Weed control
Weed control planning schedule
Chemical brands
Chemical brands mentioned on this site are for no other reason than that they are well known local brands. Other brands are available with the same chemical ingredient at rural supply stores.
For further detailed information on species and control options download the files to the corresponding weed (not available for all weed species).
Off Label *
In Victoria off label use (not exceeding the maximun rate on the label) is permitted except for restricted chemicals requiring an ACUP e.g Grazon. Off label permits can be applied for at the Department of Primary Industries or Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicines Authority. Off label use can be quite complex and it is recommended that enquiries be made in the first instance with the DPI.
Cut and Paint Method
Cut plant as close to ground as possible, apply undiluted Round Up or Vigilant Gel withinn 30 seconds.
Individual weed control methods
Angled Onion
Plants can be dug out. All bulbs have to be removed.
When to spray
Treat at the bulb exhaustion stage late winter to early spring as treatments outside this period do not provide the same degree of control.
Chemical
Brush Off and Pulse penetrant.(off label*)
Apple of Sodom
Apple of Sodum can be cut and painted either with Round Up of Vigilant Gel.
When to spray
Flowering to friuting spring to summer.
Chemicals
Tordon 75D.
Arum Lily
Manual Control
Can be dug out, but all bulb matter should be removed.
Chemical Control
Cut and paint with Vigilant Gel.
Bathurst Burr
Can be grubbed out but has a very deep taproot.
Herbicide options are Amicide 625, Round Up Biactive, and Kamba M.
Blackberry
Manual Control
Hand Weeding: This is effective only under very limited circumstances. Even seedlings and small plants are difficult to pull out by hand. If possible, all of the root system should be removed using a mattock or shovel because blackberry will regrow from any root fragments left in the soil.
When and how to spray
When blackberry is growing at its best usually from November to April ideally before friuting. Completly spray all canes and leaves.
Chemicals
Brush Off, Brushkiller 600. Note: Wetter should be added. Canes should be at least 1 metre long and use clean water. Grazon (ACUP required) this product can be residule in soil for up to 12 months
Banana Passionfruit
Cut and paint with Round Up close to the ground.
Blue Butterfly Bush
Manual Control
Cut down larger bushes. Hand pull smaller plants.
Chemical Control
Spray with a half strength application of Round Up.(off label*)
Bluebell Creeper
Plants can be hand-pulled or dug out. To prevent regrowth ensure the roots are removed.Stems can be severed at the base and left to dry out in the canopy. Where practical gather any friut from cut stems and dispose of site.
Plants can be cut and painted with glysophate in spring or early summer.
Foliar spraying with product such as Brush Off is possible but care is needed to prevent other vegetation damage.
Blue Periwinkle
Manual Control
Cover infested area with black plastic, leave for two months then remove. Repeat if necessary. Can be slashed but will grow back. All root stucture would have to be removed.
Chemical Control
To date there is no registered chemical, off label* you can try use Round Up with Pulse penetrant but repeat treatment will probably be required.
Boneseed
Hand pull young plants. Cut and paint with Round Up for larger plants.
When to spray
Spring through to summer when actively growing.
Chemicals
Brush Off plus Pulse penetrant.
Boxthorn
Manual Control
Bushes can be cut down and burned but all root material would have to be dug out. Will regrow from any left in ground,
Chemical Control
Cut and paint with Round Up or Vigilant Gel. Registered chemicals are Brush Off and Grazon(ACUP required). This plant is difficult to kill retreatment is often neccesary. Pulse penetrant can be added to assist chemical take up.
Bridal Creeper
Small seedlings can be removed by hand being careful to remove all rhizome matter beneath the soil.
Biological Control
Releasing spore rust is effective in controling Bridal Creeper. Contact the local Landcare network or DPI for further information.
Chemicals
Brush Off (off label* in Victoria) can be effective but care should be taken to avoid killing native vegetation.
