South East Queensland Ecological Restoration Framework: Manual

5.3.3.3 Scrape-paint
Scrape as much of the stem as possible (one side of the stem)
using a knife and apply herbicide to the scrape. Leave a small
section of the vine unscraped, and then twist the vine so that
the next scrape is made on the opposite side of the stem to
the preceding scrape. Continue along the length of the vine,
scraping and painting as much of the stem as possible, with
scraping to be concentrated along the thicker stems close
to the root of the plant. This is the best method to use for
madeira vine, as it allows the chemical to translocate to the
Figure 6 – Scrape-Paint
underground storage organs and aerial tubers which may be
hanging in large clusters above head height. This avoids the potential problem of tubers from cut stems
left hanging in the trees from dropping to the ground and sprouting. When scraping madeira vine stems
a deep scrape is advisable – scrape right through to the fibrous, stringy section of the stem, taking care
not to sever the vine. This method is also suitable for treatment of ochna. Case Study 3 describes how this
method was used successfully to control cat’s claw creeper (Macfadyena unguis-cati).
5.3.3.4 Over-spraying
Over-spraying involves the use of knapsacks or power sprayers
to treat large expanses of weed such as lantana thickets. The
foliage must be covered with herbicide but not to the point
of running off the plant. The dead plants remain in place
and can be cut down at a later stage or left in situ to provide
protection for emerging seedlings. Prior to over-spraying, any
weeds that are growing closely around established native
plants must be hand removed or treated by cut-scrape-paint.
It may be necessary to cut access tracks so that all sections of
Figure 7 – Over-spraying
the expanse of weed are easily reached by the operator. Tracks
that are cut must take into account the distance that the chemical can be projected, which will depend
on the equipment that is being used. Generally, power sprayers can project the chemical further than is
possible with a knapsack, though power spraying is often not suitable on sites where native plants are
present due to the likelihood of off-target damage. Native and exotic vines may take advantage of the
dead frames and timely follow-up is necessary.
Over-spraying is advantageous as it leaves the dead plants intact to prevent erosion and over-exposure
of large areas, protects native seedlings from herbivores such as wallabies, retains the structure and
avoids trampling by humans. Leave the sprayed plants intact for as long as possible so that native
seedlings can establish under the shelter provided.
Boom spraying is of limited application for most ecological restoration work, however, it may
occasionally be useful when preparing large areas for planting (either Reconstruction or Fabrication).
5.3.3.5 Splatter gun
This small gas-powered injector kit is fitted into a knapsack for easy carrying and delivers large
droplets in a stream over the weed. The gun is used to deliver a concentrated herbicide (glyphosate
or metsulfuron methyl) across large dense expanses of weed. The method is used for species such as
lantana (ratio of 1:9 of glyphosate:water). Splatter gun involves spraying strips at one to two metre
intervals over the thicket. The herbicide is then translocated throughout the entire plant. Because it is
gas-powered, the splatter gun can project the herbicide long distances, reducing the number of access
tracks that need to be cut prior to spraying in large or difficult to access sites. The method does not
require the whole plant to be covered as in over-spray.
SEQ Restoration Framework
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MANUAL