Weeds and keeping control of them on your property is an ongoing chore when you’re a resident in the Waitakeres.
There is a community initiative the Waiatarua Weed Taskforce, a group of volunteers who work on each others property to help give some reprieved. If you would like to join this group and can actively participate a mininum of once every few months for an hour, contact: rita@waiatarua.org.nz to be added to the list.
Some advice:
- Get a schedule going – the two times of the year that will require the most attention are spring and autumn – so put aside a weekend during both of these seasons to get on top of the emerging weeds.
- You will need to then follow up with some further smaller weed control bursts – once every couple of months through the summer and winter.
- At a bare minimum cut the tops off flowers (especially wild ginger)
- Where you strip away weeds – don’t leave the area bare – plant natives they will block out light and make it harder for the weeds to grow back.
- Be careful what you bring on to your property, mulch, straw, soil even borrowed machinery such as spades and wheelbarrows can all harbour weed seeds for species you may not have on your property.
- Learn to enjoy it, its great physical exercise and can be very rewarding!
If you’re overwhelmed there is some help to get you on top of things, to a place where you can at least take the power back. Try the following for help:
- The Waiatarua Weed Taskforce: rita@waiatarua.org.nz
- Ecomatters (Weed Free Trust) info@weedfree.org.nz or ph: 09 826 4276
Priority weeds
The most invasive weeds in the Waiatarua are below:
- Climbing asparagus
- Wild ginger
- Jasmine
- Tradescantia (Wandering Jew)