Vegetation management plays an important role in maintaining the safety and aesthetic of roadsides. Vegetation management or right of way maintenance involves clearing trees and limbs that poses safety hazards to the community. Vegetation if left unattended is likely to block visibility (traffic, signs, wildlife). This could endanger the lives of motorists and pedestrians. Weeds need to be controlled to prevent the negative effects on farming communities and native ecosystems.
1. Create a long term management plan, not quick fixes. Broadcast spraying or mowing may give you immediate results, but the job doesn’t end there. Using selective herbicide treatments allows you to naturally control weed growth by producing desirable species.
2. Respect natural habitats. When forming a vegetation management plan, you need to consider the existing ecosystem along the highway, from wetlands and streams to wildlife and public parks and pollinator habitats. Make sure that your plan will involve enhancing its natural vitality.
3. Maximize the safety and productivity of your crew. Modern herbicide technologies offer longer residual weed control which helps reduce mowing cycles and puts the crew off the road for some time. Their reduced use rates also means less storage, mixing, measuring, hauling and clean-up.
4. Choose the right contractors. If you’re working with outside contractors, make sure that they are well experienced and trained with various management practices, understand your processes and share your vision.
5. Follow up. Conduct regular touch-ups to control recurrent species. If you’ve made the right management technique, roadsides will require less vegetation management as natural controls will develop and desirable plant species will thrive.