Gorse Control |
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Gorse Control Common Name: Gorse Scientific Name: Ulex europaeus Description: Gorse is a perennial shrub that is distinctive by it’s bright yellow pea-like flowers and evergreen spines. It can grow to 3-4 metres tall. Found throughout New Zealand it is a very hardy plant that can survive hot and cold weather conditions. Positive attributes include; the plant has nitrogen fixing ability and that it can act as a nursery plant for forestry seedlings or regenerating native bush. Problem: The main problem is the affect the plant has on farm pasture. The first is that it is quick growing and due to it’s spiny nature, it forms thickets that are impenetrable to stock and humans. It produces large numbers of seeds in seed pods which explode open, enhancing seed distribution. Seed may last 100 years in the soil before conditions become suitable for germination. Burning stimulates regrowth. Management: Management for this plant is by using manual gorse control methods or herbicides. New growth is soft and can be grazed. There are biological gorse controls that have been released in New Zealand but this is currently not enough to control all gorse. Keep in mind that even if the plant is not on your land, bordering properties and road verges with gorse means that you need to be on the lookout for incoming plants. Gorse Control Methods:Manual methods of gorse control. For controlling small infestations and small plants, hand pulling the plants is an effective method. Other labour intensive methods of gorse control for larger plants include digging, slashing and cutting. Burning can also be done, but as mentioned earlier, this will stimulate more plant growth.Herbicide treatment via land based gun spraying or aerial spraying. After spring flowering is a good time to carry out a gorse control programme. It is important to do this before the seeds are set to reduce the soil seed bank. Cutting and stump pasting large plants is also effective and combines both manual and chemical methods.
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