We had a good day for our Woody Weed Control day. We had a big focus on English Gorse, which is very common in our area. A big thanks to Partnership Against Pests via AgVic for the funding, Mitchell Shire Council, Victorian Gorse Taskforce, SpotOn Drones and Mountain View Contracting with their amazing Ecoblade gorse solution.
A few key facts about English Gorse:
- Historically it was seen as a symbol of fertility due to its abiliy to propagate and its resilience
- It was introduced to Australia in the early 1800’s and was thought to be a good way of creating living farm fences
- It regenerates after burning so fire is not a good control method
- It is considered one of the most invasive weeds in Victoria.
At the field day we looked at a few practical approaches for tackling established gorse: cut-and-dab, mechanical treatment using the Ecoblade, and emerging drone-based methods.
Cut-and-dab is simple and low-impact: the stem is cut close to the ground and glyphosate is applied directly to the fresh cut. It needs to be done immediately, before the plant seals, and it avoids overspray while using relatively small amounts of chemical.
The Ecoblade, demonstrated by Mountain View Contracting in Gisborne, combines cutting and herbicide delivery in a single controlled action. Rather than spraying foliage, the herbicide is placed directly onto the cut surface. It’s useful for dense patches, tight access and places where broadcast spraying isn’t suitable.
We also had Spoton Drones on site. They showed how drone application can be used in steep, sensitive or inaccessible terrain, and how precision mapping and targeted delivery may reduce chemical use and off-target impact. It’s an evolving space, but it’s already proving useful in difficult country.
A core theme through the day was safe chemical use: correct mixing, PPE, record keeping, understanding weather conditions and knowing when not to spray. Tools and technology help, but responsible handling is essential.
We plan to run another full-day ACUP course in the new year for those wanting to build confidence and capability. Let us know in the comments if you want to know more