July Weed Watchlist: Banish The Bush Stranglers!

As the mid-winter chill sets in and we look to the stars to celebrate Matariki, it is a traditional time for reflection, renewal, and looking after the land (kaitiakitanga). If you are looking for a meaningful environmental resolution this winter, liberating your property or local reserve from invasive climbing vines is the perfect place to start with highly targeted Cut’n’Paste Weed Gels.

Old Man’s Beard
**(Clematis vitalba)**

The Target: A rampant, fast-growing deciduous climber that smothers established trees, entirely blocking out sunlight until the canopy collapses under the weight.

Winter Identification: Look for a massive climber with long, woody stems featuring six distinct ridges and pale brown, stringy bark that flakes off easily to the touch. While it drops its leaves in autumn, it leaves behind dense, fluffy, grey-white clusters of feathery seeds that hang like a dirty woollen beard all through winter.
The Solution: Cut’n’Paste Glimax Professional (Engineered specifically for heavy-duty woody vines with a blue tracking dye).
The Pro Technique: If the vine is massive, cut out a 30cm “window” section near the ground line. This ensures you don’t accidentally miss a hidden secondary stem keeping the upper vine alive. Immediately (within 30 seconds!) paste the freshly cut stump with a thick layer of Glimax. For smaller seedlings, you can bypass cutting altogether and paint the gel directly onto the undersides of the leaves, where the plant’s breathing pores draw it straight to the roots.

**English Ivy (Hedera helix)**

The Target: An aggressive ground-smotherer and vertical climber. It prevents native seed germination on the forest floor and scales mature trees, trapping dampness against the bark which causes rot.

Winter Identification: Instantly recognisable by its thick ground carpets and climbing curtains. Look for leathery, dark green leaves with prominent, pale veins. Mature growth features clusters of small greenish-yellow flowers followed by dull black berries.
The Solution: Cut’n’Paste MetGel (Formulated with Metsulfuron-methyl to conquer resilient, creeping root mats).
The Pro Technique: Ivy’s glossy, waxy upper leaf surface acts as a natural shield against liquids. However, the underside of the leaf is highly porous. For extensive ground carpets, skip the tedious cutting and wipe MetGel directly onto the undersides of the foliage across the mat.
Crucial Winter Tip: Because MetGel takes slightly longer to translocate through Ivy’s network, always check the forecast and apply during a stretch of dry weather to prevent winter rain from washing the gel away.

**Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)**

The Target: A tough, wiry vine that forms dense, tangled mats. It twines tightly around native saplings, strangling their trunks and preventing normal growth.

Year-Round Identification: * September to May (Spring–Autumn): Most visible due to its sweetly scented, tubular white flowers that age to a distinct yellow.
- June to August (Winter): The stems turn heavily woody and twine strictly in a clockwise direction. The shiny dark green leaves react to the winter chill by developing wavy or lobed edges (resembling mini oak leaves), alongside small, glossy black berries.
The Solution: Cut’n’Paste Bamboo Buster (Double-strength formula designed for systematic stem-by-stem clearance).
The Pro Technique: Japanese Honeysuckle is famous for “layering”—striking brand-new root systems wherever the running vines touch damp winter soil. Gently lift the tangled mats to locate these smaller, hidden rooting points. Snip them and apply Bamboo Buster directly to the cuts, or paste the undersides of the leaves in dense patches where the main base cannot be reached.

Need to Identify a Different Weed?

Not sure what’s growing in your garden or facing a particularly stubborn invader not listed above? We’ve got you covered. Our comprehensive Cut’n’Paste Weed Directory is your ultimate field guide to identifying and eliminating New Zealand’s most common (and uncommon) weeds.

Pro Tip: Keep our Cut’n’Paste Weed Directory bookmarked on your phone! It’s the easiest way to identify a weed on the spot, choose the perfect gel for the job, and find the exact “plan of attack” needed to clear it out for good.
Remember to wear gloves and follow the instructions on the label.