If weeds have taken over your garden and claimed it as their own, wrestling back control can seem like a mammoth task. In today's blog, we're going to talk you through the different ways you can remove weeds from large areas with ease.

You could just bend the knee and admit defeat to your new perennial overlords, content with living out your days as a mere tenant on weedy land.

Failing that, you could fight back and give these weedy warriors a grass-kicking to remember!

If you want to learn the best ways to clear a large area of weeds, you’re in the right place. Read on for the inside track on just how to remove weeds from a large area.

SOS: Save Our Soils

Before you begin the de-weeding process, you need to ask yourself one question (besides “Do you feel lucky?”) – that being whether or not there are plants worth saving.

If the answer is “yes”, you could be limiting your options as far as widespread weed removal goes.

Weeding a large surface area can be done fairly simply; however, treating a large area without negatively affecting certain plants within that area can pose some tricky problems.

Should your patch of plight house a prized plant, you may need to remove the weeds individually to avoid killing off the crops you aren’t willing to sacrifice. In this instance, the best way to clear a large area of weeds is to carefully remove them by hand!

Have a Hoe-Down

Any experienced gardener will tell you that an essential tool for removing weeds is the humble garden hoe. These come in a variety of forms, ranging from flat wide to diamond-shaped.

For large areas, hand-sized hoes are not going to cut it, while narrow-bladed hoes – like the Warren hoe and triangular hoe – can also make a real meal of the task at hand.

Instead, opt for a larger hoe, complete with a long handle and with a wide blade, such as a standard gardening hoe, an onion hoe or an eye hoe. This will allow you to break up a wider area more efficiently. 

If there aren't too many previous plants around, grabbing a hoe to remove large clusters of weeds is a very effective way to weed a large area.  

Take Cover

Another great option for large area weed removal is to cover the area with landscape fabric. This will prevent the weeds from sourcing oxygen, smothering the weeds into submission. Old carpet and black polythene will also work just as well, although they might be a bit of an eye-sore.

While these large area weed removal methods can be effective, they can also take months to kill off the unwanted weeds and there are few gardeners who are willing to wait this long. If you still think that covering the weeds is the best way to remove weeds in large areas, you could combat the eyesore by adding chipped bark over the top to help disguise the covering.

 Professional Weed Removal

Despite the tips and hints above, perhaps the best way to remove weeds from large area lawns is to enlist professional help and call in the experts.

There’s no shame in delegating the weed duties elsewhere. After all, weeds have a nasty habit of returning; ineffective treatment can result in unsuccessful removal and recurring problems down the line.

What’s more, weed removal can be a time-consuming process at the best of times, let alone when you’re dealing with an earthy epidemic that engulfs your whole garden. Save yourself the hassle and leave it to the pros.

Here at Total Weed Control, our cavalry of weed-whacking warriors come equipped with the heavy-hitting artillery, packing professional equipment, industry-grade pesticides and expert knowledge on how to use them.

For weed removal that’s efficient, economical and effective, call Total Weed Control today on 029 2039 7554. Alternatively, drop us a line using the button below and request a FREE garden survey today!

Request a FREE Survey

Just like residential and commercial properties, public property also requires care and maintenance to keep plant growth acceptable and prevent potential hazards to Joe Public walking the street.

This process is known as vegetation management. In short, vegetation management helps keep trees, shrubs and plants under control and rogue undergrowth at bay, keeping the world moving uninterrupted and uninhibited.

If you are responsible for public land or property that is accessible to the general public, you are also responsible for taking care of the greenery. A good vegetation management plan can help you do just that – and we know just the guys to do it for you!

What does a vegetation management plan include?

Vegetation management covers everything you would expect from a public green maintenance programme.

This typically includes typical maintenance tasks – like tree pruning, brush removal and weed control – as well as large-scale jobs, such as felling hazardous trees and implementation of protective measures near power lines.

Strategically planned to cause as little disruption as possible – before, during and after – vegetation management will keep unruly undergrowth from causing issues to the general public (such as blocking footpaths, etc.).

Meanwhile, a good vegetation management plan, carried out with care and attention, will provide efficient removal of unwanted overgrown greenery, while also taking care not to impede on wildlife or negatively affect the environment.

Vegetation management with Total Weed Control

At Total Weed Control, we have a vast amount of experience dealing with a wide array of environments across South Wales and South West England.

We’ve previously provided vegetation management services for a diverse variety of clients, ranging from local authorities and housing associations to charitable trusts and sports clubs.

Our services can be tailored to suit the specific needs of your landscape and your budget, ensuring you get the service that’s right for your property and your purpose.

Keep your property safe and presentable with Total Weed Control and a vegetation management plan that’s Taylor-made for you.

For more information on our vegetation management services, call 029 2039 7554 today to talk with one of our helpful team of experts. Alternatively, click the button below to request a FREE vegetation management survey now.

Request a FREE Survey

If you’re not familiar with the term “grounds maintenance”, prepare to be enlightened – it’s a big deal!

In fact, from sports teams and retail parks to schools and local parks, it’s one of the most important aspects of day-to-day operations.

What is grounds maintenance?

