In weed management, what does sanitation typically refer to?

Sanitation in weed management primarily refers to minimizing the presence of weed seeds in an environment. This concept includes practices aimed at preventing weeds from establishing or spreading by reducing the factors that contribute to their growth. For instance, this can involve cleaning equipment and tools before moving them from one area to another, as this helps avoid the unintentional transport of weed seeds.

Additionally, maintaining clean flower beds, lawns, or agricultural fields by removing any existing weeds before they can produce seeds is also a crucial aspect of sanitation. By focusing on preventing weed seeds from being introduced or remaining in the environment, effective sanitation practices can significantly reduce the overall weed population and, consequently, the need for more intensive control measures like herbicides.