The self-sown vegetation infesting all areas, including monumental ones, is undoubtedly one of the main causes of degradation in our towns and their outskirts. The effect of their roots on buildings and artefacts is destructive; they literally devour mortar and break up walls due to their chemical and mechanical action, thus developing a pressure of hundreds of kilograms per square centimetre and jeopardizing the stability of the artefact itself, whether it be a pavement, wall or other.

       Moreover, the presence of vegetation increases the moisture levels in artefacts, which is another serious threat to their conservation. Overgrown plants prevent the usability of the area where they expand since they create an ideal substratum for the development and proliferation of undesired animals and insects, such as mice, ticks, fleas and reptiles. It is always easy to find litter, glass, syringes and dirt in areas full of weeds since they prevent the standard cleaning operations and “encourage” people to throw litter on the ground. Given the health risks, it is extremely important to keep the lid on self-sown plants in towns. Recent publications show that 30% of the population suffers from allergies due to the pollen released by allergenic plants such as Parietaria, Ambrosia, and Graminae, which are present in towns.

       COLSERVICE executes weeding with both hydro-soluble chemical substances and mechanical devices. Such operations are indispensable for the maintenance of civil, private and public areas, military zones, archaeological sites, roads, railways, cemeteries and airports.

In industrial and productive areas, weeding favours the correct use of the areas themselves, while at the same time being an effective means of fire prevention. In schools and other sensitive environments (hospitals, health resorts), it prevents the presence of allergenic sources. In ecologically important environments or near streams or reservoirs, weeding favours the recovery of autochthonous plants and prevents the settlement of insects and animals which are harmful to man (mosquitoes, mice, rats).

       COLSERVICE performs professional weeding, in fact, after careful floristic research to assess the extent and distribution of overgrown species, the most suitable herbicides are selected taking under consideration their effectiveness, toxicology and accumulation in the environment.