Johns Hill Landcare Group Emerald

Take a photo and tell us the location.

Weeds of late Autumn and Summer
We can help work out what you can do with most weeds and know where to get information. Far better to act now than just leave it because it is all too hard.

Tree Tobacco

Big furry leaves. Smells. Some people allergic. Spreading rapidly in Emerald. Grows very fast to several metres high. Blackbirds love the fruit.
Pull out seedlings (up to 1metre). Cut and dab trees up to 10cm in diameter. >10cm drill and fill trees

See Yarra Ranges website on technique

Wandering Trad

• The most difficult weed to control! Requires frequent attention but not necessarily a lot of time.

• Mark edge of infestation with stakes so you remember how bad it was when you started.

• Work in from edges VERY carefully getting all the bits out of the ground as even tiny bits grow again.

• BAG all trad and dispose of in green bin (you can leave in sun in black bag and it will turn to soil after a year but risk is the bag will also get holes in it and trad will spread.)

• Also remove trad from around plants that may be growing in the site. And, very importantly, get it out of the creek as floodwaters wash the trad down the creek infecting new areas.

• It is useful to mark where you get up to each time.

• OR get a good contractor.

See Yarra Ranges website on technique

English Ivy

If it’s up a tree then get it! This is where it flowers and has fruit and the blackbirds eat the fruit and spread the seeds with their droppings. In one house near a tree with vast amounts of ivy we saw over 200 seedlings in just one year.
Cut and paint the stems going up the tree on BOTH the ones going to the ground, and the ones going up the tree. This little beastie is amazing as it gets food and water from the bark of the trees so just cutting it’s feet/roots off doesn’t kill it.

Angle onion

Dig all bulbs out especially in early stage before it multiplies. Dump in bin. Won’t compost.

You can cut your workload by over 50% by using the right techniques and timing when dealing with your weeds.
Help is only as far as a phone call. And there are many sources of information. The worst thing you can do is leave it yet another year!
Get help today – even if you feel like you are asking a stupid question! Acting now will save you time, work and money.

• See Shire of Yarra Ranges website for weed id and control techniques

• Cardinia Weed Directory

The story so far...
This was the plaintive cry from many when weeds spreading over the hill and along the creeks in and around Emerald. The change from ‘farmer’ to ‘tree changer’ was taking its toll as residents who might love the surrounds struggled to know how to manage their land and find the time to do it.
Johns Hill Landcare set out to answer the question.

In partnership with Cardinia Council we researched what were barriers/incentives to landholders doing their weeds. We tested the research findings in a pilot and confirmed them. A long-term program is underway based on findings: skilled facilitator creates and supports Weed Neighbourhoods providing appropriate information and financial incentives.

The results have been presented at several forums: Victorian 25th Anniversary of Landcare Conference in Melbourne in 2011, Weed Society Conference in 2012, Cardinia Shire Councillors in 2013, Biodiversity Across Borders in 2015 (Poster) Conference.

Similar work with residents was happening in other areas of the Dandenongs. A What Works? workshop for practitioners was held to compare results and agree on key strategies. It was agreed that neighbourhoods, skilled facilitators were very important along with access funds.

This research is the basis of Johns Hill’s strategy for tackling weeds both on private land in Weed Neighbourhoods, and on government land.

“For those of us who love the hills and the joy of what is around us, we are truly blessed, but take a closer look, and like myself you will find a silent creeping enemy, in my case five enemies!
Blackberry, ragwort, holly, pittosporum and enemy number one: TREE TOBACCO. We have a beautiful waterway at the bottom of our property, and the above mentioned enemies were in full attack, and winning the war, if not for the advice of a brilliant arborist (Cameron Ryder) (that would be my son); his advice was to get in touch with the shire, and that is where the start of the demise of the enemies started, thanks to Mel Komisarcyk and her team from Landcare, watch this space.”