Weeding out the pests

The battle against invasice weeds continues in the North Burnett

WEEDS: Pervasive weeds are a constant threat within the North Burnett. Picture: Adam McCleery

AFRICAN Lovegrass continues to concern local land owners with its evasiveness and difficulty to kill off particularly in the warmer months.

African Lovegrass tops a list from the North Burnett Regional Council outlining the most pervasive weeds in the region.

Motor vehicle wash down facilities are located across the North Burnett from Gayndah to Monto, Mundubbera and Eidsvold.

Woody Weed Management owner Lindsay Dingle is an industry professional and a land owner with first hand experience on the damage non native weeds cause.

"As land owners ourselves we are more scared of the African Lovegrass than the Rat's Tail or anything else like that because of the evasiveness,” Mr Dingle said.

"It's so tough and it tends to be resilient and keeps on coming back, a lot of graziers I speak to are saying they are coping ok for now but it definitely concerns me.”

Mr Dingle said the rapid rate African Lovegrass took over an area would be the biggest issue with the weed after its evasiveness.

"It seems to take over square metres quickly and really does damage to native grasses or pastures,” Mr Dingle said.

"You need to spray it at an early time in the season before it gets too mature and the seed starts to spread. It can be hard to recognise them in the warmer months so you have a limited window of opportunity.”

Mr Dingle believes the wash down facilities across the North Burnett are a good step towards combating weeds.

"They are a good start, but like anything else that is DIY it is only as good as the person wants to be and how much time they want to spend washing down their vehicle,” Mr Dingle said.

"There is more to it than just washing down your car, like being aware of if you have driven through it and avoiding parking at a neighbour's house, things like that.

"It seems to be doing the right thing, it's not perfect but it is a great start.”

The sooner you can identify a weed and spray it the better the chance of stopping its spread, particularly with African Lovegrass.

"Once you get that first summer rain you'll see it becoming much more prevalent in the area, but also easier to pick up through until March or April,” Mr Dingle said.

"By then it will be in full seed mode and then you are fairly well done.”

Mr Dingle is pleased to hear about extra funding for a project to fight against animal and plant pests.

"Those are good concepts where council and state government put forward the chemicals and employ us to spray it,” Mr Dingle said.

"That project near Miriam Vale on the coast got great results and could work here too.”