A sound knowledge of the site and forward planning are good places to start with a Watsonia management program. Planning your strategy could involve the following.

• Mapping vegetation condition at your site then the extent of the Watsonia infestation you intend to work on. This will familiarise you with your patch of bush and help prioritise work. For example removing the Watsonia from the areas of relatively intact bush first and working from the outlying Watsonia plants in towards the denser infestations is a good plan of action.

• Looking carefully at what is going to replace the Watsonia once it is gone. From the above examples it is clear that this will depend very much on the site you are working on and will often be a direct reflection of the control method used.

• If you are removing or herbiciding isolated plants in good bushland then native plants will almost certainly replace the Watsonia.

• If you are removing whole plants or herbiciding large populations of Watsonia in relatively good bushland you will need to consider the risk of other weed moving in.

• If you are spraying dense infestations in highly degraded areas then you may have to consider applying treatments that will aid /encourage regeneration of the native plant community including smoke, smoked water, disturbance and fire. If there is still no regeneration of the native plant community direct seeding or planting with local species may be the only option.

• Follow up control of Watsonia and other weeds that may move in once the Watsonia has gone is essential for the success of any weed control/ bush regeneration program.

Considering methods of recording and monitoring the results of your work is particularly important in the planning stages of a weed control program. At the very least establish permanent photo points before any work begins and keep a diary detailing methods used and hours worked.