Weeds

Chickweed

Description: Two species of chickweed are common in container nurseries, common chickweed and mouseear chickweed. Both are more common in cooler weather, but once established may persist into summer. Prolific seed production spreads easily during hand weeding. Common chickweed has nearly hairless leaves and stems. Mouseear chickweed has distinctly hairy stems and leaves.

Control: Apply Rout at 100kg/hectare
or 1kg/100m² or 10g/m².

Creeping Oxalis

Description: Several species are common in container nurseries. Most common are creeping forms, prevalent in cool seasons, but will persist through the summer. Seeds are forcefully expelled 1-3 metres away. Seeds have no dormancy and may germinate quickly. Harbours whitefly and mites.

Identifying characteristics: Heart shaped leaflets on trifoliolate leaves and cylindrical seed pods.

Control: Apply Rout at 100kg/hectare or 1kg/100m² or 10g/m².

Flickweed

Description: Several closely related winter annuals in the mustard family. The most common cool-season weed in nurseries but can persist and spread year round in shaded, moist environments. Prolific seeder. Seeds are forcefully expelled 1-2 metres away. Seeds have no dormancy. Harbours whitefly and mites. Implicated as alternative host for some nursery crop diseases.

Control: Apply Rout at 100kg/hectare or 1kg/100m² or 10g/m².

Sowthistle

Winter annual weeds form a rosette of waxy leaves with variable leaf margins. In warm weather plants may shoot to 1 metre tall. Flowers are yellow, seed head is similar to dandelion.

Control: Apply Rout at 100kg/hectare or 1kg/100m² or 10g/m².