Identifying & removing weeds
Removing weeds from your own property is a great first step to reducing the incidence of weeds around MacMasters Beach.
Weeds escaping from private land is a significant source of reinfestation.
Weeds escape because seeds are distributed by
and worst of all
If you believe you have weeds in your garden, you need to confirm their identity, then remove the weeds. Different weeds need different techniques for removal. But correctly identify - THEN kill!!
Importantly. the first round of your work may not remove 100%, so follow-up may be needed. Then you'll need to keep an eye out to make sure there's no come-back - weeds can be very persistent - that's one of their success strategies.
But your persistence will pay off. And even if you achieve control but not eradication, that's still a success.
Click on the links below for information on some of our local of weeds and their removal.
Identifying weeds
Correct identification is important because
Some often confused lookalikes that live around here include;
Some useful sources of information include
Weeds Australia https://weeds.org.au/
The Australian Governments "Weeds in Australia" website
The NSW Dept if Primary industries Weeds section of their website.
Members of the Bushcare Group will be happy to look at your weeds to see if they can heklp with identification and removal techniques
But the most important rule is:-
If in doubt DON'T pull it out
If it turns out it is a weed, you can remove it later. If it isn't - well! You saved a good guy! Well done.
Removing weeds
The primary objective of weed removal is to remove any material that has the ability to regrow - the propagules. These could be seeds, bulbs, rhizomes and sometimes even branches and stems, if they are capable of re-sprouting.
Some plants like privet can be pulled out and left to die and rot, provided any seeds are removed and roots are kept off the ground. Larger ones can be "cut and painted" - cut off at ground level and painted with herbicide
Some, like Camphor laurel and Mickey Mouse Plant (Ochna serrulata) have to be "scraped and painted" - their stems scraped and painted with herbicide so they die in situ. It's almost impossible to pull these plants out.
And some, like Asparagus fern, just have to be dug out and the berries and crowns removed.
All weed material that you are removing from your land should be put in your green bin, or taken to the tip. Put seeds etc in the red bin.
Please don't dump it and it's probably best not to try to compost it at home.
If you are using herbicide on your own land, read all the labels and follow the instructions for their use and for your and the environment's protection. Using herbicide in any way other than as described on the label is illegal and potentially dangerous.
You should also read the Material Safety Data Sheet available from the seller or the manufacturer's website.
Use of herbicide on public land is illegal unless approved in writing by Council and only by qualified operators.
Weeds escaping from private land is a significant source of reinfestation.
Weeds escape because seeds are distributed by
- wind
- birds
- insects
- reptiles
- mammals
- attached to clothing
- attached to vehicles and tools
and worst of all
- dumping of garden waste on public land.
If you believe you have weeds in your garden, you need to confirm their identity, then remove the weeds. Different weeds need different techniques for removal. But correctly identify - THEN kill!!
Importantly. the first round of your work may not remove 100%, so follow-up may be needed. Then you'll need to keep an eye out to make sure there's no come-back - weeds can be very persistent - that's one of their success strategies.
But your persistence will pay off. And even if you achieve control but not eradication, that's still a success.
Click on the links below for information on some of our local of weeds and their removal.
Identifying weeds
Correct identification is important because
- some Australian natives can look very similar to common weeds
- different weeds need different removal techniques.
Some often confused lookalikes that live around here include;
- Lantana and Poison Peach (Trema tomentosa)
- Small leafed privet and Australian Coffee Bush (Breynia oblongifolia)
- Balloon vine and Slender Grape (Cayratia clematidea)
- Bitou bush and Fan flower (Scaevola calendulacea)
Some useful sources of information include
Weeds Australia https://weeds.org.au/
The Australian Governments "Weeds in Australia" website
The NSW Dept if Primary industries Weeds section of their website.
Members of the Bushcare Group will be happy to look at your weeds to see if they can heklp with identification and removal techniques
But the most important rule is:-
If in doubt DON'T pull it out
If it turns out it is a weed, you can remove it later. If it isn't - well! You saved a good guy! Well done.
Removing weeds
The primary objective of weed removal is to remove any material that has the ability to regrow - the propagules. These could be seeds, bulbs, rhizomes and sometimes even branches and stems, if they are capable of re-sprouting.
Some plants like privet can be pulled out and left to die and rot, provided any seeds are removed and roots are kept off the ground. Larger ones can be "cut and painted" - cut off at ground level and painted with herbicide
Some, like Camphor laurel and Mickey Mouse Plant (Ochna serrulata) have to be "scraped and painted" - their stems scraped and painted with herbicide so they die in situ. It's almost impossible to pull these plants out.
And some, like Asparagus fern, just have to be dug out and the berries and crowns removed.
All weed material that you are removing from your land should be put in your green bin, or taken to the tip. Put seeds etc in the red bin.
Please don't dump it and it's probably best not to try to compost it at home.
If you are using herbicide on your own land, read all the labels and follow the instructions for their use and for your and the environment's protection. Using herbicide in any way other than as described on the label is illegal and potentially dangerous.
You should also read the Material Safety Data Sheet available from the seller or the manufacturer's website.
Use of herbicide on public land is illegal unless approved in writing by Council and only by qualified operators.