfaces being treated.

Community Involvement

Often residents can be helpfully engaged in community weeding schemes to reduce some of the burden on Council Operatives and Professional Contractors. Many councils such as Manchester and Lambeth council have made progress with this strategy.

Cllr Adilypour said: "The response to the Community Weeding Scheme was amazing and we want to say a big thank you to everyone who has been taking part. By Spring 2021 around 150 streets were participating, contributing to a significant reduction in the amount of glyphosate sprayed in the borough and demonstrating that weeds can be managed without chemicals."

You can read more about the work Lambeth have been doing regarding community involvement here...

Appointing A Champion

Each element of a carriageway, or other asset may require an individual maintenance regime.

The maintenance responsibility of an asset may fall to more than one party. For example the back line, footway and inner kerb may be the responsibility of one party and the outer kerb and carriageway the responsibility of another. Many stakeholders may have an interest in your Integrated Weed Management Policy. Appointing an Integrated Weed Management Champion, who can liaise across multiple departments is key to allowing an integrated approach to be executed efficiently, making best use of budgets and processes.

For more information, check out our page on Integrated Weed Management for Amenity Page.