Spring has finally arrived! As the sun comes out and the weather warms up, you might notice those pesky weeds starting to take over your backyard. Well, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and tell them whose boss!
Weeds can do more than just spoil your view. They can negatively affect your health and make it harder for our local flora and fauna to thrive.
Find and tackle weeds as soon as they spring up. Here’s some common weeds and what you can do to control them this Spring.
Asparagus Fern
Asparagus Fern is a multi-branched scrambler that grows along the ground, forming a dense mat of tuberous roots, with spiny branches that can grow up to 60cm. It also produces white flowers in the late summer followed by red berries.
How to control them - wear thick gloves and use secateurs to cut off the stems about 20cm above soil level. Using a knife, peter lever or mattock, cut around the crown to sever roots and water tubers that can be left to break down. Lift out the crown and place in your green vegetation bin.
Asthma Weed
Asthma weed (or Pellitory) is a multi-branched perennial herb that can grow up to 1m. It has sticky hairs and flowers which can cling to clothing, hair or animal fur and cause allergic respiratory reactions. It is common along road edges and cracks in walls and pavements.
How to control them – handle these smaller weeds with protective gloves. For larger weeds, use a trowel to ensure that you remove all the lower stems and roots. It’s also best to remove this weed prior to it flowering and seeding as it is a prolific seeder.
Balloon Vine
Balloon Vine is a vigorous climber with stems growing to more than 10m long. It’s commonly found in wetter areas, especially along urban creeks. With light green leaves and 3 leaflets it has clusters of small white flowers followed by inflated, balloon-like papery capsules containing black seeds.
How to control them - cut the vines close to the ground and dig out as much of the root system as possible. Any remaining vines can either be removed or left to rot.
Lantana
Lantana is a fast-growing shrub with brittle scrambling branches that will often climb their way into trees. Its stems are square with short prickles and hairy leaves that have a distinctive smell when crushed. It flowers all year round and is followed by a cluster of black berries.
How to control them - dig out the taproot and large surface roots. Be careful, because if its left on the ground, lantana can re-root itself.
Morning Glory
Morning Glory is a vigorous, intertwining, climber weed that grows in tree canopies and forms a dense blanket over all other vegetation. It’s commonly found in moist areas and has large, heart-shaped and hairy leaves with violet-blue flowers.
How to control them - cut the vines close to the ground and dig out as much of the root system as possible. The remaining vines in trees can either be removed or left on the tree to rot. Don’t yank the stems running along the ground as rooted fragments will snap off and grow again.
Pampas Grass
Pampas Grass is a tall tussock that grows to over 3m. It has numerous fluffy seed heads with sharp, cutting leaves that are 1-2m long. The creamy white flower heads occur in summer with each plume producing up to 100,000 seeds. Leaves contain silica which can irritate the eyes, nose, throat and lungs and are highly flammable when dry.
How to control them - smaller plants like this can be hand pulled. Slash back the sharp leaves of the large tussocks before digging out the base of the plant. Place the seed heads in your green vegetation bin.
Privet
Privet comes in two types: small-leaf and large-leaf. Both are aggressive bushland invaders, as well as pests in backyards. They can trigger quite serious allergic reactions. Growing between 4 - 8m high, both produce strongly scented flowers in spring and summer which are followed by berries.
How to control them - Small to medium-sized privet plants can be dug out by hand and placed upside-down to dry out the roots. Make sure you wear gloves and protective clothing.
Find out more about weeds and their management along with our Backyard Habitat program.