I’m a big fan of gardens and gardening. Unfortunately some of our nastiest weeds were horticultural imports and there’s a few things we need to keep in mind when greening our world.
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A weed is a plant out of place. They have been introduced into Australia in one way or another and have spread into the bush. Weeds are estimated to cost our agricultural industry $4 billion annually and can change entire landscapes.
Many garden plants, such as Mimosa growing on Top End floodplains and Mahogany and Neem trees on the banks of the Katherine River, have become weeds after arriving accidentally or being brought here deliberately because they were interesting or useful in some way. As a long term gardener I am very aware of the fact that a fair number of Australia’s worst weeds are garden escapees.
Weeds love a rainy day as much as any other plant and it’s really important to stay on top of what’s happening in your garden at this time of year.
Learn what your local weeds look like. There’s some great resources online, check out www.nt.gov.au/environment/weeds or www.growmeinstead.com.au.
Grab a cuppa and wander around your garden. Regular monitoring is the best way to notice little changes that become big problems if not dealt with quickly.
If a plant is likely to become a weed don’t buy it, don’t grow it for others and don’t plant it.
Pull out any weeds that you see pop up, particularly if they are starting to flower and seed.
Many weeds can be mulched and composted, just cover them so the seeds don’t escape. Others have vigorous root systems and are best wrapped in black plastic and left in the sun for a week or so. The heat should kill off any troublemakers.
If you use chemicals to manage weeds always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Appropriate safety measures and application methods ensure that your weed control doesn’t do more damage than the weed itself.
Illegal dumping of garden rubbish results in weeds. Mulching and composting recycles unwanted plant material and adds to the health of your environment. If you must dispose of your green waste off-site the council dump is free to householders. There is no excuse for dumping rubbish in the bush.
Protect your patch, don’t grow garden goblins this wet season.
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