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Land owners to prepare for summer weed blitz

20 November 2009

The Department of Agriculture and Food is urging rural land owners to prepare for a burst of summer weeds following late spring rains.

Department development officer Andrew Reeves said widespread rainfall from Perth to Albany would provide summer weeds with abundant soil moisture to flourish.

“Unseasonal rainfall from a cold front is likely to result in an increased germination of summer annual weeds and increase seed production from perennial weed species,” Mr Reeves said.

“Summer active weeds such as caltrop, heliotrope and melons will grow rapidly, taking advantage of the soil moisture and follow-up warm conditions to go from seed to flowering in three to four weeks.

“The rainfall may also assist winter active weeds such as Paterson’s curse, double gees and Cape tulip to continue seed production or extend their flowering period for several more weeks.”

Mr Reeves said perennial summer-active species such as cotton bush and apple of Sodom would quickly develop lush, green growth and summer seed pod production and seedling survival will be enhanced by the late rains.

“However, the rainfall provides an excellent opportunity for those implementing weed control programs to further deplete the seed bank,” he said.

“The summer rainfall will lead to young weeds actively growing, which means they will be receptive to a wide range of control techniques from herbicide application to grazing and mechanical control.”

Mr Reeves said if landholders were able to control weeds before they set further seed, then control after a rainfall event could be highly effective and result in a high kill of weedy species.

“If, however, the weeds are allowed to flower and seed then the old saying of “One years seeding is seven years weeding” will apply and you can expect to continue with a weed control program for several more years,” he said.

For more information about summer weeds visit the department’s website www.agric.wa.gov.au or ring its Pest and Disease Information Service on 1800 084 881.

CALTROP: Summer weeds such as caltrop will rapidly mature and produce many seeds that affect lifestyle and the farming community.

COTTON BUSH: Perennial summer-active species such as cotton bush can quickly develop lush, green growth while summer seed pod production and seedling survival will be enhanced by the late rains.

Media contacts:

Andrew Reeves, development officer                                                 9780 6224

Lisa Bertram/Jodie Thomson, media liaison                                      9368 3325/3937