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GeneralOrganic Methods for Gorse Removal

Avatar Theresa Le Roux5 years ago10 min

Many years ago, a group of experts thought it would be a wise idea to introduce gorse as a hedge species. Roll the clock forward, and it has become the country’s worst scrub weed. It has taken over hill country, reduced grazing land, and has made forestry access difficult for thinning and pruning.



To add insult to injury, many farmers find themselves having to buy topper mowers for the mere purpose of trying to keep this invasive species under control.

You might think that a dosing of herbicide could take care of the problem for good, but that’s not the case. The spines and thick cuticles of gorse stop absorption of many herbicides, meaning organic control methods can be more effective – if not labourious at the same time. There are also few other plants that can outgrow and out-manage this particularly aggressive plant.

Instead, you have to think outside of the square with organic methods such as topper mowers, animals, fire, and manual labour. If the time has come to crack down on gorse’s reign of tyranny, then here are a few methods to help.

Topper Mowers & Machinery

If you’re not one to get your hands dirty and traverse the land by foot, then use machinery to help with gorse removal in New Zealand. There is plenty of exceptionally effective machinery such as topper mowers and universal mulchers to do away with gorse – at least temporarily.

A universal mulcher, for example, has a three-cut system for ultimate effect. It will cut with the flails, suck the gorse into the machine, then use a comb on the front to shred the material and offer a final cut.

A large-scale gorse infestation is also worthy of a digger or bulldozer, especially if you have challenging terrain with which to contend. What you may find, however, is that the pasture is difficult to replant and even harder to control the regrowth of gorse. You may need to sow, fertilise, and apply lime by hand once you use a topper mower or similar machine in steep terrain.

Manpower

If you would prefer not to play the waiting game with herbicides and other methods, then removing gorse by hand may be one of the most effective and organic removal methods. What you’ll come to realise early on is that it’s hard work as well.

Gorse loves growing in poor soil conditions and steep inclines where other plants fail to thrive. You may not always be able to take care of it with a topper mower. Instead, cut and slash the gorse by hand.

You can also grub out the small gorse plants, making sure to remove the root crowns to prevent them from resprouting. With larger gorse plants, such as those with 15-centimetre or wider bases, you can use a saw or chainsaw, then remove the root system. Otherwise, follow up your by-hand method with chemical gels on the stump to kill the root system.

The best time to kill gorse by hand is when it starts to flower. Gorse keeps all its food reserves in its roots, and they are low at this point, meaning the risk of seeds spreading is minimal.

 Animals

If you’d rather not work up a sweat, removing gorse by hand, then it might be time to call in the big guns – goats and sheep. Using animals is especially effective when your gorse plants are young, or you have burnt off your mature plants.

The control method with goats and sheep can be suitable for around four or five years. However, you can also use cattle to trample it, sheep to take care of the decent food in the area, and goats to finish off the scraps. Gorse is a valuable source of nutrition in a goat’s diet.

Fire

With the right permits and care, fire can be an effective gorse removal method. You must check with your local council, follow all the rules and laws, and supervise the burn-off as well. A successful fire for gorse removal is one that burns at 100 degrees Celsius or higher for at least 15 minutes.

The heat should also penetrate the soil by approximately two centimeters. If you don’t achieve the right temperature, you may make your gorse problem worse. If you’re worried about temperatures, try crushing the gorse with a bulldozer first to promote heat.

What Else?

If you want a long-term solution, then biological controls such as a soft shoot moth could be the answer. Within 50 years, such a bug may be able to kill off gorse and attack it at various stages of growth.

Alternatively, you can plant fast-growing trees that love acidic soil, and bomb the area in seeds. Gorse needs sunlight to grow, but it may not be long until trees overshadow them and take away that much-needed sunshine.

 Conclusion

Topper mowers, bugs, fire, manual labour, and animals are all valid forms of gorse control. However, not all of them are a permanent fix. Once you have gorse, it’s important to have a management plan in effect. Keep on top of growth to avoid it using up any more of your grazing land than it already has.

This post has been sponsored by ClickThrough

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Theresa Le Roux

My name is Theresa Le Roux, I am originally from Montreal, Canada but I have spent the last 5 years in beautiful New Zealand. I write SEO/Digital marketing/SMM articles for businesses that want a different perspective on subjects that are important to their content output. This can also help grow rankings in the process so it’s a win-win! I regularly contribute articles about the always changing world of SEO to Clickthrough.co.nz. I am a diehard Game of Thrones fan with a passion for novels and live music! My career goal is to one day write a novel of my own. Connect me via email theresa@clickthrough.co.nz.

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