WeedFree Research and Development

Through its ongoing work with environmental weeds the WeedFree Trust investigates and develops new ways to neutralise certain invasive weeds on site, notably wild ginger and Tradescantia (wandering jew).

The trust encourages property owners to reduce herbicide use and avoid removing green waste from cleared areas unless absolutely necessary. Overuse of herbicide can endanger native plants and alter the soil. Green waste going to landfill is costly and takes up valuable space, especially if it can be composted on site.

Research and Development Initiatives

Wild Ginger

The Trust established that wild ginger's large rhizomes are neutralised (effectively killing it) after a couple of months under water. Once neutralised the rhizomes can be left in the bush to rot away, reducing the need for herbicide or removal to landfill. We are now investigating ways to speed up this process in large 200-litre plastic drums. Additionally we are trialing the liquid residue from the drums for its potential as plant food.

Tradescantia (wandering jew)

As part of our studies of Tradescantia and its breakdown in confinement, we uncovered a naturally occurring soil pathogen which once activated, attacks and destroys the plant within a couple of months. We are currently investigating this pathogen's potential as a bio-herbicide.