message from nick - changing the way vegetation is managed in...

September > | It’s that time of year | Weed Watch | Events | News |

Welcome to the September edition of the Vegetation Manager.

This month I would like to congratulate our customers, partners and staff on our collective success at the recent Parks and Leisure Australia Awards of Excellence in Cairns. At these national awards Technigro and the Integrated Vegetation Management Project (IVMP) received two Awards of Excellence for both Research Project and Sustainable Initiatives. It was a great honour to accept the awards on behalf of all those involved, including Brisbane City Council, Gold Coast City Council, Bayer Environmental Science, Syngenta, Horticulture Australia and North Carolina State University. The national recognition of IVM as an industry step-change and a cleaner, greener, safer approach to managing vegetation was truly humbling.

In 2008 when the IVM Project began, we held high hopes to confirm IVM strategies as best practice methods in resolving vegetation management issues in Australia. The outcomes exceeded our expectations and collaboratively we proved that IVM strategies have the capacity to reduce the cost of managing mown vegetation by 25%. With added environmental benefits and a significant improvement in the quality of the area under management, this is a journey we have continued to share with our customers and partners over the past 6 years.

Following the IVM Project, we collaboratively undertook a number of pilots and trials across Brisbane and the Gold Coast. These sites included Runaway Bay, Perrin Park and High Street in Toowong. The High Street case study can be viewed here. As you can see the application of an IVM strategy saw this difficult to manage site, usually requiring up to 10 mowing interventions in the peak-growing season reduced to just two mowing interventions. These pilots clearly demonstrate the potential of an IVM strategy to reduce the cost of managing mown vegetation and increase road safety―in this case by reducing the number of mowing interventions by 80%. Not only was the risk of accidents diminished due to the reduced mowing activity; Council was also able to significantly reduce costs by intervening less frequently.

As a part of the Citywide Group, Technigro believes working in partnership is the key to solving our biggest collective challenges. So if you would like to explore the possibility of introducing an IVM strategy just drop us a note here and one of our team will get in touch with you.

Until next month, stay safe and enjoy the start of Spring.

Warm regards,

Nick Bloor

Message from Nick

Weed Watch Giant Bird-of-ParadiseGiant Bird-of-Paradise is a member of the Strelitziaceae plant family and is native to southern Africa. It is cultivated as a garden ornamental and is emerging as a weed of rainforests, wetlands and riparian vegetation in sub-tropical Australia. For more information about this new and emerging threat view on page 6-7.

YOUR ALERT TO NEW AND EMERGING THREATS

In the news

Time to target Crowsfoot againCrowsfoot (Eluesine indica) is a common weed of lawns and playing fields that competes aggressively with the dominant turf species. August is the ideal time to start targeting this aggressive weed with a pre-emergent program. For more information, read our Crowsfoot fact sheet on page 9 or talk to our Turf Services Manager, Justin Sands, on 0403 047 701.

It’s that time of the year

When Technigro Founder & Business Manager, Nick Bloor said he wanted to change the way vegetation is managed in Australia forever, he wasn’t just saying it.

In 2008, Nick and his innovative team created the award winning Integrated Vegetation Management Project (IVMP) - a science based approach to sustainably managing vegetation by reducing management costs and harm to the environment, while significantly improving safety and asset quality.

Recently Technigro, a Citywide Group Company, received national recognition from Australia’s peak industry body at Parks and Leisure Australia’s (PLA) 2014 Awards of Excellence, in the categories of Award for Research Project, which was in its inaugural year and Award for Sustainable Initiatives.

In recognition of the award PLA CEO Mark Band said, “there is a lot going on in the research field that is not recognised and so we believed it was time to highlight the people behind the places and initiatives that are helping to create a more sustainable environment for us to live and play in”. The awards program is dedicated to fostering business and public understanding of the importance of excellence in the parks and leisure sector to the social, environmental, economic and physical wellbeing of all Australians.

The research project was a three year international collaboration including Australia’s two largest local government authorities, manufacturers, service providers and a world-leading university, backed by the federal government through Horticulture Australia. By classifying species composition and identifying and applying innovative tools and breakthrough technologies, through field-based trials the research project was able to prove the following public benefits:

> A 25% reduction in the cost of managing mown vegetation

> A reduction in the risks to workers and the public from lower intervention levels

> Better environmental management, measured by reductions in carbon emissions, vegetation biomass and soil erosion

> A transition to increasing densities of desirable plant species leading to higher quality public open spaces

Upon receiving the award Nick was quick to acknowledge all those involved who brought the concept to life by saying, “he accepted the awards on behalf of the international collaboration between Brisbane City Council, Gold Coast City Council, Bayer Environmental Science, Syngenta, Horticulture Australia and North Carolina State University. We look forward to the industry transformational impacts of IVM and a cleaner, greener, safer approach to managing vegetation in public open spaces.”

