Effective Weed Control For Paved Areas

Weeds in paved public areas such as roadsides, footpaths, carparks, and other urban infrastructure pose significant challenges for councils, contractors, and asset managers. These areas also act as corridors for invasive weeds, enabling their spread into natural ecosystems and adjacent land.

Overreliance on knockdown herbicides like glyphosate has led to herbicide resistance in species such as rye grass and fleabane, prompting the need for more sustainable management solutions.

Unmanaged weeds in hardscapes create practical and financial burdens. They can degrade infrastructure by lifting pavement, blocking drainage systems, and creating trip hazards for pedestrians – all of which increase maintenance costs and safety risks. For local councils and facilities managers, the visual impact of weeds can also undermine public perceptions of amenity and cleanliness in built environments.

Effective long-term weed control in paved areas is essential not only to reduce ongoing maintenance and labour inputs, but also to help slow the spread of resistant and invasive species. Integrating pre-emergent herbicides such as Esplanade^® Herbicide offers a proactive approach that supports cleaner, safer and more sustainable urban landscapes.

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Controlling Weeds With Esplanade

Esplanade^® Herbicide delivers long-lasting, pre-emergent control—targeting weeds before they emerge and significantly reducing the need for frequent follow-up treatments. This residual activity translates into lower labour demands (often in high-risk zones) and long-term cost savings for vegetation management programs.

Esplanade is designed with environmental safety in mind. Its low active ingredient loading and strong binding to soil limit off-target movement, making it a cleaner, more responsible option for urban use. Esplanade provides superior control of over 30 weed species, including those resistant to other herbicides, ensuring safer and more efficient weed management.

Trial Results

A 12-month trial was undertaken to compare the effectiveness of different treatments to control weeds in paved areas in an urban environment. A non-chemical weed control system (using hot water) was compared with common chemical management options used in such locations (i.e. Glyphosate only and Glyphosate + Simazine). An application of Glyphosate + Esplanade was also undertaken for comparison purposes. Areas were treated with all of the treatments at the beginning of the trial, and treatments were repeated as required.

Trial Conclusion

This should significantly reduce the annual cost of managing the vegetation in these areas while keeping them in better condition. Also, because only a single treatment of Glyphosate + Esplanade^® is required each year, the overall use of herbicides is greatly reduced. In essence, 2-3 applications of Glyphosate + Simazine can be replaced with a single application of Glyphosate + Esplanade. While adopting this strategy does not totally remove the use of herbicides from the weed management program in such areas, it will reduce herbicide usage while at the same time saving money.