Californian Thistle
This thistle can be grubbed out but because of the deep root system will be difficult to eliminate.
When to spray
This thistle tends to appear later in the season than other thistles normally seedlings appear around December flowering March onwards, spraying is effective through this period.
Chemical
Lontrel is the registered and most effective due to the long deep root system.
Cape Broom
Small seedlings can be removed by hand. Larger plants can be pulled out if soil is soft.
When to spray
September to December from flowering when it is actively growing.
Chemicals
Grazon(ACUP required).
Cape Ivy
Cut and paint stumps close to ground.
When to spray
From June to September.
Chemical
Lontrel is the effective registered chemical. Careful not to spray native vegetation.
Cape Wattle
Cut and paint with Round Up or Vigilant Gel stump as close to ground as possible.
Capeweed
Can be grubbed out all root material should be removed.
When to spray
Best time is early seedling stage late winter to early spring. See pdf file for more detailed information.
Chemical
Amicide 625 spray graze technique (refer pdf file). For spot spraying Round Up can be used(non selective). For selective spot and boom spraying Kamba M or Lontrel.
Climbing Groundsel
Cut and paint with Round Up or Vigilant Gel.
No registered chemical available to date.
Dolichos Pea
Can be cut and painted with Round Up stumps close to the ground.
When to spray
Spring-summer when actively growing.
Chemical.
Round up (off label*) at half strength 5ml per litre can be used being careful not not kill species that it is climbing.
English Broom
Small seedlings can be removed by hand. Larger plants can be pulled out if soil is soft.
When to spray
September to December from flowering when it is actively growing.
Chemicals
Grazon(ACUP required). Tordon 75D.
English Ivy
Cut and paint Round Up or Vigilant Gel stump close to ground and let the rest die back.
Chemcals
Garlon plus Round Up plus Pulse penetrant. Refer to Garlon label for rates. For foliar spraying.
Fennel
Fennel can be grubbed out, all root material will need to be removed.
When to spray
Spring onwards when growing well.
Chemical
Kamba M.
Flax Leaf Broom
Small seedlings can be removed by hand. Larger plants can be pulled out if soil is soft.
When to spray
September to December from flowering when it is actively growing.
Chemicals
Grazon(ACUP required).
Gorse
Can be carefully cut and painted with Glysophate. Small seedlings can be hand pulled.
Chemical
Brush Off, Grazon (ACUP required) Follow the label and read crital comments. Add Pulse penetrant for better result. Spray when actively growing. Use clean water.
Great Mullein
Can be grubbed out making sure tap root is removed.
When to spray
Spring when avtively growing.
Chemical
Brush Off plus Pulse penetrant (off label*).
Hemlock
Hemlock can be grubbed out, all root material will need to be removed.
When to spray
Spring onwards when growing well. Be careful after spraying this is a highly poisonous plant, some livestock could eat after spraying.
Chemical
Kamba M.
Mirror Bush
Cut and paint with Round Up or Vigilant gel.
Ox-eye Daisy
Can be controlled with various registered chemicals available e.g Kamba 500,Tordon 75D, Amitrole T (non-selective).
Apply early flowering stage.
Pampas Grass
Plants can be sprayed with Round Up. Can be burnt or slashed and regrowth sprayed.
Paterson's Curse
There are various control methods: refer to pdf file for specific detail.
Chemical
Brush Off.
Ragwort
All parts of ragwort are poisoness including pollon, use gloves when handling.
Ragwort can be pulled out by hand but will leave behind root fragments which will regrow. If pulling ragwort put into black garbage bag and leave in sun to break down.
Best time to spray
Ragwort can be sprayed all year round but normally spring to summer when it is growing at its best. You can spray up to flowering stage. Once flowers have started to set seed it would be best to remove heads put in black plastic bag and spray the rest.
Chemicals
Brush Off is the most widely used. Other chemicals Kamba M. Grazon (ACUP required).
Read label for rates, safe usage and critical notes.