IVM is considered an industry step-change due to its science based approach to sustainably managing public open spaces. Traditionally, these spaces have been managed in reactive ways that solve only individual problems; IVM is different by providing proactive science based solutions, which contemplate the impact of the broader environment. IVM is a cleaner, greener, safer approach to managing vegetation.

Technigro is part of the Citywide Group, a major Australian physical services company operating along Australia’s Eastern seaboard. In conjunction with industry partner IVM Group, Technigro can provide and implement innovative IVM strategies to ensure the quality, safety and useability of vegetation assets year round. From humble beginnings 27 years ago in South East Queensland, the concept now has national recognition and international uptake, including by government bodies in the US and Singapore.

National Recognition for a Cleaner, Greener and Safer Approach to Vegetation

Seasonal Weeds

FireweedFireweed is a serious and invasive weed found along the south-eastern coast of Australia. It is a Class 2 declared plant in Queensland and a Class 4 noxious weed in some parts of NSW. This species favours pastures and can be very aggressive in areas that are overgrazed. This short lived plant seeds prolifically and is toxic to livestock. Learn more about Fireweed on page 8 or talk to one of our specialist team on 1800 678 611 to help eradicate the problem.

Beat this weed now

The Story of Integrated Vegetation Management Project Managers of amenity turf, roadsides and other mown vegetation in eastern Australia are struggling to meet the cost of keeping it in the condition that is expected by the general public and authorities. Over the last 7 years, Technigro has been working with a variety of partners to research, develop and refine new and innovative ways to manage mown vegetation - with a view to reducing the cost and/or improving the quality of managed areas.

The IVMP Project

The most important step in this process was “The Integrated Vegetation Management Program (IVMP)”. This three year project, beginning in 2007, was undertaken to develop situation-specific strategies aimed at reducing ongoing maintenance costs for the management of mown vegetation on roadsides and in public open spaces in eastern Australia. This research was based on a wealth of knowledge and field experience gained overseas, particularly in the US, where similar IVM programs have been in use for many years and are now becoming commonplace. To obtain the best results, IVM programs typically involve the application of plant growth regulators (PGR’s) and/or herbicides, in combination with mowing and weed wiping activities. The actual techniques employed depend largely on the situation and composition of the vegetation (i.e. they are very site specific).

In many instances problems are due to the invasion of undesirable species, which over time decrease the quality of the turf and trigger more intensive mowing activities. Field efficacy trials during the IVM project focussed on the management of Bahia grass, the most troublesome species in mown vegetation in eastern Australia. These trials demonstrated that the strategic application of certain herbicides could selectively remove Bahia grass from a grass sward over a single growing season (See Figure 1). Other treatments were found to be particularly

effective at suppressing Bahia grass seed-head production, with a single application reducing seed-head production by 97% for at least 11 weeks at the height of the growing season.

The findings of this project proved that IVM strategies had the capacity to significantly reduce mowing activities, while improving the quality of managed areas. It also indicated that significant financial benefits could be achieved, by reducing the cost of managing areas, as well as providing significant environmental benefits (e.g. less carbon emissions and reduced weed seed spread).

As a result of the success of the IVM Project, pilot programs and extension trials were instigated with Gold Coast City Council, Brisbane City Council and Powerlink during 2010/2011. The objective of these trials was to see how IVM could be used to overcome some specific operational difficulties with relation to vegetation management activities.

Area on the left dominated by Blue Couch following treatment, while the untreated area on the right is dominated by Bahia Grass.

IVMP Trials and PilotsGold Coast Extension Trials

The extension trials on the Gold Coast observed the effectiveness IVM strategies in various situations and compared them to current practices in order to determine the potential benefits of the implementation of such IVM strategies into typical Gold Coast City Council operations.

One of the main issues investigated was the management of vegetation near objects that are difficult to mow around in parks and other public open spaces (e.g. trees, bollards, telegraph poles, fence lines, etc.).

Therefore, the use of plant growth regulators (PGRs) was evaluated for the management of vegetation surrounding furniture in open space environments. It was found that PGRs could significantly reduce grass growth and delay the requirement for hand mowing activities. The results also suggested that application of a selective herbicide in combination with the PGR would be advantageous in some circumstances.

