Organic Weed Control

Convolvulus

 How is it spread ? 

• Climbs
• Seeds spread by water

 Removal

• Pull as much as possible from ground

• Remove remaining roots as shoots appear

 Disposal

• Leave vines hanging in the trees, providing habitat and shade

• Crush lower stems and roots into a pile

• Broken stems will regrow for over a year – monitor to prevent re-rooting

Specifics/I.D.

• Will regrow from fragments

• Very little seed produced

Ivy

 How is it spread ?

• Vegetatively – by fragments

• Birds eat fruit

 Removal

• Cut above ground level so the stem can be used to pull the root from the ground

• Remove remaining roots as shoots appear

 Disposal

• Piles by itself.  Roots on top of piles

• Monitor the piles 1-2 times a year until dried/decomposed

Specifics/I.D.

• Sprouts all along stem

• Berries – bluish/purple to black in colour

• Poisonous to eat

• Irritant to nose and eyes, shade/damp/frost tolerant

• Poison Ivy different species

Wattle

How is it spread ?

• Birds

• Seeds fallen from canopy

Removal

• Pull out, ring bark or cut

Disposal

• Can leave anywhere ….. will not regrow

Specifics/I.D.

• Yellow flowers in May-Aug

• Seedpods contain 9 to 11 hard flat seeds

• Roots woody and spreading

Moth Plant

How is it spread ?

• Seeds carried by wind (up to 100m)

Removal

• Remove seedpod URGENTLY !!

• Cut at base

• Dig out roots

Disposal

• Burn or destroy by hot composting …. prevent spread of composting seeds for at least five years

Specifics/I.D.

• Cream flower

• Seeds can germinate up to 5 yrs from time of being shed

• Abundant in open land

• Sap has harmful effect on humans and animals if eaten

• Irritates skin if in contact

• Smothers

• Shades out native plants

Banana Passionfruit

 How is it spread ?

• Vegetatively (not common)

• Humans

• Animals

 Removal

• Pulled or grubbed out

Disposal

• Cut and leave in canopy

• Pull out remainder including roots

Specifics/I.D.

• Fruit is edible

• Smothers

• Flowers Jan – Dec

• Has three lobed leaves

• Can grow from small fragments at nodes

Privet - Chinese and Tree

How is it spread ?

• Birds

• Humans

Removal

• Cut at ground level or ringbark

• Cover stump with earth or other object

• Dig out if possible

• Monitor and remove regrowth from stump till completely dead

Disposal

• Pile and leave to dry

• Monitor to uplift any rooting material

• Tree Privet used for firewood

Specifics/I.D.

• Purplish to black berries

• Chinese Privet fruit and leaves poisonous

• Insect pollinated

• Not wind dispersed

• Possible respiratory and sinus effects

Eleagnus

How is it spread ?

• Birds

• Seeds fallen from canopy

Removal

• Cut at ground level or ringbark

• Cover stump with earth or other object

• Dig out if possible

• Monitor and remove regrowth from stump till completely dead

Disposal

• Cut branches can be left in canopy

• Useful for pathmaking

• Pile and leave to dry

• Monitor to uplift any rooting material

Specifics/I.D.

• Gold/silver underleaf

• Can cause breathing problems

Ginger (Kahili)

How is it spread ?

• Birds and vegetatively (tubers multiply)

Removal

• Dig or fork out entire tuber if possible without disturbing other vegetation

• Pull out by newest stem in direction of tuber growth

• All tubers must be eventually removed, over several years if necessary

Disposal

• Compost in a pile; monitor regularly (1-4 times yearly) for regrowing tubers and seeds, turning as needed

• Hang single tubers/stems in trees (Stems and roots will NOT regrow)

Specifics/I.D.

• Flowers are lemon yellow with red seeds

Pampas

How is it spread ?

