Looking for new ground!

G'day folks "we" are finishing in Violet Brodie Park, Greenmount Queensland. Now there is still plenty of weeds left for anyone with a care! But the lantana "that was, isn't". And that goes for most of the privet too.

The post "Lantana by the short and curly" is work done in Violet and see these other photos.

We will miss you Violet!

Some of your "visitors" are leaving Violet

Thank goodness it was "itchy" with them here!

The manners of Privet, leaving Violet without so much as a thank you!














But now "we" gotta go!
So what's the "new main weed"?

Surprise surprise it's lantana!








Well this lantana is "bigger / older" than in Violet ( it's within the same country mile as Voilet) and it's not beyond us / our method / Tower Power! If we can mount the Tower Power over it's gone!
But "getting the Tower Power over" is the big deal! We are well equipped with secateurs, loppers and saws but relying on those means we would have to "do" every plant in 2 / 3 acres, that's a "big ask" in this "mechanised world"! (and we are not stupid)
So if anyone has had good results knocking down lantana as shown to knee high stumps (want knee high stumps for easy attachment to Tower Power) we'd be pleased to know! (I have used a brushcutter against similar lantana but that's hard work and heavy / wearing on the machine / don't want possible repairs)

Lantana by the short and curly!

Root Blade makes you feel good!

Root Blade "takes" knee high lantana

Root Blade "takes" Asparagus Fern

Gone in 60 seconds

 Zero Time, it's a lovely day!

 15 Seconds, cut yourself some room

35 Seconds, stamp and lever to loosen lantana

 50 Seconds, lever pull and cut lantana "free"

Gone in 60 seconds!



BUT WAIT THERES MORE!
(Next post whenever?)

G'day

During 2001 I joined a local / Toowoomba group clearing weeds from our bushland parks. In the beginning I “treated” the weeds by the chemical cut stump method but soon found that exercise left me wanting a more definite physical outcome. I remembered my mother’s tenet / direction of 60 years ago, “take a plant out by the roots and its dead”. Well some “things” have changed; I now have wonky knees and a burpy tummy! So my application to find a physical manner of weed “removal by the roots” led me to concentrate on a long handle shovel.

Root Blade is recognition that a narrower mouth delivers more “thrust” from a stamp, that the concave mouth concentrates the force of the thrust onto the root (quite enough to cut through plant roots) and as Sir Walter Raleigh is alleged to have mused as he eyed the executioner’s axe “Tis a sharp medicine, but will cure the worst disease” steel will always sever flesh / plant cellouse!  Add to this the Root Blade “delivers” a 100 mm uplift for a 90 degree leverage. So stamp the Root Blade point below a plant, lever it down and that plant “rises” 100 mm.  Cut the roots free with secateurs / loppers. Replace loose dirt and tamp. I have found this an enjoyable 30 / 60 second exercise.

http://landcareqld.placestories.com/story?id=2700122&p=2700024

Extract from supporting statement for “Brothers Grimm use Root Blade” (see website quoted and written by John, tall bloke on the right)

“It is amazing how much area can be cleared by two septuagenarians and an octogenarian working for one morning each week. It keeps us fit, provides good outdoor exercise and is socially and environmentally beneficial. We need more volunteers.
The Root Blade was invented and developed by Euan McLean (on the left) and has proved to be the easiest and most useful way of uprooting broadleaved privet, lantana and other woody weeds. Nothing survives the Root Blade! Euan continues to develop tools to fit the job.”