Blackberry Control Field Days

The South Gippsland Landcare Network in partnership with the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority and the Department of Primary Industries are hosting two Blackberry Control Field Days.

The field days are to be held on April 16th at the Poowong Football Club rooms and April 20th at the Foster Memorial Arts Centre between 10am – 2.00pm. The field days will host range of guest speakers and practical demonstrations on blackberry identification and integrated control methods including the use of a biological control agent, blackberry rust. For further information on these days or to RSVP contact the South Gippsland Landcare Network on SGLN: 5662 5759 or email: katew@wgcma.vic.gov.au

Blackberries

With autumn in full swing, now is the time to tackle blackberries before they start to slow down on fruit production and curl up their toes for winter. There is also no better time than now to start planning for spring and beyond by developing a strategy to manage blackberry on your property.

During winter blackberries become dormant, loosing their leaves from cold conditions or frost, therefore spraying with herbicides that are absorbed through the plants leaves should stop. South Gippsland Landcare Network Project Officer, Kate Williams explains “During periods when physical or chemical control is not viable landholders can divert time into establishing a basic management plan tailored to their property taking into account limitations, resources and overall objectives. The primary aim of establishing a management plant is to identify the infestation and set realistic short and long term goals that can be monitored.”

Broom burns

Cape Broom (Genista monspessulana) English Broom (Cytisus scoparius) Flax-Leaf Broom (Genista linifolia) Broom species are currently (August) in flower and can be easily identified this time of year infesting roadsides and bushland with their distinctive yellow pea flowers. It is highly flammable so thickets along roadsides and in native vegetation are an increasing fire hazard. By Christmas they form numerous hard seeds in pods and on a hot day pop the seeds out in their thousands. The seeds can last up to eighty years in soil. They are mainly spread through grading, slashing, water, and vehicle tyres. Broom can also be poisonous to stock. In South Gippsland these broom species are all classified noxious, regionally controlled which means it can not be sold or transported and landholders are expected to control and prevent its spread on their land. Brooms are native to scrub and open woodlands in the Mediterranean region, Europe, Portugal and the Azores. It was probably introduced to Australia as a garden or hedge plant and was widely planted last century. Once in infestation has taken hold it can potentially take up to twenty years to eliminate, so early detection is important. Small plants can be hand removed if the soil is soft enough, larger plants could be slashed before flowering and spray any re growth or foliar spray the whole plant with the registered chemical. Cut and paint with herbicide is also an option

Fennel

Not many people would realize that fennel in Victoria is classified a restricted noxious weed meaning that it is illegal to sell or transport. It is a widespread weed of disturbed land, found along waterways, grasslands and woodlands. Dense infestations can eliminate most other ground flora and can impede regeneration of native species. Distinctive by its strong aniseed smell when young has a very ferny like appearance then it shoots up to clusters of tiny yellow flowers, then produces many seeds which are distributed by water and wind. When crowns are disturbed or dislodged and come in contact with the soil vegetative production can occur. Therefore slashing will spread it even further. To control fennel it can be dug out making sure to remove all of the taproot. Material should be disposed carefully. Plants can be treated with the cut and paint method or a selective herbicide.