Powerlink Commercial Demonstration

Experiments were also undertaken in collaboration with Powerlink to determine the potential benefits of the

implementation of an IVM program into Powerlink operations. A demonstration was conducted within the boundaries of the Mudgeeraba Substation during autumn 2010. In this demonstration, one of the treatments provided a 70% reduction in grass seed-head production during the entire observation period (i.e. 15 weeks).

This demonstration confirmed the results of the IVMP project and showed that some benefit can also be gained during autumn, though the benefit is not as great as during the height of summer. It showed that an IVM program has the potential to reduce the number of interventions required in the management of the vegetation at Powerlink sites.

Untreated area on the left has numerous seed heads that require mowing, while the treated area on the right does not require mowing.

IVMP Trials and Pilots (con’t)Brisbane City Council Pilot Programs

During the first year of this pilot program, plant growth regulators (PGRs) were applied to a very difficult to mow area, on grassed traffic islands along the busy High Street in Toowong. This site is dominated by Bahia grass and is mown approximately every 10-14 days during the height of the growing season.

A single PGR treatment was applied to this site in early February 2011, which significantly reduced the growth and seed-head production of Bahia grass throughout the entire growing season. Mowing was not required on the site until 8 weeks (56 days) after application, when growth of the grass sward finally reached the intervention height on this high profile site. Bahia grass seed-heads did not start to appear at the site until 12-13 weeks after application, and these were very few and far between.

These results were even better than Brisbane City Council could have expected, especially considering the amount of rain and the perfect conditions for grass growth during the season. It also demonstrated what can be achieved if IVM techniques are implemented correctly in the right area at the right time of year.

During the second and third year of the BCC pilot program, IVM was used to manage the vegetation in several BCC parks. The vegetation was then monitored in some of these parks, and compared to other nearby parks that were managed using regular techniques.

For example, during 2012-2013 monitoring was conducted in Perrin Park in Toowong to determine the effects of IVM practices. In particular, what effect a 2 year IVM program has had on species composition, weed populations and the potential for weed spread from the park. The data collected

in this park was compared with the results obtained from an adjacent park, Jack Cook Memorial Park, in which normal management practices were undertaken over the same period.

The data from these assessments showed that turf in Perrin Park was in a much superior condition to the turf in Jack Cook Memorial Park. There was a much higher cover of desirable turf grasses, a much lower cover of Bahia grass, and significantly fewer broadleaf weeds. Weed seed production was also significantly lower in Perrin Park, thereby reducing the number of seeds that would have entered the seed bank and reducing the potential for weed spread. This was particularly true for Bindii, an important broadleaf weed which produces spiny fruit that impact negatively on park users.

The IVM program almost totally prevented Bindii from producing any seeds in Perrin Park, and reduced its potential to cause problems or spread to other parks to almost zero. In fact, seed production of Bindii recorded in Perrin Park was about 75 times lower than recorded in Jack Cook Memorial Park.

The results from Jack Cook Memorial Park also indicated that the current management regime results in high weed growth during spring and autumn. More importantly, the longer period between mowing rotations in spring and autumn also allows for very high seed production of winter-growing weeds (in spring) and summer-growing weeds (in autumn), when the competition from turf is lower. This facilitates the development of a large weed seed bank in the soil, ensuring weed infestation in future years, and increasing the chances of weed seed dispersal to other areas.

Other Outcomes

Extended label registrations have already come into effect for some of the products included in the IVMP project. For example, Syngenta registered a tank mix of two of their existing turf products, Primo Maxx and Monument Liquid herbicide, for suppression and seed-head control of Bahia grass.

One of the other major benefits identified during this journey is the way it has brought chemical companies, service providers and end-users closer together and significantly increased the speed of knowledge transfer between them. As a result, chemical companies are more connected with the end-users of their products and are increasingly aware of the issues that concern them. This could result in the registration of more products for non-fine turf situations in the future.

This research has proved the usefulness of the IVM approach to certain situation in eastern Australia. However, there is the potential for the IVM method to be applied to other environments to provide better and more sustainable management solutions in the future.

For more information about IVM or to discuss opportunities to be involved in future research, please contact Steve Hampton on 0438464262 or [email protected].

Before IVM Strategy Application

After IVM Strategy Application

First Australian Glyphosate Resistant Broadleaf Weed ConfirmedEIGHT POPULATIONS of flax-leaf fleabane (Conyza bonariensis) have been confirmed resistant to glyphosate in northern NSW and southern Queensland. This is the fifth weed species to be confirmed resistant to glyphosate in Australia in the past 10 years, with four being found in the past three years, and is the first glyphosate resistant broadleaf weed found in Australia.

