Prohibited and Restricted Invasive Plants

Early detection

Containment 

• Pastures to be maintained in good condition – high level of grass crown cover will limit parthenium weed colonisation
• Avoid overgrazing of pastures
• Fence off infested areas to prevent stock grazing, allow more flexible management such as spelling pasture or herbicide application
• Herbicide control – small and or isolated infestations treted immediately, extensive infestations will require herbicide treatment in conjunction with pasture management.  Timing of spraying is critical so parthenium weed is removed when plants are small or before seeding has occurred.
• Some registered herbicides include: Amicide 625, 2/4-D amine, atrazine, Tordon 75-D, Metsulfuron
• Vehicles and implements passing through infested areas should be cleaned to remove all seeds (prevent weed seed spread).  The clean down area should be confined to one area for monitoring and eradication of new plants.  Obtain weed seed hygiene declaration form
• Avoid moving cattle from infested to clean areas during rain events.  Cattle should be held in a yard or small paddock until seed has dropped (tails, hide hair etc) before releasing animals to larger grazing area.
• When purchasing hay, seed or other fodder material, ensure the product is parthenium weed free.

• Spray plant with registered herbicide – Metsulfuron, DP 600, Access and Tordon DSH
• Biological control – stem boring longicorns beetle (Alcidion cereicola) and mealy bug (Hypogeococcus festerianus).
• Dig plants out (including bulb in roots) and burn or bury.

• Spray plant thoroughly to ground level with registered herbicide – Access
• Biological control – cochineal insect however these must be protected in winter and during wet weather.

• Cut stump or basal bark – do not treat during dormant winter months
• Foliar spray – using Grazon DS
• Use Glyphosate on small plants
• Roundup – Foliar spray after good soaking rains – plants must be actively growing
• Mechanical eradication can be implemented on large stands – blade ploughing and stick raking or removing entire root system and burn plant complete

• Access – basal bark or cut stump and apply chemical
• Glyphosate – apply chemical to cut stump
• Tordon 75-D and Amitrole T – foliar spray actively growing plants to eliminate flowers and berries
• Seedlings can be suppressed by vigorous competition from other plant pasture species or local native species
• Removal of plant and root system can be done, however root system is very complex – need to remove all yellow roots – burning of roots is advisable.  Please note that dried plant matter is toxic to stock.

• Glyphosate – cut stump just above ground level and apply chemical on cut stump.  Foliar spray when plant is actively growing – need to retreat as necessary

• Access and Garlon 600 – basal bark or cut stump and treat with chemical
• Grazon DS – foliar spray for seedlings or regrowth

Mechanical, Biological and chemical control methods can be implemented.

• Large infestations – fire, dozing-stickraking and cutting stump apply chemical (Access)
• Lantana DP600, Glyphosate, Grazon DS, Metsulfuron, Starane 200, Tordon 75-D – foliar spray ensure plants are wet thoroughly – plants should be actively growing or not under stress when applying such chemicals.  Large bush may need re-treatment
• Amicide 625 – use a coarse spray with sufficient pressure to penetrate canopy and wet stems as well as foliage

Can be sprayed with herbicide, results can be variable as upper leaf surfaces are largely non-wettable making absorption of herbicide difficult.  Large infestations may be gathered with mechanical harvesters and scoops although effectiveness of this method is liminted as the plant breaks easily into fragments.

• AF100 – lightly spray free floating plants and adjacent water surface
• Reglone – thoroughly saturate plants

• Mechanical control – blade ploughing
• Chemical control – basal bark or cut stump technique, foliar spraying
• Fire kills seedlings and seeds and is an excellent form of follow up control

Control of prickly acacia can be achieved with an integrated approach using mechanical, chemical and biological methods.  Fire and pasture management can complement these treatments – variables to be considered when determining control methods – location, size and density of infestation, landform, timing of control, available resources.

Mechanical control – to be conducted before the seed pods are dropped – permits may be required if native plants are affected.  Plants with truck diameter less than 150mm can be grubbed, cutting the root to at least 300 mm below the soil surface to prevent regeneration – tractor fitted with a scoop or grubbing attachment is useful for this purpose.

Basal bark spray method is suitable for stems up to 100mm in diameter.  Stem should be sprayed completely around the base up to a height of 300mm above ground, wetting the bark to the point of run-off.  Most effective between April and August.

Cut stump and apply chemical technique may be used at any time of the year.  Foliar or overall spraying is effective on seedlings and young plants up to 2m in height.

ALERT – Early identification is essential – contact DEEDI or your LG if you suspect a plant within this Shire. 

Weedmaster Duo – helicopter application

Affray 300 – (Boom spray) sprinkle onto free-floating plants and adjacent water surface

Grazon DS – foliar spray

2,4-D Ester – foliar spray and basal bark, cut stump

Brush-off/BrushkillerTM600 and wetting agent – complete coverage is essential

Weedmaster Duo – foliar spray do not treat in winter

2,4-D Amine – foliar spray do not treat in winter

Access – Basal bark or cut stump

Starane 200 – basal bark - read chemical label for different tree trunk size and alternate application method

Manual removal most effective – remove any basal or stem seeds and incinerated prior to plants dry out.

Mowing or slashing – narrow window of opportunity to implement this process, no mowing of plant after flowering

Fire can be used when plant in full seed.  Will reduce new seedling growth, however will promote seed located in soil.

Chemicals

Flupropanate – ground and aerial application and spot spraying

2,4-D (625g/L) – spot spraying only

Aminopyralid (10g/L) + fluroxpyr (333g/L) Apply as a high volume or spot spray to flowering plants up to 30cm tall

Triclopyr (300g/L)+ picloram (100g/L) + aminopyralid (10g/L) Apply as a high volume or spot spray when the plant is actively flowering

2,4-D acid (AF300) Overall spray handgun/knapsack