Why your backyard matters
Weeds are sneaky. They start off unassuming, a small seedling, a single tree, an isolated vine. At these early stages it’s often hard to even notice them, let alone recognise the potential for destruction that they can wreak. They don’t seem to be doing much, or going anywhere. It is often not until weeds have […]
Reed Sweet Grass
Special Disposal notes: Seed and rhizome fragments spread by flowing water. Contaminated diggers, livestock, soil movement, dumped vegetation, eel nets, boats and trailers all spread seed and rhizome fragments into new catchments, pasture, and drains. Remove by hand or machine dig, including all roots, rhizome fragments and dispose of at refuse transfer station, dry out […]
Hawthorn
Dig out small plants. Leave on site to rot down. Cut stump application: Cut down low and treat stump with (5g metsulfuron/1L water), or (50ml triclopyr/1L water), or (250ml Tordon Brushkiller®/1L water) Frill and fill: Cut deep notchs into the sapwood at 10cm intervals around the base of the tree, taking care not to ring-bark […]
Coral tree (also known as flame tree)
Special disposal notes: Sterile hybrid so sets no seed, but all stems root upon contact with ground, forming dense stands. Kill standing where possible, dispose of cut material to landfill, or mulch finely. How to Control: Frill and fill: cut a notch every 10 cm around the stem diameter, then fill or saturate each cut […]
Pampas
How to Control: Grub out seedlings and small plants. Remove large plants with digger. Compost or leave on site to rot down. Burn or bury flowerheads. Weed wipe all year round (200ml glyphosate + 2ml penetrant/1L water). Spray (summer-autumn is best) with (150ml haloxyfop (selective) + 50ml crop oil/10L water). Spray (summer-autumn is best) dense […]
Kikuyu
How to Control: Weedmat very small discrete spots for 2-3 months. Limited effectiveness, only really applicable around plantings as a suppression method. Does not prevent reinvasion. Spray new growth (spring & autumn) with (60ml haloxyfop + 50ml crop oil/10L water). Haloxyfop is selective for grass species. At a minimum, a second follow up spray essential […]
Giant Reed
Special disposal notes: Most or all of its spread is by rhizomes (and stems that can also re-sprout), through dumping of greenwaste, as little or no seed is set in New Zealand. How to Control: Cut down close to ground, dig out entire root/rhizome mass (large clumps will require machinery). Dispose of roots/rhizomes to landfill, […]
Bamboo
How to Control: Dig out & dispose. Cut down close to ground; spray regrowth before it reaches 60cm with (200ml Amitrole + 20ml penetrant/10L water). Continue respraying regrowth at under 60 cm until regrowth ceases (usually requires 4-6 treatments). Minimise Amitrole contact with soil & other vegetation as it is non-selective, residual, and corrosive. Cut […]
Velvet Groundsel
How to Control: Dig out smaller plants & spray regrowth (10ml clopyralid/10L water). Do not use clopyralid in home gardens because of very long term soil residue. Cut & stump paint larger plants with Vigilant gel. Spray (10ml clopyralid/10L water). Do not use clopyralid in home gardens because of very long term soil residue. Replant […]
Tuber ladder fern
Special disposal notes: Most or all of its spread is by tubers and runners/rhizomes, through dumping of greenwaste, as very little is likely spread by spores. How to Control: Pull out, Leave on site to rot down. Dispose of tubers and runners at a refuse transfer station, burn or bury. Spray with 1g metsulfuron/10L water). […]