Western: weed management for new seedlings

August 8, 2017

HVP Plantations wish to advise of upcoming herbicide operations in our plantations in our Western Region; including Ballarat and Castlemaine, Creswick, Colac and Woodend. This weed management operation will see the application of a granular form of hexazinone be applied to this year’s re-planted areas. The spot application involves a small area around each tree, treated by hand. The operation is scheduled to commence in late September and continue through October.

HVP will install on ground signage in advance of the operation to highlight the specific areas to be treated. Buffer zones are employed to ensure the operation is safe and contained. Minimum buffers of 30m are applied between the operation and residential dwellings.

This operation is being used to ensure that the newly planted seedlings have reduced competition for water and nutrients this summer. By ensuring effective weed control at this early stage of growth, herbicide applications are generally limited to this one period over the 30-year rotation.

Hexazinone is the active constituent in Velmac G, a granular product used as a broad spectrum herbicide. It is used to control grasses, broadleaf and woody plants.
Hexazinone is relatively soluble, with application rates of 1.7 grams per tree. The use of herbicide in Victoria is in accordance with the Agriculture and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) (Herbicide) Regulations 2005. Further information can be found at www.agriculture.vic.gov.au