• Vegetatively and by seeds which are wind blown, up to a distance of 50 km

Removal

• Dig/Pull out

• Wear gloves as it has a sharp leaf

• Be ware of wasps nests in dry material

Disposal

• Put in pile

• Monitor annually

Specifics/I.D.

• Increased fire risk due to large amount of dry matter

• Shade/frost/wet soil tolerant

• Can be distinguished from native Toetoe as it lacks a secondary vein between midrib and margin of leaf

• Dead leaves form ringlets around base

Umbrella Sedge/Purple Nutsedge

How is it spread ?

• Wind

Removal

• Pull out

• NB : Is often holding stream banks

• If some need to be left to hold banks, remove their seed heads to prevent spread until full removal

Disposal

• Piles (contain seed heads)

• Monitor annually

Specifics/I.D.

• Native giant Umbrella Sedge exists

Dock

How is it spread ?

--------

Removal

• Dig out and/or plant trees to shade out

 Disposal

• Put in piles

Specifics/I.D.

• Large broad green leaves

•  Large tap root

• Grows to 1.25m high

• Not invasive

• Shade intolerant

• Stock can help control

Mistflower :

How is it spread ?

• Wind

• Mechanical (water, people – clothing/footwear)

Removal

• Pull out

 Disposal

• Put in piles

• Monitor annually

Specifics/I.D.

• Woody perennial root is slow to compost

• Grows near stream banks

• Grows up to 1m high

Tradescantia(Wandering Jew)

How is it spread ?

• Vegetatively only (does not set seed in New Zealand

Removal

• Pull out as completely as is practical

• Do not drop fragments

• Remove regrowth 3-4 times a year until eradicated

Disposal

• Piles – by itself

• Monitor the piles 3-4 times the first year and less each following year until fully decomposed

Specifics/I.D.

• Regrows from fragments

• Roots produced at nodes wherever they touch ground

• Found in damp/shady places

• Slow growing

Japanese Honeysuckle

How is it spread ?

• Birds

• Vegetatively

Removal

• Cut above ground level so the stem can be used to pull the root from the ground

• Remove remaining roots as shoots appear

 Disposal

• Leave vines hanging in the trees, providing habitat and shade

• Crush lower stems and roots into a pile

• Broken stems will regrow for over a year – monitor to prevent re-rooting

Specifics/I.D.

• Regrows from fragments

• Grazed by stock

• Strangles and outshades native plants

• Flowers Sept – May

• Frost/Wind tolerant

• Well adapted to low light

Acmena

 How is it spread ?

• Birds

• Seeds fallen from canopy

Removal

• Cut at ground level or ringbark

• Cover stump with earth or other object.

• Dig out if possible

• Monitor and remove regrowth from stump till completely dead

Disposal

• May grow from fragments

Specifics/I.D.

• Frost resistant

• Purple flowers

• Leaves have pungent smell

Montbretia

 How is it spread ?

• Birds

• Vegetatively

Removal

• Pull out including bulb if possible, over successive seasons till underlying bulbs have shooted and been removed

Disposal

• Separate pile for large quantities of bulbs

• Take years to decompose

• Monitor and turn top of pile annually or more

Specifics/I.D.

• Orange flower from Jan – Feb

• Is perennial

Blackberry

 How is it spread ?

• Humans

• Birds

• Climbs/Scrambles

Removal

• Pull or dig out as much as possible

• Mulch thoroughly (organic carpet is effective and decomposes after a year or two)

• Rotary or hand slashing

• Shade out with other plants

Disposal

• May grow from cuttings

Specifics/I.D.

• Shade tolerant

Climbing Asparagus

How is it spread ?

• Humans

• Birds

• Climbs/Scrambles

Removal

• Pull out including tuberous root

Disposal

• Put into special pile and monitor or take to refuse transfer station

Specifics/I.D.

• Red/orange berries

• Can climb to three metres

• Roots can tangle with hosts

• Tubers spread up to 50 cm

• Is shade tolerant

• Dry/wet soil intolerant