It can sometimes seem like no matter how much weed killer you use and how often you tend to your garden, noxious weeds in NZ still seem to take hold.

As they nestle their way in between your prized peonies and other lovely plants, it can be hard to notice that they aren’t a plant you love but, rather, common weeds NZ homeowners have to contend with every day.

If you don’t have green fingers, you may not know what they are and how to get rid of them. Allow us to shed some light on the most common and noxious weeds in NZ and what you can do about them.

Oxalis

If you’ve read our previous piece about Oxalis, then you’ll know this creeping weed is not something most homeowners like. It’s a rhizomatous flowering plant that’s genuinely quite beautiful but is definitely a frustrating weed.

It’s toxic to animals and even us in high doses, and it can be tricky to eradicate once it’s in your garden. However, there are few different ways you may be able to get rid of it.

Try baking soda mixed with warm water or even boiling water. Some people also have luck with a product called Death to Oxalis, which burns the leaves and weakens the plant, starving it.

 

English Ivy

Rumour has it that every time you say “English ivy”, a gardener falls to their knees and weeps. Out of all weeds in lawns and gardens, English ivy in NZ would have to be one of the most persistent and frustrating.

It takes over walls, fences, and trees and even manages to form ground cover if given a chance. It’s also spread by birds and green waste, which means it’s almost impossible to avoid. However, you can get rid of it.

Use a paintbrush to cover the ivy with metsulfuron-methyl 600g/k. However, this method is not suitable if ivy is spreading over trees. Products containing 100g picloram+300g triclopyr/L (60ml/10L) may also be appropriate, but you can ask your local lawn care provider for their advice.

 

Periwinkle

Don’t be fooled by the beauty of this lovely green cover plant with purple flowers. Sure, it’s attractive, but it’s also quite damaging. This evergreen perennial grows quickly and forms a mat of vegetation with tough stems.  

It can grow so thickly and densely that it smothers native plants and stops them from regenerating. We’re also afraid to tell you that getting rid of it is hard work. This plant can actually stop herbicides from moving to the rhizomes, and then it can resprout. One of the best approaches to its removal is digging it out, so you might have to get dirty for this one.

 

Broad-Leaved Dock

Out of the many different common weeds NZ homeowners have to deal with, broad-leaved dock is among the most prevalent. It’s a perennial weed with a taproot system that seems to survive well in nearly all environments.

It can survive lawn mowing and cultivation, which means standard practices don’t tend to phase this frustrating plant. However, applying high rates of glyphosate seems to be one of the most appropriate control measures available.

 

Foxglove

As lovely as foxgloves look and as suitable as they are for many gardens across New Zealand, they can also become a weed. Foxgloves can also be poisonous to humans and livestock, which is why many homeowners may not want them in their garden.

Fortunately, this noxious weed in NZ can be managed. Biodegradable weed killers for foxglove weeds are available, and you can replant the area within seven days.

 

Hemlock

Hemlock is a foul-smelling biennial weed that is poisonous and unwanted. It has smooth stems, a thick taproot, and some red and purple colouring mixed in with green.

This noxious weed can also cause birth defects if eaten by pregnant animals. Fortunately, hemlock tends to grow in isolated patches, but it can also be quite prevalent in new pastures. Studies at Massey University have found that bentazone and flumetsulam are among the best control measures for hemlock.

 

Thistles

Thistles are prickly annual-perennial weeds with taproots that most homeowners have some experience with. They grow in waste areas of gardens and even in lawns, and we have several different species here in Aotearoa.

Among the most common are Californian thistle, star thistle, Scotch thistle, and nodding thistle. The most challenging to control is Californian thistle, which is identifiable by its purple flower.

 

Take Charge of Your Weeds

The problem with weeds is that they don’t seem to give up. You could spend hours of your free time tackling them, only for them to grow back. Free up your time by leaving weeds, lawn mowing, and other property tasks to the experts. Your local property maintenance experts are just a phone call away.