This should ring alarm bells with no-till farmers and road managers whose heavy reliance on glyphosate as their herbicide-of-choice continues unabated.

Steve Walker of the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) at The University of Queensland, whose Department of Employment Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) team made the discovery, says that growers must be even more vigilant in their spring and summer weed control because these weed seedlings can withstand up to eight times the normal rate of glyphosate. In other words, the glyphosate just won’t work!

This species has also developed resistance to glyphosate in South Africa, USA, Brazil, Spain, Colombia and Israel.

Fleabane has become one of the major weeds of no-till farming in Australia through its ability to germinate on or close to the soil surface across a wide part of the year. Fleabane is also a major weed of road shoulders and verges.

In summer it quickly exhibits moisture stress, yet can survive long periods of high temperatures and regrow following rain.

Fleabane can produce over 100,000 seeds per plant, which are easily spread by wind and water. Fleabane seed has been measured travelling up to 500 m from the parent plant; thus resistant plants can easily spread from other areas.

“While small susceptible plants can be well controlled under ideal conditions with glyphosate, control of large fleabane in fallows using glyphosate alone often gives poor control of susceptible plants,” says Dr Walker. “Often these plants

have germinated in the previous winter crop and are large, woody and stressed when sprayed after harvest.”

“Of the herbicides that are registered for weed control in fallows research and farmer experience has shown that the “double-knock” technique where glyphosate plus 2,4-D is applied followed by paraquat 7-10 days apart provides the most consistent commercially acceptable control of this tough weed”, Dr Walker said.

Herbicides are more effective on small seedlings, so farmers need to be looking for seedlings following rain to get high levels of control at lower cost.

Using a range of management techniques is always the best option to prevent the development of glyphosate resistance. Cultivation is very effective at controlling seedlings and preventing further germination and can be economic if combined with redistribution of phosphorus or liming. Growing a competitive winter cereal is another effective non-chemical option, especially when combined with spraying small fleabane with a robust rate of post-emergent selective herbicide.

If you suspect glyphosate resistant fleabane on your property contact your relevant state expert. If found on roadsides contact your local council. Details of who to contact in each state are available from the Australian Glyphosate Working Group web site - http://www.glyphosateresistance.org.au/suspect%20glyphosate.htm

The Australian Glyphosate Sustainability Working Group, is supported by the Grains Research & Development Corporation, and key R&D based crop protection companies with an interest in the sustainability of glyphosate. Their web site has a range of information about glyphosate resistance including a register of glyphosate resistant weed populations and guides and links for management of glyphosate resistance in different crops and management situations.

Fast Facts> Paterson’s Curse (Echium plantagineum) ‘escaped’ from a garden near Albury in the 1840’s and now costs $30 million per year to control.

> The Gorse (Ulex europaeus) seed can be viable for over 80 years. It is regarded as one of the worst weeds in Australia because of its invasiveness, potential for spread, and economic and environmental impacts.

> Lantana (Lantana camara) costs the grazing sector alone over A$104 million each year.

> Civenex Q/LOGOV 8th - 9th October 2014 , Cnr Bruce Hwy & Pumicestone Rd, Caboolture.> EIANZ Annual Conference 2014 Living on the Edge 30th-31st October 2014, Hotel Grand Chancellor, Hobart. > 13th Queensland Weed Symposium A Climate for Weeds 14th - 17th September 2015 , The Civic and Cultural Centre, Longreach. More.

Upcoming Events

1. Clumping habit. 2. Large leaves in a fan-shaped arrangement. 3. Flowers. 4. Mature fruit capsules with seeds.

SEPTEMBER 2014

YOUR ALERT TO NEW AND EMERGING THREATS.

Giant Bird-of-Paradise is a member of the Strelitziaceae plant family and is native to southern Africa. It is cultivated as a garden ornamental and is emerging as a weed of rainforests, wetlands and riparian vegetation in sub-tropical Australia.

Distribution The first naturalised record of this species in Australia was in 2001, when several young plants were found growing at Mount Nebo north-west of Brisbane. Since then several further populations have been recorded at Mount Glorious and in the D’Aguilar Range. There have also been a few populations recorded in conservation areas in the southern suburbs of Brisbane and on the Gold Coast.

A single population has also been recorded along Darling Mills Creek in the northern suburbs of Sydney.

