Eliminating and controlling invasive weeds with the help of baby shampoo – Bathurst, central west NSW
newera Total have a mission to eradicate a whole list of invasive weeds throughout the Bathurst area on behalf of Bathurst council. Noxious and invasive weeds on the list include the following:
African Boxthorn | Alanthus – Tree of Heaven | Black Willow |Blackberry – Rubus fruticosus agg. | Broom | Chilean Needle Grass | Cotoneaster | Hawthorn – Crataegus monogyna | Hemlock | Prunus Sp. | Rose Briar | Serrated tussock | St Johns Wort | Thistle Sp …to name a few.
To effectively eradicate woody weeds and annuals from areas where they have established over a number of years is a long-term project that can take several years or more to complete. Annual treatments are essential for long term success.
Selection of herbicide is critical in this variety of environments to ensure the least impact on the riparian environments, mainly from a fauna point of view; and on human interaction when it comes to areas adjacent to parks, greenspaces and road verges. newera is very much aware of impacts on riparian zone fauna from herbicides and will elect to be generally using the herbicide – Metsulfuron-Methyl – listed below. As there are a number of areas where grasses are on the list of target weeds Roundup will be selected in these situations. Selection of herbicide is critical in this variety of environments to ensure the least impact on the riparian environments, mainly from a fauna point of view; and on human interaction when it comes to areas adjacent to parks, greenspaces and road verges.
The products newera will use on this weed eradication programme are Metsulfuron-Methyl and Roundup Biactive; and for certain weeds a marker Envirodye Blue is used to mark the weeds that have been sprayed so that the spraying is not duplicated.
Teatments methods will include Foliar spraying; Stem injection; Cut stump and Stem scrape. More of these weed control treatment methods in subsequent blogs. But for now… let’s talk baby shampoo.
Metsulfuron-Methyl
In the label information under “Ecological and Environmental Effects” in regard to the herbicide, Metsulfuron-Methyl (Metso), it states that it has a low toxicity to birds, aquatic organisms (including fish), bees and earthworms.
A risk assessment determination from page 9 of “Herbicides: guidelines for use in and around water” published by the Cooperative Research Centre for Australian Weed Management, determines that Metso is a low risk to NTO’s (Non-target organisms).
It is more effective if it is applied with a surfactant. To minimise the risk of toxicity from a stronger surfactant, newera often uses a baby shampoo. The baby shampoo acts as a surfactant, allowing the weed killer mixture to work better. The baby shampoo ensures the weed killer does not simply bead up on grass, weeds and woody weed bark and run off (like water on a freshly waxed car). The outcome is that the herbicide will achieve better results due to its adherence to the weeds.
Contact newera to discuss your weed control management plan and weed control implementation on land throughout the central west NSW and Blue Mountains.