First Hand Experiences in Managing Different ... - Weeds Australia

was considered to be very effective at killingA. africanus with little damage to other plants.Crowning involves either cutting and removingthe crown directly from the adjoining root systemor cutting into the crown and applying herbicide.Initially, fluroxypyr or glyphosate was used but,more recently, fluroxypyr has been abandonedas it was considered to be no more effective thanglyphosate for this purpose.5. Managing other invasive vinesIpomoea cairica (mile a minute) is the otherinvasive vine in these areas that requires aggressivemanagement. It is managed in the same way asA. africanus except that 2,4-D-based products areused as they are considered to be more effectivethan fluroxypyr-based chemicals.Follow-up monitoring: making the effortworthwhileUntil 2010, there were only anecdotal indicatorsof any real success. After this, new assessment andmonitoring practices were implemented. Withinthe reserves, the exact frequency and volumeof treatment to be undertaken varies. However,history indicates that a minimum of four individualinterventions per growing season are required toensure positive success. Since 2008, a clear trendtowards better recruitment of native plant speciesand a reduction in A. africanus density has beenobserved. Annual site evaluations are conductedto assess the overall increase or reduction inweed densities as well as other outcomes such asdisturbance created through treatment and weedhygiene management practices.After Asparagus africanus control it looks like the weed is gone, butfollow-up monitoring and control is now critical to ensure that it staysthat wayPhoto-monitoring is used at these locations, butwith limited success to date due to:• seasonal variation causing difficultydistinguishing between weeds and desirablevegetation in photos,• symptoms of recent herbicide damagedemonstrating short-term weed suppressionin photos that may not necessarily translate tolong-term management,• difficulty in observing species succession from alandscape photograph, and• pickets or other markers used to guide thephotographer back to the same location oftenbeing moved or stolen.To enhance monitoring efforts, steps are nowunderway to set up mounted time-lapse camerasand permanent transects.Brisbane City Council has also commenced aproactive weed survey program that employscontractors to assemble a complete inventory ofpriority weeds within core reserves to developa strategic framework for their management andprovide a baseline measurements. Boondall Reservewas a pilot site for this activity in 2011 and wasmonitored again in 2013. The 2013 survey indicatedthat, since 2011, there was a 20% reduction of A.africanus in most parts of the site and limited tono increase in infestations in adjoining areas. Theaim set by Brisbane City Council to contain andgradually reduce A. africanus within these areas isclearly being realised.102