Description Giant Bird-of-Paradise is a large clump-forming plant that resembles a banana tree. It produces multiple woody stems reaching up to 12 m tall. The stems are light to dark grey in colour, and marked with old leaf scars. The massive leaves (up to 1.8 m long and 45-60 cm wide) are arranged like a fan at the top of the stems. These leaves are attached to the stem by long thick stalks and develop a torn appearance over time.

The flowers are borne in clusters in the forks of some of the leaves. Each flower is made up of a large dark blue bract at the base, white sepals and bluish-purple petals that form a “tongue”. The whole flower resembles the head of a bird and can be as much as 45 cm long. Flowering occurs throughout the year, but mainly during spring and summer. The flowers are followed by three-sided fruit capsules which split open to reveal three compartments when mature. They contain several black seeds, each with a bright orange woolly aril attached to it.

Giant Bird-of-Paradise (Strelitzia nicolai)Quick Facts

> Large clump-forming plant that resembles a banana tree

> Massive leaves arranged like a fan at the top of the stems

> Large blue and white flowers that resemble the head of a bird.

> Black seeds with a bright orange woolly aril

Habitat This species has been recorded growing in the understorey of wet sclerophyll forest and sub-tropical rainforest at higher altitudes in the ranges west of Brisbane. It has also been recorded from riparian vegetation, open forests and paperbark swamps in lowland and coastal areas.

© Technigro Australia Pty Ltd 2014

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TM

SHRUB

Documented distributionPotential introduced range

Introduced Not Declared

1. Seedlings in paperbark swamp. 2. Infestation of young plants in bushland in Brisbane (Photo is courtesy of: Rob Mollison, BCC).

Top. Similar habit of Traveller’s Palm. Bottom. Green and white flowers.

Reproduction and Dispersal Giant Bird-of-Paradise reproduces mainly by seed, which are probably dispersed by birds and other animals that are attracted by the bright orange arils. Currawongs, for example, have been observed foraging in crowns of flowering cultivated plants.

Why is it an Emerging Threat? This species is beginning to spread from cultivation and become established in the understorey of relatively intact native vegetation. It normally appears in the vicinity of large cultivated plants, though seedlings and young plants have been found several hundred metres away from parent plants. While most naturalised plants are relatively small at present, if left uncontrolled they will eventually grow to form large clumps and replace native species.

Control Methods As most plants encountered are young, they can be hand-pulled or manually removed with the aid of suitable tools. However, attention must be taken to remove the entire crown, as plants may regrow from the base. Material should be bagged and disposed of in a suitable manner, especially in wetter sites.

While larger plants may require control with herbicides, there is no information readily available on the effectiveness of herbicides. Vigilant II gel is registered for the control of woody weeds, such as Giant Bird-of-Paradise, in non-crop areas. It can be applied using the cut stump or axe cut methods. Some other products can also be used for the control of woody environmental weeds in Queensland via APVMA off-label Permit 11463 (see http://permits.apvma.gov.au/PER11463.PDF). For example, formulations of Glyphosate can be applied as a cut stump, stem injection or basal bark application. However, if control is required along waterways, only herbicides with an aquatic registration should be used (e.g. Round-up Biactive or Weedmaster Duo). Please read the permit carefully for the exact products and rates to use and, unless otherwise stated in the permit, the use of these products must be in accordance with the instructions on their labels. Within other state boundaries, it is recommended that all managers consult any relevant permits or government legislation applicable to their region.

Look a-likes Giant Bird-of-Paradise can be easily confused with Traveller’s Palm (Ravenala madagascariensis) and Bird-of-Paradise (Strelitzia reginae) when it is very young. Older plants can be easily distinguished. Giant Bird-of-Paradise has blue and white flowers, while Traveller’s Palm has green and white flowers and Bird-of-Paradise has blue and yellow flowers.

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SEPTEMBER 2014

YOUR ALERT TO NEW AND EMERGING THREATS.TM

Your Provider of Vegetation Management Solutions

Post: PO Box 397, Varsity Lakes, QLD, 4227

T: 1800 678 611 technigro.com.au

The control methods referred to in Weed Watch™ should be used in accordance with the restrictions (federal and state legislation and local government laws) directly or indirectly related to each control method. These restrictions may prevent the utilisation of one or more of the methods referred to, depending on individual circumstances. While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of this information, Technigro does not invite reliance upon it, nor accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused by actions based on it.

