Weeds

Weeds are plants that invade and thrive in environments in which they do not naturally occur. These plants alter the natural balance in the local ecology and threaten biodiversity by competing with indigenous plants that are a valuable food source for native birds and fauna.

Declared noxious, weeds are plants that have been proclaimed under legislation, which requires the landholder to control or eradicate these weeds.

Climbers and Creepers
Grasses, Bulbs and Groundcover
Trees and Shrubs
Other Weeds of Concern

How do weeds spread?

Environmental weeds via seed, fruit or cuttings can be dispersed in many ways:

Naturally - including wind, stormwater, birds, ants, animals and humans (with seed attached to faeces, fur, feathers, shoes and clothes)
Artificially - such as vehicles, gardening equipment, dumping of garden waste or moving contaminated soil or mulch
Garden escapees
Vegetative cultivation where weeds have runners, bulbs and tubers

Weed control techniques

Prevention (do not reuse or dump garden waste). Garden rubbish should be disposed of in the food and garden waste bin as this waste will be heat-treated and turned to compost.
Remove by hand ensuring the whole plant, including roots, is removed.
Cut trunk / stem as near to the ground as possible and paint with herbicide immediately on the cut surface.
Cut stems on aerial growth to destroy climbing vines.
Drill several holes in the trunk and fill with herbicide.
Spot spray with herbicide to minimise damage to non-targeted plants.
Dig it out ensuring the whole plant, including roots, is removed.
Always seek expert advice before using chemical control methods and proceed with caution.

For more information on weed identification, control measures and appropriate herbicides contact:

Monash Council's Horticultural Team on 9518 3555.
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) Customer Service Centre on 136 186.
For advice on suitable replacement plants and species that are indigenous to the City of Monash: Horticultural Team on 9518 3555.

Climbers & Creepers

Name and Details	Image
Blackberry -Rubus fructicous Flowering Time: Early Summer Seeding Time. Berries late Summer to early Autumn Control Time. October to April Control Techniques. Cut stem/aerial, spray, dig out
Wandering Trad -Tradescantia fluminensis Flowering time. Summer Vegetative reproduction only Control Time. All year Control Techniques. Remove by hand, spray
Bluebell Creeper -Sollya heterophylla Flowering Time. Spring to Summer Seeding Time. Autumn to Winter Control Time. August to February Control Techniques. Remove by hand, cut stem/aerial, dig out
Cleavers -Galium aparine Flowering Time. Late Winter to Spring Seeding Time. Summer Control Time. All year Control Techniques. Remove by hand, spray
English Ivy -Hedera helix Flowering Time. Late Autumn Winter Seeding Time. Berries in Winter to Spring (re-grows from small pieces) Control Time. All year Control Techniques. Remove by hand, cut stem/aerial, spray
Japanese Honeysuckle -Lonicera japonica Flowering Time. Spring to Summer Seeding Time. Berries in late Summer to Autumn (also reproduces vegetatively) Control Time. All year Control Techniques. Remove by hand, cut stem/aerial, spray

Grasses, Bulbs & Groundcover

Name and Details	Image
African Lily or Agapanthus -Agapanthus spp. Flowering Time: Early Summer Seeding Time. Late summer to Early Autumn Control Time. All year Control Techniques. Remove by hand, dig out
Black Nightshade -Solanum nigrum Flowering Time: Spring Seeding Time. Summer to Autumn Control Time. July to September Control Techniques. Remove by hand
Angled onion -Allium triquetrum Flowering Time: Winter to Spring (strong onion smell) Seeding Time. Late Spring to Summer Control Time. April to August Control Techniques. Remove by hand, spray, dig out
Drain Flat Sedge -Cyperus eragrostis Flowering Time: Spring Seeding Time. Summer Control Time. All year Control Techniques. Remove by hand, spray
Soursob - Oxalis pes-caprae Flowering Time: Spring (yellow flower) Seeding Time. Summer Control Time. All year Control Techniques. Remove by hand, spray
Large Quaking Grass -Briza maxima Flowering Time: Winter to Spring Seeding Time. Spring to early Summer Control Time. June to September Control Techniques. Remove by hand
Monbretia -Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora Flowering Time: Spring to Summer Seeding Time. Autumn (also reproduces by corms) Control Time. August to September Control Techniques. Remove by hand, dig out, spray
Panic Veltd Grass -Ehrharta erecta Flowering Time: All year Seeding Time. All year Control Time. All year Control Techniques. Remove by hand, spray
Pampas Grass -Cortaderia selloana Flowering Time: Summer to Autumn Seeding Time. Winter to Spring Control Time. All year Control Techniques. Spray, dig out
Sweet Vernal Grass -Anthoxanthum odoratum Flowering Time: All year Seeding Time. All year Control Time. Winter to Spring Control Techniques. Remove by hand, spray
Yorkshire Fog -Holcus lanatus Flowering Time: Spring to Summer Seeding Time. Summer to Autumn Control Time. All year Control Techniques. Remove by hand, spray
White Arum Lily -Zantedeschia aethiopica Flowering Time: Late Winter to early Spring Seeding Time. Late Spring to early Summer Control Time. All year Control Techniques. Remove by hand, spray

Trees & Shrubs

Name and Details	Image
Cape or Montpellier Broom -Genista monspessulana Flowering Time: Spring Seeding Time. Pods in Summer Control Time. June to November Control Techniques. Remove by hand, cut stem/aerial, spray
Sweet Pittosporum –Pittosporumundulatum Flowering Time: Early Spring Seeding Time. Autumn to Winter Control Time. All year Control Techniques. Remove by hand, cut stem/aerial, drill and fill
Cherry Plum -Prunus cerasifera Flowering Time: Winter to Spring Seeding Time. Fruit in Summer Control Time. September to April Control Techniques. Remove by hand, cut stem/aerial, drill and fill
Mirror Bush -Coprosma repens Flowering Time: Late Spring to early Summer Seeding Time. Late Summer to early Spring Control Time. All year Control Techniques. Remove by hand, cut stem/aerial, drill and fill
Cotoneaster -Cotoneaster spp Flowering Time: Spring Seeding Time. Berries in late Summer to Autumn Control Time. All year Control Techniques. Remove by hand, cut stem/aerial, drill and fill
Gorse -Ulex europaeus Flowering Time: Spring to Summer Seeding Time. Summer Control Time. All year Control Techniques. Remove by hand, cut stem/aerial, spray
Willows -Salix spp. Flowering Time: Spring Seeding Time. Summer Control Time. September to April Control Techniques. Cut stem/aerial, drill and fill
Privet -Ligustrum lucidum Flowering Time: Spring to Summer Seeding Time. Berries in Winter Control Time. All year Control Techniques. Remove by hand, cut stem/aerial, drill and fill