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Now Is The Time To Spray For BlackberriesEarly autumn to late spring is the season of growth and it is also the best time to spray blackberry. Latrobe City Council and Landcare are urging landholders to ensure they treat blackberry infestations By Latrobe City - 7th November 2013 - Back to News to protect the environment.
Landcare Network Coordinator for the Latrobe Catchment, Megan Hughes, advised that the best time to spray was after the bushes have started flowering and are actively growing.
"There are multiple ways of treating blackberry, including hand removal, cutting and pasting or using machinery such as a brush-cutter or slasher for a few years in a row. Using multiple methods is usually the best approach and having a management plan up on a wall will remind you when to treat and re-treat the various weeds through the year," Ms Hughes said.
Latrobe City Council’s mayor, Councillor Sandy Kam, said that blackberry was a regionally controlled weed within Latrobe City and landowners had a responsibility under the Catchment and Land Protection Act (1994) to reduce its growth and spread.
"Latrobe City Council officers and contractors will again monitor and treat blackberry on Council’s rural roadsides this spring and summer. To be effective we all need to work together to control this weed. Agriculture, forestry and nature tourism are all important industries within Latrobe City which can be affected by poor blackberry management and landowners who fail to treat their blackberries jeopardise the efforts of the wider community," Cr Kam said.
Herbicide treatment tips
· Spray in the period while the plant is actively growing, usually between late Spring and early Autumn in Latrobe City. As a guide, look at the tips of the canes, in times of active growth these will be producing fresh new leaves.
· Avoid using herbicide spray on blackberries that are moisture-stressed or grazed heavily at the time of application.
· Spray regrowth when runners are at least 1 m long after slashing, burning or grazing to allow sufficient leaf area to absorb enough herbicide to control the root system.
· Ensure all canes and leaves are sprayed, including those growing from suckers away from the main bush.
· Consider using specialised herbicide spray when close to waterways to avoid killing wildlife.
· Choose a day that is calm and no rain is expected, ensuring spray doesn’t drift into unintended areas.
· Always follow the instruction on the label.
Disposal tips
· Out-of-date or unwanted herbicide can be registered for collection through www.chemclear.com.au for large quantities, or http://detox.sustainability.vic.gov.au for small quantities.
· Blackberry canes can be placed in Latrobe City greenwaste bins or taken to PineGro greenwaste facilities listed on the website www.Latrobe.vic.gov.au.
· Remember to cover your load and ensure plant material that can re-sprout is not dropped in transit.
· Do not dump garden waste over back fences or in bushland areas where it will re-sprout.
Further Advice
· For advice on managing blackberry or other weeds on your property, visit the Department of Environment and Primary Industries website – www.depi.vic.gov.au or call the Customer Service Centre on 136 186.
Media Enquiries:
Cr Sandy Kam, Latrobe City Mayor
Telephone: 0427 556 967
Cr Sharon Gibson, Latrobe City Deputy Mayor
Telephone: 0429 338 762
Media Relations Office
Telephone: 5128 5458
For general enquiries, contact Latrobe City Council on 1300 367 700.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com

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