Taking control of your space through commercial grounds maintenance encompasses a number of key tasks and factors. From ensuring safety through playground inspections to line marking and seasonal pitch preparation, there’s an awful lot to consider and schedule in, yet each element plays an absolutely crucial role in creating a space that is both attractive and functional.
One of the most important yet often overlooked aspects of commercial grounds maintenance is weed control. There is no denying the fact that weeds are a complete eyesore. However, the problems they can cause extend far beyond a loss of visual appeal. For this reason, weed control is an essential part of commercial grounds maintenance, and getting on top of your weeds requires a proactive, year-round approach. Let us explain further.
What Does Weed Control Involve?
The term ‘weed control’ encompasses all of the proactive and preventive tasks required to keep weed growth at bay.
Weeds are opportunistic and tough, and will grow almost anywhere: grassy areas, paths, playgrounds, sports pitches and fields. Any approach to managing weeds will subsequently cover your entire grounds and a range of terrain types, with the right combination of active techniques.
A typical weed control strategy as part of commercial grounds maintenance will include some or all of the following, depending on the type and size of your grounds:
- Manual weed removal to physically pull or dig out weeds in affected areas using specialist tools
- Chemical control to both target weeds directly and protect problem areas from future weed growth. This targeted approach is particularly effective for fence lines and shrub borders, where weeds love to grow and can be hard to remove manually without affecting other kinds of growth.
- Infestation management to tackle severe weed growth covering entire landscaped areas or beds. Failing to tend to these kinds of widespread problems can lead to damage to the surrounding soil and plants (which we will cover shortly).
Correct timing also plays a vital role in weed control. Spring is a particularly important season for proactive commercial grounds maintenance before weeds enter their growth state. However, late summer also provides the opportunity to act before new weeds have the opportunity to spread seeds. Understanding the nuances of this kind of seasonality can be tricky and calling in an expert to help with your strategy can be hugely beneficial.
The Benefits Of Weed Control
Without consistent control, weeds can create a number of problems, spanning from the obvious poor appearance to longer-term maintenance challenges. Weed control therefore goes far beyond just sustaining tidy grounds, protecting your outdoor space by offering 3 key benefits that make it an essential part of commercial grounds maintenance.
Improved Kerb Appeal
No matter what kind of grounds you are responsible for, first impressions matter. Whether it’s via school facilities or an entrance to business premises, visitors will naturally make assumptions almost as soon as they set eyes on your grounds. If the first thing they see is a path lined with overgrowth or play areas riddled with weeds, it’s really not a good look.
Consistent weed control, including both the treatment and removal of weeds, will ensure that your space looks cared for and professional, giving you confidence that your space leaves the right, lasting impression from the very get-go.
Better Grass & Soil Quality
One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding weeds is that they are just a visual hindrance. Unfortunately, the nuisance weeds cause can extend far beyond how they look; their presence can also have a detrimental impact on the wider health of your grounds. Sitting in the same soil, weeds compete relentlessly with grass and plants for key resources (water, nutrients, sunlight). Left to do their thing, they will therefore weaken turf and disrupt growth over time.
By removing weeds and preventing their growth through the right commercial grounds maintenance strategy, you can be certain that weeds will not cause complex damage to your soil quality over time. Nutrient balance of the soil can remain stable, encouraging stronger root systems for competing plants.
Easier Seasonal Maintenance
A well-managed weed control strategy makes every other aspect of commercial grounds maintenance more manageable, particularly in terms of seasonality. With weeds under control, you’re not constantly battling overgrowth before tackling other jobs. This proactive approach not only saves time and money but also allows work to be completed more efficiently and at the right times of the year.
Commercial Grounds Maintenance Experts
Weed control undoubtedly plays an understated but vital role in the general upkeep of commercial grounds, but if you’re not sure where to start, we can help. At Arborcure, we have wide-ranging experience in both the planning and performance of all weed control activities and can work with you to keep your grounds both healthy and presentable.
Our expert commercial grounds maintenance team uses only approved methods and substances, with health and safety always a top priority. We deliver effective results both in a reactive manner and as part of wider grounds maintenance strategies, giving you the freedom to call upon us when you need us most. To find out more about how we can help you create the perfect space through the right approach to your weeds, simply get in touch with our Plymouth-based commercial grounds maintenance team today.