This information has been developed with the assistance of The IVM Group and Dr Sheldon Navie. Photographs are also courtesy of Dr Sheldon Navie © Technigro Australia Pty Ltd 2014

FIREWEED

WeedWise

Senecio madagascariensis

Photographs are courtesy of Dr Sheldon Navie

Description & life cycle

Fireweed is a serious and invasive weed found along the south-eastern coast of Australia. It is a Class 2 declared plant in Queensland and a Class 4 noxious weed in some parts of NSW. This species favours pastures and can be very aggressive in areas that are overgrazed.

Fireweed is a short-lived plant with many branched stems growing 10 - 70 cm tall. Its stalkless leaves are bright green and variable in shape, though they are usually quite narrow and elongated. Numerous bright yellow, daisy-like flowers are produced on each plant. These flower-heads have 12-15 petals and their bases are surrounded by approximately 20 greenish bracts, creating a “cup” under the flower.

Fireweed reproduces by seed and re-establishes each year from seed stored in the soil. Fireweed seeds prolifically, with each flower producing around 100 seeds and an average plant potentially producing over 10,000 seeds in a growing season! Each of the small brown seeds are topped with a silky tuft of white hairs. Seeds usually germinate in mild or warm conditions and most seedlings appear in autumn and winter.

Fireweed seeds are usually dispersed in the wind, however may also be spread by animals, on vehicles and in contaminated agricultural produce (eg. pasture seeds, hay, turf, mulch and livestock). Fireweed is toxic to livestock and is often responsible for illness, slow growth and poor condi-tioning of cattle. Consumption of Fireweed can also cause death.

Key features

> Numerous bight yellow flower-heads

> Toxic to livestock

> “Cup” underneath the flower created by green bracts

Control

1. Isolated plants can be hand pulled or chipped out and then disposed of appropriately. Remove all chipped-out plants to eliminate the chance of seed spread.

2. Herbicides are most effective if applied prior to flowering in late autumn. Boom spraying in an open pasture situation can be effective. This application method should be followed up by spot spraying, or pulling and bagging any regrowth or missed plants. When applying herbicides for weed control in pastures, special care should be taken to check and adhere to stock withholding periods.

3. The best approach to Fireweed control is to prevent it establishing by ensuring that there is a dense cover of pasture in autumn and winter. Acting immediately when small infestations are detected will assist in eradication.


PO Box 397 Varsity Lakes Qld 4227

T: 1800 678 611 technigro.com.au

February 2011

CROWSFOOT

WeedWise

Eleusine indica

Description & life cycle

Crowsfoot (Eluesine indica) is a Summer growing grass that tolerates close mowing and compacted wet or dry soils. Crowsfoot competes aggressively with turf species and germinates in spring after rain when temperatures reach 15°C - 18°C.

Crowsfoot gains its name from the way the leaves angle from the stem, making it look like “crows feet”.

Reaching up to 50cm in height, Crowsfoot has a very strong, fibrous root system and is a coloniser of bare or disturbed areas. The stems are upright to sprawling and can form a mat, however they do not make root at the nodes.

The seed head consists of several short, finger-like branches radiating from the top of an erect stalk.

Leaves are shiny, green and hair free. They can be up to 9cm long.

Crowsfoot has been recorded to produce up to 60,000 seeds per plant. These seeds will not germinate until soil temperatures are in the 15-18°C range. In optimum conditions, the time between germination and flowering is approximately 5 weeks.

Key features

> Is a common weed of lawns and playing fields, where the grass cover is thick or has been disturbed during Winter.

> When matured, it forms thick clumps that disrupt the surfaces of playing fields.

> Normally infests turf and over 40 crops throughout tropical areas of the world.

Control

1. Small clumps can be chipped out or removed by hand, although mature plants have a strong, fibrous root system that resist removal.

2. An effective management strategy is to improve turf-growing conditions by alleviating soil compaction and reducing excessive moisture. The current turf registration for pre-emergent controls in Australia includes Pendimethalin, Dithiopyr and Oxidiazon. These herbicides should be applied when soil temperatures at 10cm deep average 15°C for 24 hours. This is usually from early August to September.

3. The clumping nature of this weed significantly impacts on the safety and usability of the sporting surface or park. Post emergent control can be achieved with repeat applications of Diclofop-methyl. Diclofop-methyl is most effective on Crowsfoot in temperatures below 24°C. This means a narrow window of opportunity to treat in early spring and early Autumn.


PO Box 397, Varisty Lakes, QLD 4227

T: 1800 678 611 www.technigro.com.au

June 2010

message from nick - changing the way vegetation is managed in...

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