Control Method for Arum Lily

As promised last Sunday, here is a good control method for Arum Lily (per Anthony). This is based on the active ingredient glyphosate (eg Roundup) and doesn't require any metsulfuron-methyl (eg Brushoff) which is expensive and poses a high risk of off-target damage to native vegetation.

Firstly...

Effective control requires:
1. Preventing seed set by removing the short-lived soil seed bank.
2. Killing the significant below ground rhizome which can be resistant to above ground control measures.

The thick waxy resistant leaves mean foliar applications of herbicides have very little effect on the underground rhizome. However, cutting the plants off at ground level and swabbing the soft stumps with herbicides containing glyphosate is an effective way of killing the rhizome with very little off target damage to the surrounding vegetation. This can be achieved with relatively little effort.

The Method...

Tools
• Sharp knife to cut stems
• Spray bottle with adjustable nozzle (to spray), or sponge-topped plastic bottle (to swab).

Herbicide mix
• Glyphosate (1 part) and water (5 parts). Buy the 360g/L product.
• penetrant (see label for dilution rates)
• dye (e.g. EnviroDye)

Important to mix well.

Method
• Cut the stem(s) close to or at ground level.
• Apply the herbicide mix (spray or swab) to the cut stems within a few seconds of cutting.
• Take care near water to avoid contamination

When to control
• Control can occur any time between June and September before plants begin to set seed.
• Ideally control should commence as the first flowers appear.

OTHER INFORMATION:

Where to get ingredients for the herbicide mix:

Coopers - Mylor
258 Strathalbyn Road, Mylor, SA, phone (08) 8388 5304
http://www.coopersrural.com.au/

Macspred - Wingfield
7 Rosberg Road, Wingfield SA 5013.
Tel. (08) 8262 6944

Factsheet: "Using Glyphosate"
http://www.amlrnrm.sa.gov.au/Portals/2/pest_animals_plants/RCU_-_Using_Glyphosate.pdf


All the best!
Tim