Red Cestrum
Cut and paint with either Rpound Up of Vigilant gel.
Saint John's Wort
Isolated plants or small infestations: Ensure that you have correctly identified the plant before removal. Physical removal is the best option where isolated plants are found on roadsides or in forest openings. They should be removed manually, preferably before they have seeded as they can become the source of much larger infestations. As much of the rootstock as possible should be removed to prevent resprouting and treated sites should be revisited regularly to
ensure that there is no further germination or suckering.
Larger infestations: Small to large infestations can be treated with herbicide applied by spot-spraying or other suitable methods. As infestations become larger, a strategically staged approach for removal is advisable to ensure that treated areas are not reinfested.
Chemicals
Grazon Extra. Starane 200. Tordon 75D.
Sea Spurge
Can be hand pulled, gloves should be worn.
Slender/Shore Thistle
Can be successfully chipped out with a hoe when they are mature and they shouldn't grow back. When they are young, unless the tap root is not removed they can regrow. If chipped out when flowering and left in paddock it will still seed and further contaminate pasture.
Chemicals
There are various chemicals available to foliar spray, most common are Amicide 625, Kamba M and Lontrel.
Time to spray
Boom spray in Autumn or Spring while plants are seedlings with a selective registered herbicide such as Amicide 625. Spot spray spring to summer. When mature a stronger chemical is neccesary such as Kamba M or Lontrel
Spanish Heath
Small seedlings can be pulled out, larger plants can be grubbed out but all root material should be removed. Cut and paint with Round Up or Vigilant Gel.
When to spray
Spray when actively growing, August to November.
Chemical
No registered chemical in Victoria. Starane 200 can be used under off label* legislation.
Spear Thistle
Spear thistles can be successfully chipped out with a hoe when they are mature and they shouldn't grow back. When they are young, unless the tap root is not removed they can regrow. If chipped out when flowering and left in paddock it will still seed and further contaminate pasture.
Chemicals
There are various chemicals available to foliar spray, most common are Amicide 625, Kamba M and Lontrel.
Best time to spray
Boom spray in Autumn or Spring while plants are seedlings with a selective registered herbicide such as Amicide 625. Spot spray spring to summer. When mature a stronger chemical is neccesary such as Kamba M or Lontrel.
Sweet Briar Rose
Apply when bushes are actively growing. Avoid spraying when bushes are stressed, when leaf fall has commenced or after the end of February.
Handgun - Spray to thoroughly wet all foliage, but not to cause run-off.
Chemical
Registered chemicals are Grazon and Brush Off
Sweet Pittosporum
Cut and paint with Round Up or Vigilant Gel.
Sweet Reed Grass
This plant can be removed by hand or mechanical means but any rhizomes left behind will re grow. Covering with black plastic can achieve 100 per cent control. This may be suitable for small infestations where the plastic can be securely fixed in place.
Best time to spray
Spring through to summer when it is actively growing
Chemicals
Round Up Biactive.
Thornapple
Cut and paint with Glysophate or foliar spray with Glysophate (e.g Round Up)
Tutsan
Cut and paint with Glysophate or Vigilant Gel.
When to spray
Spring when it is emerging and leaves are new.
Chemical
Foliar spray with Tordon 75D add Pulse penetrant.
Tree Tobacco
Cut and paint with Round Up or Vigilant Gel. Wear gloves and protective clothing.
Variegated Thistle
Can be grubbed out all root material should be removed.
When to control
Autumn Spring is the best time when they are emerging.
Chemicals
Kamba M. Lontrel.
Watsonia
When manually removing all bulbils should be removed.
Chemical
The registered chemical is Amitrole-T. Some success can be achieved using Brush Off, Round Up and Pulse pentetrant mix. Retreatment will probably be required.
Wild Teasel
Isolated plants are best dealt with by mattocking, taking care to remove as much of the tap root as possible.
Currant registered chemical to control is Ester 800 (ACUP required)
