ABC Everyday ( Print text only Cancel Battling weeds is a war of attrition and we have to use every weapon in our arsenal. That s Alexi Gilchrist s call to arms against every gardener s nightmare weeds. Mr Gilchrist is the restoration ecologist at Liverpool City Council in Sydney s south-west. He was tasked with reducing the weed infestations at Wattle Grove Lake, an artificial water hole in the small suburb of Wattle Grove. Controversy over the use of herbicides to kill weeds has grown around the world in recent years, with health and environmental concerns prompting a push for chemical-free alternatives. The concerns prompted the local council to trial the use of sugar as an eco-friendly alternative to keep weeds at bay.