DEMONSTRATING AND APPLYING AN INTEGRATED APPROACH

In addressing the need for sustainable practice, core to any actions is taking an integrated approach but what does that mean? Just as with the term sustainability, it is important to understand what is meant by an integrated approach and importantly what is not. The next few monthly articles will seek to address this topic, hopefully producing a simple guide to taking an integrated approach in any amenity situation. We will use primarily the example of weed management but will then develop the theme over other operational areas.

The management of weeds, pests and diseases is central to managing amenity spaces. Weed control on transport networks is vital for safety. Clean pavements and streets are important for safety but also in maintaining healthy conditions. Sports surfaces need to be fit for purpose. In order to deliver on all these requirements, an integrated approach is vital and, indeed, required in relation to current government codes of practice and targets.

Taking a holistic or integrated approach to weed, pest and disease management involves consideration of all three pillars of sustainability – economic, environment and social. It involves, for any given situation, considering all options and actions available to produce the desired outcome. Taking an integrated approach provides the best sustainable practice.

What is an integrated approach?

Adopting an integrated approach is often referred to but exactly what does it mean? Just as there can be misunderstandings of what sustainability means, the same applies to the term integrated. In terms of weed management for example, some jump to a conclusion that it means not using herbicides; some use the language of seeking alternatives. In truth, taking an integrated approach to weed management involves assessment of all the factors and methods involved, including plant protection products, so as to choose the most appropriate mix for a given situation which is economic, efficient and effective and minimises impact upon the environment and protects the public. Taking an integrated approach provides the best sustainable practice and is good practice. 

A formal definition of integrated control is as below along with its more practical meaning when applied to weed management.

“Careful consideration of all available methods and integration of measures that discourage the development of harmful organisms to keep the use of controls to levels that are economically and ecologically justified and reduce risks to human health and the environment.”

In practical terms this means:

Ensuring that, in planning a weed management programme, you consider the level of weed control required for specific areas and circumstances and consider all options available to achieve the required outcome efficiently, effectively & economically.

The integrated approach is often referred to more widely as IPM – Integrated Pest Management and this term is used globally whether it be referring to the control of pests, diseases or weeds.

Taking an integrated approach in any given situation involves careful consideration of all factors that we can influence to avoid build-up of weeds, pests and diseases and hence reduce the need for their control or management. It starts with consideration of how such challenges can be prevented and tolerated. 

Factors to be considered

In terms of weed, pest and disease management, this includes consideration of the following:

• Choice of plants, for example in public landscaping spaces, plants with ground cover which can reduce the need and frequency of weed control. Recently a local authority re-planted many of its roundabout central areas with such plants and it has resulted in much reduced maintenance requirements. Similar considerations apply to choice of varieties for amenity and sports surfaces which reduce the risk of disease and pest problems.
• Design is also an important issue in an integrated approach. In hard surface maintenance, seeking to design out areas which can act as traps for detritus build up, encouraging weed growth is important. Designing hedges and fences to be easily accessed for maintenance is another factor. Also, in terms of disease, where possible avoiding unnecessary shading of golf greens which can encourage disease build up.
• Cultural issues are also very much part of prevention. Keeping plants in the amenity and sports surface as much as possible not under stress. In a sports context, this relates to such factors as irrigation planning, mowing frequencies and heights etc.
• Considering how much weed, disease or pest damage can be tolerated in any given situation is also clearly a factor. In the 1980s, local authority instructions to contractors were often complete weed eradication across all its surfaces. This has very much changed but still factors such as expected use of the surface and how much infestation can be tolerated are not given sufficient attention. Weed control in a public park situation for example, needs careful consideration on how the various areas are to be used linked to safety and health considerations of users. Different areas could have different tolerance levels for weeds in this case.
• Also mention should be made of innovative techniques being developed such as gene editing. This can reduce the susceptibility of plants to pests and diseases and can increase vigour of desired plans to increase competitiveness with weeds in a growing situation.

Full consideration of all these factors is important in an integrated approach but of course control or management of the weed, pest and disease remains necessary. It is here where we need to consider the various options open to us and decide upon the right mix to create the required solution for a specific situation.

Integrated Approach to Weed Management

In amenity situations, weed control or management is a major issue and the rest of this article will now focus on this. Many of the considerations can apply to integrated pest and disease control.

How then should we adopt an integrated approach to weed management? Well for any given situation it begins with producing a plan, often referred to as an integrated weed management plan (IWM), which needs to consider the following:

• Is weed control essential or, as referred to previously, could the need for it be eliminated or minimised by improved management of the site and better planning of its use and requirements?
• If weed management is needed, what level of control is required?  Does it need complete weed eradication, as in treating invasive plants such as Japanese Knotweed, or could a certain level of weed infestation be tolerated?
• Having established the need for weed control, the plan will review all the various approaches and methods available, either as single methods or combinations. These include cultural, mechanical and plant protection products both synthetic and biological. These approaches will then be evaluated in terms of cost, effectiveness, safety, health, environmental impact and, ideally, subject to some form of life cycle analysis to measure carbon impact (a subject dealt with in more detail in another article in this series)
• In creating the plan, it is also important to seek co-ordination of activities across all involved. For example, in urban areas, when controlling weeds on streets and pavements, ensuring those involved in sweeping and keeping areas clean link with those applying plant protection products and other methods.
• Following this review, an approach will be determined and adopted. If it involves the use of plant protection products, checks will be made to ensure such product is safely stored, meeting legal requirements, and that fully tested and inspected equipment is used by appropriately certificated and trained operatives.
• The plan will also include a method of review, following implementation, and will be updated regularly to take account of developments and innovations. Such review will consider issues such as re-designing areas to minimise weed growth. An example here is the design of curbing in built up areas. Hard corners create build-up of detritus, difficult to sweep and encouraging weed growth. Another example is how areas are established and kept in the very best conditions, again minimising weed problems.

Conclusion

All of this can seem quite daunting but it really does not need to be complex or involve lengthy documentation. It does however require evidence that all stages have been considered. The outcome is a demonstration of best sustainable practice. After all sustainable practice is just good practice.

Sustainability is not just about doing less harm, it is about doing more good

Next month’s article will look at the options and techniques available and how they might form part of an integrated approach to weed management. A further article will then seek to address just how to put an integrated plan together and apply it.