Weeds Seeds and Nurseries

Garden Plants can ‘jump’ the garden fence, and invade the local bush.

Garden Plants can become Environmental Weeds because they can survive without attention including watering – these are just the properties that appeal to a busy gardener. Plants can spread by

·seed being blown by wind eg Desert Ash (Fraxinus angustifolia subsp. Angustifolia),

·Storm water washing away piece of the plant which eventually stick in the sides of gutters, creeks or rivers, eg Pussy-willow (Salix X reichardtii),

·Storm water washing away seed eg Common Violet (Viola odorata),

·Birds eating the fleshy fruits of the plant and defecating up to 2 km away eg Western Australian Bluebell Creeper (Sollya heterophylla), and Sweet Pittosporum (Pittosporum undulatum),

·Animal eating the fruit or seeds and defecating later eg Cherry-plum (Prunus cerasifera),

·Ants carrying wattle seed to their nests – up to about 75m away eg Sallow Wattle (Acacia longifolia),

·Seed pods bursting & spreading seed up to 2m away eg Broom (English Broom – Cytisus scoparius or Cape Broom Genista monspessulana),

·Sticky Seeds sticking to animal’s fur and human’s clothes eg Wood Forget-me-nots (Myosotis sylvatica),

·Ground covers creeping into neighbouring properties eg Wandering Trad …used to be called jew, but no longer an acceptable name (Tradescantia albiflora),

Any plant which can regenerate from plant pieces eg willow, should never be planted where pieces that break off can be washed into the drainage/creek system. Grasses are often the hardest environmental weeds to remove from a bush area. What is true for plants which are usually planted in flower beds, is also true for grasses. So when caring for a lawn, mow it before the plants produce seed; and if the species of grass spreads by rhizomes, make sure you contain the grasses within you lawn area.

So what can the aware gardener do?

·Plant an indigenous species instead. A garden plants which is an environmental weeds can usually be replaced by an indigenous species of similar form which require similar sun and moisture conditions. Indigenous plants can be purchased from local seed collecting nurseries.

·Be careful when buying an exotic (non-indigenous) plant, being particularly careful if buying a plant or seed by mail order or ‘on-line’. If you buy from a nursery which is accredited by Sustainable Gardens Australia, the nursery will not sell known environmental weeds or at least will have a warning label on such plants.

·Consider how a particular plant spreads; whether it is ‘safe’ to plant it;

·Never dump garden refuse it can ALL go in the organic bin, where it is heat treated to kill runners or seedpods.

More information on Environmental weeds can be obtained from Maroondah Council Environmental department. 

CRISP Nursery located at Greenwood Ave Ringwood (near Jubilee Park)

Wed & Fridays mornings 9.30am-12.30pm

March to October Open 1st & 3rd

Saturdays 10.00am to 1.00pm

Phone 9879-3911

Fax 9879-1161 or

email [email protected]

Candlebark Nursery Hull Rd Mooroolbark cnr Hull Rd & Taylor Rd

Every Sundays-Thursday 9.00am to 4.00pm

Phone & Fax 9727-0594, or email [email protected]

If you live in, or near, a bush area, tell the nursery where you live and ask for plants with the correct provenance.