War on Weeds – The Winter Campaign

It’s that time of year when the thermometer takes a dive and the cool winds the Blackall Range is famous(or infamous) for can howl across the hinterland. In spite of, or perhaps because of this, I reckon now is the best time of year for getting stuck into the weeds any weed control on your block, because once they are down, they tend to stay down (for at least the cooler months…). The key to winter weed control is, don’t bite off more than you can handle. That said, now is the perfect time for controlling lantana, because the native pioneers that the lantana has been suppressing will pop up in spring and quickly takeover – given half a chance. The most important facet to weed control is to make sure you won’t have to control the same weeds year after year. Good bush regeneration is all about having an exit strategy. You don’t want to be fighting the same weeds year after year. Poor weed control often leads to the growth of more weeds and you find yourself fighting the same battle year after year, actually creating the conditions for more weed growth. Time your weed control well and hopefully you’ll be facilitating the regeneration of native flora, native flora that within a few years will capture the site and outcompete all those weeds that are suppressing the growth of native vegetation. Knowledge and good planning are crucial in making this difference. Join Land for Wildlife if you can (for great free advice) or contact Brush Turkey to help you plan ecological rehabilitation works.
Working with the seasons is great, and winter is definitely the time to get on top of weeds. What’s more, after a long hard session of weed bashing (which is good for the body and soul), there nothing better than warming up by the fire and partaking a well earned warming beverage of your preference. There’s also that great feeling of doing something good for the world.
Planting is also still an option with soil moisture being so good (you can have too much of a good thing!), that conditions are still great for establishing plants. The main concern you may have is frost, but this can also be beaten by using frost hardy stock, and there’s still plenty of variety to choose from there! Wattles, Silky Oaks, Native Frangipani, Celery Wood, White Cedar and Hoop or Bunya Pine are very frost hardy and even Lillypilly’s are moderately frost hardy. If you are undertaking a winter revegetation project, check out our wholesale tubestock at www.brushturkey.com.au
Enjoy the winter, it’s what makes the hinterland special, and remember wood fires are sustainable heating -just plant more trees!