Sydney Golden Wattle (Acacia longifolia)

This dense bushy shrub or tree to 10 metres is native to NSW. Introduced to WA as a garden plant, it has since escaped and is now found along many road verges and in reserves. If left to grow unchecked, it will gradually replace the area's unique flora. Most of our local plants are unable to grow under the Golden Wattle's dense canopy.

Badly affected areas include Bayonet Head and Lower King.

Control

Hand pull seedlings.

Cut trees at ground level and paint stumps with 100 mL of glyphosate 450 in 500 mL of water. Basal spray by applying 100 mL Access® in 5 L diesel completely around bottom 50 cm of trunk below all branches. Small trees can be sprayed overall with a mixture of 100 mL glyphosate 450 plus 1 g of Brushoff® and 25 mL Pulse® in 10 L of water.

Victorian Teatree (Leptospermum laevigatum)

This large, bushy shrub was introduced from Victoria. It was mainly used as a fastgrowing windbreak, but has long since escaped into surrounding bushland and has become a major threat as it easily outcompetes local plants. It has showy white flowers throughout spring and produces huge quantities of seed.

Some of the worst affected areas include Lower King Road.

Control

Seedlings can be hand pulled. Larger shrubs are extremely difficult to pull out by hand and need to be cut down.

Cut plants close to ground level and spray stumps with 100 mL of glyphosate 450 in 500 mL of water. For plants in non-sensitive areas, spray leaves with 1 gm Brush-Offâ plus 100 mL glyphosate 450 plus 25 ml Pulse® in 10 L water.

Watsonia (Watsonia spp.)

This native from South Africa was possibly introduced as a garden plant by early settlers whose ships called into Cape Town en route to Australia. Some species grow from corms and seeds. Dense sword-like leaves appear in winter followed by flowers on a long spike in spring. The flowers come in orange, pink and white varieties. The seeds develop as the flower stalk dries.

Some of the worst affected areas include the Lower Denmark Road and areas off Marine Drive.

Control

MANUAL CONTROL: Dig up isolated plants and burn the corms and bulbils, or dispose of at a landfill site or in general rubbish bins.

CHEMCIAL CONTROL: Spray with 100 g 2,2-DPA plus 25 mL wetting agent in 10 L of water (in areas where native plants also occur).

Bridal Creeper (Asparagus asparagoides)

A fast-growing creeper with small glossy leaves and white flowers, produces red berries which are a source of food for birds. The seeds are thus readily spread in the bush. Once established Bridal Creeper smothers native vegetation. Its underground tubers form a dense, impenetrable mat. It is worth noting that Bridal Creeper is amongst the 20 most significant weeds in the country.

Badly affected areas include Lake Seppings and Mt Clarence.

Control

Stems can be pulled before buds are formed or, if applying chemical control methods, use a sponge to apply a mixture of 10 g Brush-Offr  in 1 litres of water in late winter or spring or spray with 2 g/ha Brush-Off® plus 0.25% wetting agent.To be effective this needs to repeated every year. Biological control is possible through a leafhopper or by infecting the plants with the Bridal Creeper rust fungus. For further information on these methods contact the Department of Agriculture.

Holly-leaved Senecio (Senecio glastifolius)

This garden escapee is presently limited to the Albany area, but has the potential to spread aggressively throughout the Southwest. It is an erect, much- branched shrub to 2 metres with white to purple flowers on a long stalk. This plant appears on the Alert List for Weeds, a list of potentially damaging weeds which are likely to become a serious threat to biodiversity.

Control

MANUAL CONTROL: Hand-pull plants before flowering, ensuring all the root material is removed or broken off from the rest of the plant. Plants in flower must be burnt or composted, as seed will develop from the reserves in the stem if left on the ground.

CHEMICAL CONTROL: Spray with 10 mL Lontrel® plus 25 mL Pulse® in 10 L of water.

Pampas Grass (Cortaderia selloana)

This large, tussocky plant, a native from South America occurs mainly in wet areas. It has long, feathery flower plumes which emerge in late winter. Its seeds are readily spread by wind and water. Considering that each plume can produce 30,000 seeds which can be blown by wind in excess of 25km this weed has the potential to invade large areas.

Badly affected areas include Yakamia Creek.

Control

MANUAL CONTROL: Remove and destroy flower plumes as soon as they appear. Lever out the shallow root system, and burn or bury the material more than 1 m deep.

CHEMICAL CONTROL: Spray with 100 mL of glyphosate450 and 25 mL of Pulse® in 10 L of water.

 Dolichus Pea (Dipogon lignosis)

This rampant climber has escaped from many local
gardens and is now invading nearby bushland. The
twining perennial has bright green leaves and white
pink or purple flowers. It spreads mainly by seed. The plant was recently named in a list of invasive plants not wanted in public or private gardens.

One of the worst affected areas is the Railway Reserve.

Control

MANUAL CONTROL: Remove all traces of root and rhizome, as it will regrow from fragments. Continual removal of the vines will exhaust the root system. Repeat treatment for seedlings if required.

CHEMICAL CONTROL: Spray with 1 mL Grazon® and 25 mL Pulse® in 10 L of water or 100 mL glyphosate 450 plus 25 mL wetting agent in 10 L of water.

Taylorina (Psoralea pinnata)

This small shrubby tree has become a dominant feature along numerous roadsides and damp areas. It has pendulous clusters of purplish-blue flowers in early summer. It produces large amounts of seeds and will colonise disturbed areas. Taylorina is one of the weeds threatening sea bird habitats on Albany's offshore islands.

Control

MANUAL CONTROL: Mature plants can be lopped at ground level and seedlings pulled by hand.

CHEMICAL CONTROL: Spray foliage with 1 g Brush-Off® (or 100 mL glyphosate450) plus 25 mL Pulse® per 10 L water. In bushland, use 20 mL Lontrel® plus 25 mL Pulse® in 10 L of water.

Blackberry (Rubus spp.)

A serious weed of creeklines, blackberry often forms impenetrable thickets covering large areas if not controlled. Its prickly stems take root where they touch the ground and its seeds are readily spread by birds.

Control

This declared weed is difficult to eradicate as most of the root system has to be removed for effective control.

CHEMICAL CONTROL: Spray with 100 mL of Grazon® and 25 ml of Pulse® in 10 L of water.

Gorse (Ulex europeus)

This dense, spiny plant, a native from Europe occurs mainly in disturbed areas and along roadsides. It has become a serious, invasive weed in many parts of the world. Not widely spread around Albany, there is the opportunity to completely eradicate this weed if a concerted effort were made.

Control

MANUAL CONTROL: Graze with goats, burn or bulldoze large bushes. Burn and lightly cultivate the area regularly to encourage hard seeds to germinate.

CHEMICAL CONTROL: Spray with 1 g Brush-Off® plus 100 mL glyphosate 450 (or 100 mL of Grazon®) plus 25 mL Pulse® per 10 L of water until they are just wet.

Arum Lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica)

Native to South Africa, this garden plant is establishing itself as a serious weed in pastures and bushland. Easily recognised by its large funnel-shaped flower, the plant produces orange-yellow berries which are readily spread by birds.

Control

Hand-weeding is only effective if all root fragments are removed. Cutting flowers prevents birds from spreading the seeds.

CHEMICAL CONTROL: Spray with 1 g Glean® (or Brush-Offâ) plus 25 mL wetting agent in 10 L of water until just wet.