No silver bullet: an integrated approach

ALG is the perfect weed: it spreads quickly, seeds fast and survives in many soils. No single measure works alone. Total eradication is often unrealistic; the achievable goal is to deplete the population to a level that's easy to keep under control.

Photo · to shoot

Five management priorities

Early detection and rapid action are the best strategies. Work through these in order, and keep coming back.

Reduce seed entry

Strict biosecurity: clean vehicles, quarantine new stock & monitor entry points.

Prevent seed set

Stop the next generation. Remove plants or treat before seeds set.

Remove adult plants

Deep-rooted tussocks out-compete pasture; take them out first.

Reduce the seed bank

Maintain competitive ground cover and keep treating newly germinated plants.

Remain vigilant

Monitor and re-treat, especially through warm, humid weather.

Combine cultural, physical & chemical control

Deployed in effective, successive combinations, these methods target the weed's weakest link: its feeble seedling.

Cultural

Pasture competition

Maintain year-round ground cover with summer-active species (kikuyu, fescue, cocksfoot) to mimic and out-compete ALG.

Soil fertility

Fertiliser and urea support desirable species so they crowd out ALG seedlings.

Grazing management

Rotational grazing lets pasture recover; ALG favours bare, overgrazed patches.

Pasture renovation

Full renovation is the fastest outcome for moderate-to-widespread infestations.

Physical

Hand pulling & hoeing

Rapid and effective for single plants; ensures the whole root system is removed.

Seed head removal

Secateur off and bag seed heads before uprooting, to stop seed spread.

Solarisation

Bagged plants "cooked" in sealed black plastic for 4–8 weeks.

Burning

Neutralises surface seed or stimulates a mass germination to then treat.

Chemical

Spot spraying

Best for individual plants and margins; use a coloured dye to track treated plants.

Wick wiping

Wipes herbicide onto tall ALG above pasture; needs a height difference.

Boom spraying

Blanket treatment for large, dense stands; must be followed by renovation and oversowing.

Drone spraying

Pricier, but enables accurate pre-spray mapping of inaccessible areas.

Chemical control is covered in depth on the Herbicides page, including registered products and spray calibration.

Set a realistic goal for your situation

Infestation

Characteristics

Goal

New emergence

New germination where there are no mature plants, a sign of fresh seed entry.

Eradicate

Scattered plants

Sparsely occurring mature plants with limited clustering.

Eradicate

Small patches

Small or sparse clusters, likely present for several seasons.

Control + eradicate

Medium density

Noticeable, persistent clusters, not yet out of control.

Control + renovate

Severe infestation

Extensive infestation where ALG is the predominant species.

Manage + renovate

The cheapest control is stopping seed getting in

Best-practice biosecurity is the most effective way to prevent regional spread. Establish a procedure for anyone visiting your property.

Identify weeds that are an infestation risk to your property.

Map existing infestations and update with new outbreaks.

Clean vehicles and machinery on entry and exit; a single point of entry helps.

Check undercarriage, blades and tyres for visible seeds or stems.

Quarantine new stock for at least 10 days before releasing them.

Buy weed-free hay and request a Commodity Vendor Declaration.

Monitor entry points: roadsides, laneways and waterways.

Limit soil disturbance and re-seed bare ground immediately.

Herbicides & calibration →

Choosing between flupropanate and glyphosate, and calibrating your spray unit.

Take it with you

Download the manual →

The full Best Practice Manual, fact sheets and printable ute guide.