Weeds and pest plants

Weeds
Weeds are plants growing in the 'wrong' place. There are weeds that grow in our lawns and take over from the grasses which we want to encourage, then there are weeds that grow in our flowerbeds and obscure or strangle the vegetables and flowers we are trying to grow, often these are grasses! There are invasive exotic weeds such as gorse, broom and Old Man's Beard that threaten to take over areas of New Zealand and exclude the native species from their natural habitat. Herbicides (Weedkillers) are chemicals designed to safely kill weeds.

A. Non-selective weed killers will indiscriminately kill plants of all sorts usually via foliage. They are useful where there are only weeds or where it is possible to avoid spraying the leaves of the plants that are not to be killed.

B. Selective weed killers are herbicides that only harm specific types of weeds. For example, broad leaf weeds in lawns can be killed while leaving the grasses unharmed.

C. Non-systemic weed killers may only kill the foliage of a weed leaving the roots to sprout again and the weed to re grow.

D. Systemic weed killers are absorbed into the weed where they are transported through the plant's vascular system to all parts, including the roots, killing all the plant.

E. Bindweed and other creeping weeds spread by vegetative reproduction.

• These weeds can be killed back through the root systems of the whole group of associated plants. Mix up a strong solution of NO Hydrocotyle and Spray Stick in a container such as a small bucket or large jam jar. Cut a trailing stem of the weed and soak the cut end and several leaves in the NO Hydrocotyl for a few minutes. Make sure that none of the solution spills on other plants. Leave for several days and the weed killer will penetrate the plants combined root systems and kill them.

Sprouting Stumps
Sprouting stumps can be killed permanently using NO Stumps. When a tree or shrub is cut down the majority of the plant may be left in the ground as a substantial root system. The stump often re-sprouts with renewed vigour. Even if the stump is removed, some trees and shrubs will re-sprout from small pieces of the roots left in the ground.

• Treatment of the stump with NO Stumps will penetrate throughout the roots killing them completely. Then the stump can be left to rot or removed without risk of sprouting from root fragments.