So, let’s start at the very beginning – what is grounds maintenance?

Anyone that owns a garden knows that, sadly, grass and turf doesn’t take care of itself. In fact, keeping it green and healthy can be a never-ending journey with many speed bumps and roadblocks along the way.

For those in charge of public property, communal land and professional playing surfaces, maintaining the ground can take on a whole new level of importance. In fact, for sports teams in particular it can be the difference between winning and losing.

The Importance of Grounds Maintenance

Can you imagine Tiger Woods hitting the perfect putt to sink a birdie, only to have the ball roll off-course due to a dodgy patch of green? It’s fair to say that Mr Woods would not be best pleased.

While that example may seem a little outrageous, professional pitches and playing surfaces are no stranger to grounds maintenance problems.

Even the Principality Stadium has had its fair share of headaches when it comes to grounds maintenance, recurrently taking a pounding in the media for the way its field has cut up during play over the years.

This was particularly notable during the problematic pallet system of the early 2000s, while they also faced issues from Mother Nature in 2009 when the whole pitch had to be replaced following an unfortunate infestation of Bibionidae flies.

Even the introduction of a new £3.1m semi-artificial pitch wasn’t without issues, proving that, even at the top-flight of national sport, grounds maintenance is no walk in the park.

Grounds Maintenance Services

If you are in tasked with managing a site where grounds maintenance lies within your remit, why not avoid the unnecessary stress of surface upkeep and call in a professional?

At Total Weed Control, we offer a variety of grounds maintenance services across South Wales and South West England, with the experience and expertise to back it up.

Having dealt with a whole host of sporting surfaces – from bowls club and cricket pitches to football and rugby grounds – we know that two surfaces are rarely the same. As such, our bespoke grounds maintenance service is tailored specifically to you.

If you’re in need of grounds maintenance service, why not get it Taylor made? Call today on 029 2039 7554 to find out more or click the button below to request a FREE professional grounds survey with no obligation.

Request a FREE Survey

Whether you’re in charge of a Swansea sports team, a commercial business park or even a school, the responsibility of taking care of the grounds that come with it can be an additional burden that quickly becomes an unwelcome and avoidable stress factor.

Rogue grass and unsightly weeds can be a pain to tame on your own. Luckily, here at Total Weed Control, we offer grounds maintenance Swansea can be proud of, ensuring your patch remains at peak performance all year round.

So, if this sounds like something you're in desperate need of, find out how we can help you with our expert grounds maintenance in Swansea!

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Japanese knotweed is a highly invasive plant that grows quickly and can cause significant damage to buildings, roads, and other types of infrastructure that stand in its way.

If you've discovered Japanese knotweed on your property, you're probably eager to get rid of it as soon as possible - but don't be too hasty!

It's extremely important to take care when disposing of Japanese knotweed. Under UK law, those who help the plant to spread - even accidentally - may face:

• Up to 2 years in prison
• Or a fine of up to £5,000

How to Dispose of Japanese Knotweed (Without It Spreading!) 

Japanese knotweed didn't become such a widespread problem in this country by pure coincidence. The plant's rhizome root system allows it to spread from one location to another with frightening ease - a single small root fragment can quickly grow into a whole new plant!

This is why you simply can't be too careful when disposing of Japanese knotweed. Failure to follow the law can end up fostering further knotweed growth, and frankly, this species is doing just fine for itself without any extra assistance from us. 

Japanese knotweed can't be thrown onto the compost (unless you seal it away to rot for at least 6 months before hand), and you can't take it to the tip. So, how can you dispose of Japanese knotweed safely? 

What’s the Right Way to Dispose of Japanese Knotweed?

While it's not illegal to dispose of Japanese knotweed yourself (as long as you know exactly what you're doing), it's usually preferable to hire a contractor who knows how to dispose of Japanese knotweed properly.

Broadly speaking, there are two ways to deal with Japanese knotweed, both of which are generally better left to the experts:

1. Excavation - The Japanese knotweed is dug up using heavy earth-moving machinery, then transported to a specialist landfill site with the relevant environmental permit (taking care at all times not let any contaminated soil or plant matter find its way into the wild).
   
   
2. Herbicide - Over a number of months, the Japanese knotweed is repeatedly sprayed with herbicide to control the plant's growth.

Although there are certain situations where option 1 may be preferable (e.g. if there is a tight deadline for clearing the site of Japanese knotweed), herbicide application is by far the cheaper option and is usually sufficient to prevent Japanese knotweed from causing any long-term problems.

Japanese Knotweed Removal Services From Total Weed Control

When it comes to Japanese knotweed, it’s best to ensure that it is removed properly first time around. This is the best way to ensure that Japanese knotweed doesn’t become a recurring issue, or you don’t accidentally get fined for it spreading. Total Weed Control specialises in herbicide-based Japanese knotweed control, and we offer this service throughout South Wales, the South West and beyond.

We are registered with the Property Care Association, and our reports are approved by the RICS (Royal Institute for Chartered Surveyors), so you can rely on us to handle your Japanese knotweed problem in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.

FREE Japanese Knotweed Survey >

Last updated 5th July 2022