The Friends of
Shenton Bushland
Inc.
How will we find our wild hearts inside this city;
How will we find the deep peace?
A. Stevens
Bushland Activities page (blog)
Bushland Management Strategies
Individual Management Strategies:
Management Strategy for Geraldton Carnation Weed (Euphorbia terracina)
Risk: Geraldton Carnation Weed is considered a high risk weed species in Shenton Bushland. It has the potential to invade good quality bushland, seed remains viable in the soil for at least 3-5 years, seed is spread by ants and birds (especially feral doves).
Distribution: The distribution of Geraldton Carnation Weed in Shenton Bushland was first mapped in 2002. It is currently found in degraded areas along path sides on the western side of the bushland, and is spreading along paths further into the good quality bushland areas, especially in the south-east corner.
Strategy
for control: The priorities for control are:
- Stop the spread. This involves working on:
- the isolated patches adjacent to good quality bushland in the south-east corner,
- the more degraded area near the dog's home
- around the edges of the main patch in the south-west corner
- Deplete the soil seed bank. This involves removing the seed heads in the following priorities:
- in the isolated patches in the south-east corner
- near the dog's home
- around the edges of the edges of the main patch in the south-west corner
- within the main patch in the south-west corner
- Encourage the bushland to return in infested areas. This involves:
- identifying best bits of bushland in infested areas
- using hand removal and sprays to control weeds adjacent to good bushland areas
Methods for control:
- Hand removal is effective - but the entire plant must be removed because it can re-sprout from root remnants in the soil
- Chemical control for dense infestations - Brush-off (1g/150L) or Brush-off + Glysphosate
- Seed head removal - where other opportunities for control have been missed
Hand removal is effective and generally causes little soil disturbance.
Chemical control is best done by spot spraying at ???.
Chemical used: Brush-off
Concentration: 1g:150L water
Seed head removal is done in ???
Monitoring:
- Updating distribution map - should be done annually if possible
- Need to establish a Geraldton Carnation Weed transect - suggest one that runs east from the main infestation across the Western Path into good bushland.