The Weed Watchlist – Tackling the June Invaders
These three eco-invaders are widely considered some of the worst threats to New Zealand’s biodiversity. They spread aggressively, outcompete native plants, and can quickly dominate forests, reserves, and private properties if left untreated. June is the perfect time to strike them using highly targeted Cut’n’Paste Weed Gels.
Woolly Nightshade (Solanum mauritianum).
It grows aggressively into dense, interlocking thickets that completely block sunlight, preventing any native seedlings from germinating underneath. The leaves release a dusty toxin that can irritate your lungs, and it produces hundreds of toxic berries that birds spread rapidly.
- The Ultimate Eradicator: Picloram Weed Gel.
- How to Treat it: Cut the trunk horizontally close to the ground (about 50mm high) and immediately brush a thick, green layer of Picloram gel over the entire freshly cut stump surface. Read More here…
- Pro Tip: Always wear a good quality dust mask and long sleeves when cutting woolly nightshade. The tiny, furry hairs on the leaves easily shake loose as you chop, floating into the air. If inhaled or left on your skin, they cause severe respiratory irritation, coughing fits, and intense itching.
Wild Ginger (Hedychium gardnerianum / flavescens).
Wild ginger forms massive, heavy underground root networks (rhizomes) that can weigh hundreds of kilograms. It completely smothers the forest floor, blocking native plants and altering natural water drainage patterns. Left alone, it turns diverse native bush into a lifeless wasteland.
- The Ultimate Eradicator: Cut’n’Paste MetGel.
- How to Treat it: Cut the thick stems off at ground level and instantly paste the gel across the raw stump. Alternatively, you can slash the stems open and squeeze the gel inside the wound to let it sink directly into the bulb system. Read more here…
- Pro Tip: Don’t waste time trying to dig out massive ginger rhizomes in the heavy winter mud. Instead, slash the thick stems at a 45-degree angle to create a small “pocket” or cup, and squeeze your MetGel directly into it. The plant will naturally pool the herbicide deep into the root bulb for you.
Gorse (Ulex europaeus).
While it can act as a nurse plant for some native species, it easily outcompetes young native forest plantings. It creates an extreme wildfire hazard due to its highly flammable oils and dry dead wood underneath, and its seeds can remain viable in the soil for up to 40 years.
- The Ultimate Eradicator: Cut’n’Paste Bamboo Buster..
- How to Treat it: Gorse wood is incredibly tough, so the extra-strength glyphosate formulation in Bamboo Buster is required. Cut the main stems flat and paste the gel onto the wound within 10 to 15 seconds before the plant seals itself. Read more here…
- Pro Tip: Gorse has an incredibly fast self-healing defense mechanism. If you do not apply your Bamboo Buster gel within 15 seconds of making the cut, the stem will seal itself off, blocking the gel from reaching the roots. Keep your gel bottle uncapped and right next to your loppers as you work!
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.
Replacement Cut'n'Paste Brush Top and Cap