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1 !! Once the area is covered with plastic, the heat from the sun literally "cooks" the weeds. "Soil temperatures under the covered area can get above 150 degrees and will kill seeds, roots and vegetation matter," says natural resource maintenance specialist Jesse Cary- Hobbs. The ground remains covered through September, when it is reseeded with native wetland plants. Many of the native plants selected for reseeding are aggressive in nature and can out - compete the non - native weeds, like reed canarygrass, if they try to regenerate. For more information, call Cary-Hobbs in Parks and Open Space at 682 -4843. # ## Parks Crews Experimenting with Chemical -Free Weed Control System Landscape and Turf and Grounds crews are having favorable results with an eco- weeder, an environmentally friendly, chemical -free weed control system. The system, which kills weeds with radiant, infra -red energy, can be applied specifically to weeds without causing damage to other, non - weed plants nearby. The targeted application super heats the weed, searing the vascular system of the plant. In short, the plant dries up and dies. The new system appears to work particularly well on young, annual weeds by disrupting the weeds' life cycle and preventing the weeds from reaching seed stage and spreading. Because of its specificity, the system can also be used in sensitive natural areas, such as along rivers and streams. It can also be used during the rainy season when other weed control methods, such as spraying, are not very effective. Crews began experimenting with similar weed control units, including propane torch devices, in the mid 1990s and, within a few years, implemented this non - chemical approach into their standard integrated pest management practices. These "flamer" units, though effective, do not allow the degree of control necessary to avoid damage to desired plants in the vicinity.