This section provides  instructions for the control of the more common weed species on Waikato lowlands.

General overview of a typical weed control programme:

We find it helpful to classify weeds as chronic or acute. The acute weeds are readily controlled by shade as the planting matures.  Chronic weeds are more persistent although may be slower to establish. They are not so readily controlled by shade because they  tolerate shade (wandering dew), are climbers (honeysuckle) or are tall (willow). Some, like gorse, lie somewhere between the two categories.

Step 1 Woody Weeds. Control the woody weeds like grey and crack willow, privet etc and the climbers like honeysuckle and jasmine to provide access or spraying the herbaceous weeds f. Allowing access to spray must be a consideration in the disposal of branches.

 Step 2 Spraying. A typical spray programme will control soft tissue species with appropriate herbicide sprays;  a combination of glyphosate (Roundup) and trichlopyr (Grazon) will control most species.
Use glyphosate to control grasses, allowing exposure, particularly, of wandering dew. Metsulphuron methyl (Escort) is useful for those broadleaved weeds that Trichlopyr  is less effective on.

 Wandering dew will re-grow from a single stem node. Total control will only be achieved by repeated treatment allowing time for dead material to rot down and then allowing any viable nodes to shoot before repeating the application. Successive applications should require less spraying and any other weeds on the site are also likely to be well controlled by this regime.