Springtime - controlling Serrated Tussock in the Snowy Monaro
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Serrated Tussock is a highly invasive weed classified as a priority weed in the Snowy Monaro. Under the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015, landholders have a duty to control its growth and spread.
Look for Serrated Tussock on your property and create a simple map of where you found it. You can always call Council if you need help identifying weeds. Tips for controlling Serrated Tussock:
•Make sure you have good year-round ground cover to prevent Serrated Tussock getting established, or if it’s already there, from spreading any more.
•Understand that short-term weed control is only part of managing your land long-term.
•Plan to control all Serrated Tussock before it produces seeds in spring. One year of seeding means many years of weeding.
•Decide what control methods you will use:
oManual removal or spot spraying is best for isolated or light infestations
oBoom spraying and long-term pasture renovation strategies are effective for managing heavy infestations on arable land (giving consideration to the legal restrictions on clearing native vegetation / grasslands)
oAerial spraying with flupropanate (residual granular herbicide) will control infestations of Serrated Tussock in inaccessible or wooded areas
•Non-chemical options include digging or chipping out the plants. Bare soil provides the perfect place for Serrated Tussock seeds to germinate so when you are chipping aim to disturb as little of the ground as possible. You can scatter grass seed over larger bare areas to help stop weeds from growing.
•Consider whether you have the time, equipment and ability to do all the work yourself! You might prefer to engage a local weed spray contractor. Council can provide a list of contractors operating in your area.
•Attend an accredited, chemical use and handling training course.
•It is widely recommended that herbicides flupropanate and glyphosate are used for controlling grassy weeds like Serrated Tussock.
oFrom September onwards, a mixture of flupropanate and glyphosate will prevent seed set.
oUse glyphosate alone only on actively growing plants. Glyphosate is absorbed through the leaves of plants and acts very quickly but is not selective and will kill most plants on contact.
oFlupropanate is a more selective, longer-acting herbicide that is absorbed by the roots of plants. Flupropanate can take several months to kill grassy weeds and will remain active in the soil until about 100ml of rain has leached it through the root zone.
•Dense infestations of Serrated Tussock in woodland areas can be suppressed with the aerial application of flupropanate. Council organises an aerial spray program in spring and autumn – for information call 1300 345 345 and ask for Biosecurity.
•The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) sets the rules and regulations for using chemicals for weed control (pesticides). Before spraying weeds, always read the label on the chemicals you’re using. The label will list when and how to apply the chemical to be most effective and what safety measures you need to follow. The label will also explain how long you need to wait before letting stock back into a treated area. By using pesticide chemicals as directed on the label, you’ll keep yourself and your livestock safe, and keep the environment safe too.
•In the Snowy Monaro, using chemicals to control invasive grassy weeds can be carried out under APVMA permit 9792. This so-called ‘off label’ permit allows for the use of flupropanate and glyphosate at times and rates best suited to our local soils and growing conditions.
•Using what’s known as ‘integrated weed management strategies’ prevents or reduces chemical resistance in weeds. Don’t use only one chemical for ongoing weed control. Switch between different chemicals or methods of weed control where practical. If you notice any plants that are resistant to the chemicals you’re using, deal with them immediately. Use the “robust label rates” from the packaging of your chemicals, this will make sure they work well from the first time you use them. Keep records of all the weeds on your property, and what you do to control them. Contact Council or a local agronomist if you think there are weeds on your property that have become resistant to pesticide chemicals. These are usually small groups of plants that survive in a sprayed area where most of the weeds have died.
Contact Snowy Monaro Regional Council if you have any questions regarding Serrated Tussock or anything else to do with weeds. Our Biosecurity Team is here to help Monday through Friday 9am to 4.30pm. Call 1300 345 345.