Gorse

Don’t let gorse get a grip!

Ask anyone from north central Victoria or Tasmania what gorse is and they will probably tell you that it’s an absolute nightmare. Introduced to Australia in the early 1880’s, gorse is an extremely spiny shrub growing to 2.5m tall. Throughout the year gorse flowers bright yellow flowers shaped like those of a pea or bean, in Victoria flowering peaks in March to May, then again in July to October. The plant has negative impacts on grazing/cropping, native vegetation, land values and forest management. Gorse also acts as a fire hazard and harbor for pest animals. With this in mind it’s no wonder that gorse is classified as one of the 20 Weed of National Significance. In South Gippsland gorse is only found in relatively isolated areas at low densities. This is largely due to present climatic conditions in the region not being favored by the plant. In saying this, you might be wondering why I’m writing about a weed that is, for the most part, not found in South Gippsland. The answer - based on future climate modeling for Victoria, a very high potential exists for gorse to grow throughout the South Gippsland region (Department of Primary Industries 2008).

The old saying ‘prevention is better than a cure’ is highly relevant and should be exercised in dealing with gorse as with any other weed. Having worked in gorse infested areas north of Melbourne near Kilmore Victoria I know first hand the devastating impacts gorse can have. Left untreated it binds together to create an impenetrable mass that could take years or decades to eradicate. Decades may sound like I’m exaggerating but it’s the hard truth with plants living up to 30 years, producing an estimated 400million seeds/ha that can remain viable in the soil for at least 25 years. This information should therefore be seen as an opportunity to actively eradicate and manage gorse now in order to eliminate the high costs associated with managing established infestations. If you have gorse on your property and would like some advice on using best practice management methods or to obtain a free copy of the National Gorse Best Practice Manual please contact the South Gippsland Landcare Network by following the Contacts link on this web site.

Kate