As one of New Zealand's leading providers of maintenance and facilities management services across New Zealand, many of Citycare Property's contracts include maintaining reserves, cemeteries, parks and playgrounds. Part of that maintenance involves the ongoing treatment of weeds.
As every keen gardener knows, weeds are a constant battle, and it’s no different for our Open Spaces Maintenance (OSM) staff who work tirelessly to keep the weeds down while also keeping a keen eye on the environment. Key to that is the use of steam as an environmentally friendly and effective control method — also known as thermal weed control.
One of Citycare Property’s Thermal Weed Control trucks in action at New Brighton.
Caring for the environment
“We use thermal weed control because it's effective at controlling weeds, whilst giving our clients an option that is environmentally safer for everyone,” says OSM Manager, Steve Frame.
Citycare Property has two, specially equipped thermal weed control trucks — which form part of the OSM contract for Christchurch City Council — that are used for controlling weeds growing on footpaths and in gutters.
“While the truck moves along the street, a team member, standing off to the side with a spray lance, sprays the weeds as they approach them,” says Steve. “It takes about five seconds for the hot water to penetrate the weeds.”
Christchurch City Council is highly supportive of the thermal weed approach, which has been found to be very effective in controlling weeds in the gutter and footpath environments.
In instances where the weed plant has a deep root system — like the dandelion — an organic-based foam additive is also applied to ensure effective control of the weed species.
Adding to the sustainability of our communities
The specialised equipment can also use a foam-additive, again an organic product, which we have found to be really effective in mulch gardens, in particular. When treating mulched garden beds, the foam comes out at a lower pressure and sits on top of the garden bed for about five minutes before being absorbed into the ground. Because the foam is essentially insulating the heat over the weed, not only does it provide an effective kill, it can be used at a lower temperature with no detrimental impact on anything other than the weeds themselves.
As well as being used for thermal weed control, the same equipment can also be used to steam-clean playground equipment and to remove graffiti, giving Citycare Property an array of options when it comes to environmentally friendly measures for maintaining community assets.