Capeweed

2 posts
Wed, 03/18/2015 - 22:42 #1

Member for

9 years 7 months
Black Bottom Farm
Last seen: 03/18/2015 - 22:44
Joined: 03/18/2015 - 22:36

Capeweed

Hi everyone,

 

I have some capeweed on my propery (pretty heavy in about a 10 acre patch). It's not like I hate it a want it gone, but during summer the areas where it grows its so bare whereas other fields are still grassed.

 

Any ideas/thoughts....do I try eliminate it and sow something new or sow something over it which wll remain in the dryer months?

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Thu, 03/19/2015 - 11:12 #2
peter_marybank
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 02/26/2015 - 13:47

 

Capeweed is a winter annual (germinates - sets seed and dies annually) - this is why the areas are bare in summer.

 

From an ag_chem perspective it is very easy to control. If you google "Herbicides for Capeweed control" the Tassie DPI has a very useful page including chemical groups / app rates and growth stages - there are several other sites.

 

Whilst that will provide immediate control - it doesn't solve the primary issue. Weeds like CW prosper because of lack of competition from more desirable species. This will typically occur because CW is not very palatable to most livetsock and the more desriable species present in your paddock receive more grazing pressure and eventually too much leaving areas bare allowing CW to prosper.

 

If you wish to fix the issue permanatly then I suggest you get some local advice specific to your area from an agronomist that;

  • 1). Checks the fertility and nutrient avilabity in the soil
  • 2). Controls the CW at the correct stage
  • 3). Introduces new species that are suitable to your area / soil type and rainfall.

 

They will also be able to advise you on how to manage new species so as they establish correctly (especially in the frist year). If you don't replace the CW with new species in areas where it is now completly dominant - it will simply keep germinating each year and you probably have many years of seed bank left in your soil.

 

All the best

Peter.

 

 

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