Native geranium uncovered after removing weeds (W.Pix)
Over the coming weekends, Friends of Mt Majura will be holding a number of hand weeding sessions to tackle weeds growing under trees south of The Fair revegetation site. Depending on the weather, sessions are planned on either Sundays or Saturdays from 1 pm to 4 pm in the afternoon. Please watch this space for announcements of future sessions in June.
Hand weeding can be very satisfying and here is why:
- The removal of pompous weeds helps the more delicate native species to grow, thrive and spread.
- The loose soil under trees makes hand weeding an easy (if not pleasant) task; most weeds can be pulled.
- Clearing the pesky undergrowth of a tree is a goal achievable in one session.
A carpet of native geraniums after removing weeds (W.Pix).
Our next hand weeding session will be this coming Saturday. Please follow the hygiene steps outlined below, choose your personal weeding patch along the yellow line shown on below map and go wild on weeds – one tree at a time.
When: Saturday 30 May 2020, from 1 pm to 4 pm
Where: Nature reserve south of The Fair, North Watson; we will focus our weeding efforts on trees along the yellow line shown on this map; please register your participation at the volunteer registration table, nature park entrance intersection Tay Street and Ian Nicol Street, The Fair.
What: Removal of herbaceous weeds growing under trees.
Bring: Please BYO drinking water, garden gloves and a small mattock or your favourite weeding tool if you have one; however, most weeds can be pulled; please wear long pants and sleeves, a hat and enclosed shoes. We will provide hand sanitizer and some cleaned tools.
Uncovered: Delicate young native geraniums with cotyledons (top left), Wattle mat rushes (centre) and three tiny young Creeping saltbush – can you find them? (W.Pix)
Hygiene practice: Use a hand sanitizer provided at the volunteer registration table; choose your personal one-way pair of gloves (there are 3 sizes); sign in the activity sheet; put your own garden gloves over the top of the one-way gloves or choose one pair provided at the registration table; choose your alcohol-wiped weeding tool, however, most weeds growing in the loose soil under trees can be pulled without a tool.
Inquires: projects@majura.org
Why hand weeding? FoMM volunteers use various methods to control herbaceous weeds. We spot-spray them with selective herbicides when they are in an early rosette stage and when they grow in open areas, where the risk of the collateral damage to native groundcover plants is small. We prefer hand weeding where native groundcover plants are prevalent, when weeds are already developing seeds or where weeds grow under trees to avoid an upwards drift of small herbicide droplets that have the potential to damage trees.
Trashbags with seeding weeds ready for pick up and composting at “Sand and Gravel” (W.Pix).
