Be on the Lookout this Winter

With most parts of the region receiving recent rains, many pest plant species are expected to grow and spread over the coming weeks and months. Vigilant monitoring and early treatment of all weed species is essential to minimise the impact of weeds on native landscapes and productive agricultural land.

Bec Gould, a District Manager with the landscape board encouraged landholders to be on the lookout for African boxthorn, boneseed and bridal veil, among other pest plants.

“African boxthorn is widespread across the Murraylands and Riverland but plants may look skeletal at the moment this year due to the late start”.

“The best time to control African boxthorn with herbicides is when it has enough healthy looking foliage. For mechanical removal, wait until there’s enough moisture in the soil to pull the plant out without it breaking. This is usually later in winter,” she added.

Also widespread across the Murraylands and Riverland, boneseed is most easily identified in late winter and spring when it produces bright yellow flowers.

“Established boneseed plants can be identified prior to flowering with their distinctive serrated leaves – leathery on the surface and with a white cotton downy material on the underside,” said Jamie Courtney, Acting District Manager with the landscape board.

Also able to produce a significant amount of seeds, bridal creeper is another winter weed landholders should be on the lookout for. With glossy, blue-green oval leaves, this perennial herb forms dense mats of vegetation that out compete native species and by blocking sunlight.

“Under the right conditions bridal creeper can produce up to 1000 seeds per square metre, with seeds viable for up to 4 years.” said Mr Courtney.

“Control of bridal creeper is best achieved with on-going seasonal inspections, including additional control as required, and landholders are encouraged to contact their local district officer to develop a control program tailored to their property.

Found around Sherlock, Coomandook, Tailem Bend and Lameroo, bridal veil often invades native vegetation and can spread to the fringes of valuable agricultural land.

“The little red berries of bridal veil are spread by birds, so farmers are encouraged to check patches of native vegetation in order to stop the potential spread to their
paddocks”.

Young and emerging bridal veil plants are so tiny that they can be hard to identify with emerging plants often smaller than a 5 cent piece.

“The trick with bridal veil is to get up close and inspect the patches of native vegetation and adjacent paddock area”.

“Larger infestations should be treated with herbicides, but be careful to ensure this doesn’t affect native plants. Smaller, isolated patches of bridal veil can be dug up by hand, including the bulb, put in a plastic bag and then disposed of in your general waste bin”.

Ms Gould said that landholders were reminded of their responsibility to manage any outbreaks.

“African boxthorn, boneseed and bridal veil are all classified as declared, so landholders have an obligation to control any outbreaks on their property. Our network of district officers are available to help all landholders through weed identification and support to select the right control method for your circumstances”.

Ms Gould especially encouraged anyone suspecting an outbreak of bridal veil to report it to their local district officer.

“There isn’t a lot of bridal veil in the region, so we’re keen to be as proactive as possible to stop the spread. We are particularly interested to know of any bridal veil infestations and can support landholders control this weed”.

For information and support with all pest plant and animal species, landholders are encouraged to contact their local district officer. Click here for contact details.

This project is supported by the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board through the landscape levies.