The use of herbicides to control weeds and unwanted vegetation is a widespread practice among various groups of grounds professionals. Surveys conducted during this project identified concern amongst grounds professionals for potential human health and environmental impacts from the widespread use of herbicides. Saturated steam weed control has been identified as a potential alternative to traditional herbicide use in various vegetation control applications. 

Deliverables of this project included: 1. The development of demonstration plots to test the efficacy of saturated steam weed control devices for managing wintercreeper; 2. The development of second set of demonstration plots to evaluate the potential for non-target species collateral damage from saturate steam weeding; 3. A survey of grounds professionals on their knowledge and attitudes related to water quality and weed management techniques; 4. A survey to assess the satisfaction levels of grounds professionals that used the saturated steam weed control devices; 5. The development and piloting of training material related to the steam weed control devices; 6. The development of a project website hosting materials developed as a part of the project; 6. Public engagement.

The project successfully completed all goals and deliverables and culminated in a grounds professional training workshop that hosted 30 grounds professionals from The University of Kentucky (UK) and Lexington Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG). A workshop survey revealed:

•    71% of attendees reported that they felt this was a valuable or very valuable tool with some or many potential applications in their work

•    Before training, attendees reported little knowledge of the steam weeder (1.88 on 4 point scale) or potential use scenarios (1.8 on 4 point scale)

•    After training, attendees reported increased knowledge of the steam weeder (3.13 on 4 point scale) and potential use scenarios (3.13 on 4 point scale)

This project was a collaboration between UK Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, UK PPD Grounds, and LFUCG.