Property owners have been warned that “now is the time” to take action against one of Australia’s “worst” invasive weeds, which is causing a crisis estimated to cost “tens of millions” of dollars to fix.
Serrated tussock continues to be a massive problem across Australia’s landscape despite being designated a weed of national concern way back in 1999. It continues to choke landscapes across the country due to its “amazing” ability to spread, and can take an incredulous 15 years to completely remove.
The noxious weed, which is present across the south-eastern regions of Australia, also poses a “serious threat” to agricultural industries because it’s not easily digestible by animals. If it becomes well established, it can cause pasture losses, force out native plants and increase the risk of bushfires due to the high temperatures at which it burns.
Agriculture Victoria told Yahoo News it is urging property owners to take urgent action because plants will soon start spreading their seeds.”
“They can release tens of thousands of seeds that travel great distances via wind and water, or via movement of machinery or fodder,” a spokesperson said. “Acting now to control infestations before they begin seeding is crucial.”
The seeds of the noxious weed can remain in the soil for up to 15 years. Source: Victorian Serrated Tussock Working Party
Serrated tussock’s ‘secret to success’ in Australia
Serrated tussock, also known as Nassella trichotoma, originally comes from South America and was “accidentally” introduced to Australia over a century ago. It’s estimated that it covers one million hectares of land, making it a “very successful weed”.
It was also cultivated as a type of ornamental grass for homeowners, according to Dr Carol Booth of the Invasive Species Council. She described it as “one of Australia’s worst weeds” because of its “amazing” ability to spread.
“A single large plant can produce more than 100,000 seeds,” she said. Those seeds can remain in the soil for up to 15 years, or even more, making getting rid of them arduous and costly. It has an extensive root system too, making it difficult to pull out of the ground.
Another dilemma is that while herbicides are commonly used to remove it, this will kill off native grasses too. What’s more, Dr Booth said the plant is now showing signs of herbicide resistance.
One of its “secrets to success” according to Dr Booth, is that it’s not palatable, meaning that livestock and grazing wildlife don’t eat it. “It’s not got much protein and a heap of fibre,” she explained. If livestock do eat it, they can get very sick and even “starve to death”.
Why is spring the best time to get rid of noxious weed?
The main way that the species spreads is through its seeds being blown in the wind. It can also be transported by water, animals walking on it as well as through people and machinery.
“You’d want to be jumping on seedlings and plants before they produce seeds,” Dr Booth explained about the imminent problem.
Landholders, community groups, and councils are encouraged to work with groups like the Victorian Serrated Tussock Working Party to develop local and sustainable community-led solutions for weed control.
According to its website, there is no single technique that should be relied on to control serrated tussock because every situation is different and requires different control methods.
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