Hey there everyone, I'm on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria and involved in a few bushland groups down that way and am currently trying to find productive uses for some of the weeds being selectively removed from some of the Peninsula's reserves. At the moment it feels like a wasted resource. Grasses and ground flora are easier (chickens/hot composts) but am struggling to think of logistically appealing ways to use some of the woody weed resources (species like Boneseed - chrysanthemoides monilifera, sweet pittosporum - pittosporum undulatum and African Daisy - senecio pterophorus in particular) Any particular uses for woody weeds that anyone's found and can share? Much appreciated Paul
Hi Paul and welcome, Although I'm not familiar with the species you mention, I'm wondering whether they could be chipped along with any tree branches you might have and used as a mulch?
9ANDA1F Thanks for the reply, much appreciated. Absolutely - at this stage chipping is the best option but with only sporadic access to a chipper at the moment I was looking for additional uses, particularly value-adding uses - also a few species (like coprosma repens) are unable to be chipped without producing very weed-rich mulch. Cheers again
if there is a chance of the material causing further problems if there are seeds or viable roots or such, i could see that the moving of it would be a potential problem (spreading along roads and any spots where it comes to rest). my best thoughts on it would be chop and drop in place as then you are not spreading the problem and giving the nutrients back to the place where it was grown. chipping or chopping shouldn't really be needed as in most places the longer a mulch can stick around the better. another thought would be to make piles, cover it up and then light it on fire to char it. then you have a lighter material to move if you need to and it won't spread the weeds themselves.
Hey Songbird, cheers for the reply yes, the chop and drop method is currently in practice, but leaving the weeds in situ is causing smothering issues, preventing recruitment of indigenous species - I'm in the incipient stages of trying to move contractors away from the culture of herbicide application and leaving weeds on site and towards a culture of harvesting. Long road I know Your point about the mulch is great - I'll think on it thanks again