Turku-based Kuntec controls weeds without chemicals using Eco Weedkiller PRO SP

Kuntec Oy is a maintenance and landscaping company owned by the City of Turku, responsible for maintaining the city’s street and green areas in two contract zones.

Kuntec’s approximately 40-person field team looks after green and street areas as well as the maintenance of outdoor sports facilities during the summer. In winter, the work focuses on snow ploughing, street maintenance, and the care of trees and shrubs. In addition, Kuntec is responsible for the year-round cleaning of street and green areas and carries out small green and street construction projects. The company also performs forest clearing work, for example after storm damage.

Weed control with 100-degree hot water

In summer 2025, Kuntec rented an Eco Weedkiller Pro SP hot water device for a two-month test period to control weeds on green and park areas. All Eco Weedkiller devices work on the principle of hot water. The device destroys weeds down to the roots thanks to water heated to 100 °C.

The Pro SP device’s 300-litre water tank is enough for about 100–150 m² of green area, meaning the treatment consumes on average about 2–2.5 l/m² with 100% plant cover.

“We first got to know Eco Weedkiller’s hot water devices at the Lepaa fair and decided to try the electric Pro SP model for weed control,” says Jaana.

“The device was installed in the cargo space of a van, so it’s easy to move from site to site. It can be used without a connection to the electricity or water network. Eco Weedkiller provided user training, and after that we have trained new users ourselves. Customer service is quickly available when needed. The feedback from employees during the first season has been positive. Especially the quietness of the device has been praised – it’s pleasant for both employees and passers-by,” Jaana says.

The Pro SP device reduces the need for manual weeding

Based on a couple of months of use, the Eco Weedkiller Pro SP is a faster option for weed control compared to traditional hand weeding. The device is especially suitable for controlling weeds on pavements, around traffic islands, on sandy playground bases, in mulched plantings and on constructed meadow areas.

According to feedback from employees, work on paved areas is considerably faster and posture improves since there’s no need to crouch. Summer worker Pinja also says that the device was very easy to start using and that treatment with the Pro SP is clearly faster and more meaningful compared to hand weeding.

Gardener Outi Haapanen from Kuntec also sees the benefits of the device on larger sites.

“The device seemed promising as a tool for weeding constructed meadows, offering a faster option than hand weeding and a more precise alternative to ‘spot trimming’. In the meadow where it was used, clovers and grasses were the biggest problem, which by spreading would crowd out the sown meadow plants. On a large site, only hand weeding is not practical, even though part of the work must still be done by hand,” explains Outi.

“Using the hot water device also brings variety to work posture: in the morning using the device, in between some hand weeding, and in the afternoon after the device has recharged, using it again. Charging the hot water van quickly became routine, and for us filling the water tank took 15–20 minutes and heating from one to two hours,” Outi continues.

Chemical-free control is also important to city residents

“We need to find an effective and chemical-free alternative for weed control. Glyphosate used to be very effective, but as its use has decreased, it’s been difficult to find an equivalent option. Yet the miracle of growth is still a fact – weeds push through on street and park areas despite coverings,” Jaana states.

Since Kuntec operates as a service provider for the City of Turku, environmental friendliness is a key operating principle. One factor that influenced the choice of the Eco Weedkiller device was precisely its chemical-free technology. The electric heating of the device also enables the use of renewable energy sources, such as solar panels.

“The Pro SP series devices can even use preheated water from 5 to 80 °C, which means lower energy consumption. The devices maintain their temperature for at least eight hours after power is switched off,” says Eco Weedkiller’s founder Kimmo Kärki.

“Our employees have received thanks from passers-by for using the device. For example, a dog walker was delighted to hear that no chemicals are used,” Jaana says.

Effective control even for challenging invasive species

Kuntec is currently carrying out a Japanese knotweed control project in Iso-Heikkilä. For the project, the Pro SP device has been fitted with a spike nozzle that is pushed into the ground, allowing hot water to target directly the roots of the plant. This makes it an excellent option especially when tackling tougher invasive species like Japanese knotweed. There are several different nozzles available for different situations, and the spike nozzle is at its best in these challenging cases. Changing nozzles is easy and quick when treatment needs change.

Japanese knotweed is one of the most challenging invasive species in Finland. It spreads effectively through underground rhizomes and displaces native vegetation. Its root system can reach several meters deep and spread over a wide area, making control a long-term effort. That’s why choosing the right methods and equipment is important in managing this invasive species.

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