Recent content by kitdoctor

@hewey thanks for keeping involved. I planned ahead and put together a few more updates that I'll post. I knew I'd be busy. At the moment, I don't have much time to read any other threads. We've started the process of selling our home in Darwin, one in Brisbane and one on the Sunshine Coast...

@Coolabah, no, no, I didn't take it like that at all. Some (on acreage) do try the no herbicide approach and fail. I still do periods of removing weeds by hand but there's a limit. Eventually, I'm trying to reach the point where I can do most of the spraying with Bioweed, an organic herbicide...

@Coolabah yes indeed. Having spoken to a few professionals, there's no way you can successfully manage acreage without the use of some herbicides. The growing conditions are just perfect. It's a complete contrast to suburban Darwin where I had to look hard to fine a single weed on my plot...

My orientation is to always start my research when buying a major item for a Japanese, then European (e.g. German, Swiss) and then North American product. Taiwan is another option (e.g. for good quality tools). Of course sometimes there is no choice but to accept a Chinese product.

Post #0071e - War of the weeds – Tidying and solarisation continued - Part LXVI Hi everyone, Just a short update this time. We’re away and flat out dealing with our property in Darwin. So, continuing on, it was time to call in the contractor who does our mowing to spray the gully. I was busy...

@Mr onetwo that image reminds me I have some minor rust on the shipping container to attend to...

@Geoff289 no not when it's hot. I think the big problem will be when it's wet and something heavy finds a soft spot or the vehicle gets onto the shoulder. There is the geofabric under the road base though. @Mr onetwo was right about the driveway. The other day a furniture truck drove over...

@wendle I know it is in Queensland but I'm unsure whether it's on our block. There are a few species of grass in the gully and its edges that I still need to identify.

@Coolabah, at the field days we attended some very interesting points were made. These included: There is so much information available that it's overwhelming. You must have a goal in mind and know what you are working towards e.g. decrease weeds, increase native planting, create fauna...

Post #0071d - War of the weeds – Tidying and solarisation continued - Part LXVI In this next photo, the berm constructed to deflect surface runoff is clearly visible. It was planted with quick growing rye grass to stabilise it, with a row of turf in the drain. Here, some more bamboo leaves and...

Post #0071c - War of the weeds – Tidying and solarisation continued - Part LXVI Next up, some leaves were bagged up and auricles collected. All of this was moved over to a spot behind the shipping container. The auricles are probably hard to compost in the tumblers. Without an incinerator, the...

@Coolabah my observation is that with regular mowing (warmer months at least weekly and cooler months at least fortnightly) our Kikuyu has spread more rapidly (rather than putting the energy into excessive length) which has reduced the bare patches (weeds thrive in disturbed areas) and generally...

@Geoff289 gotta agree with that. It's certainly demanding at this stage, when you're not yet ready to start any real landscaping and you're simply trying to tame it and in doing so bring about some minor improvements, that will improve how the site looks. e.g. less weeds, improved pasture...

Post #0071b - War of the weeds – Tidying and solarisation continued - Part LXVI Just looking at the next photo, I see dead Cobbler’s pegs or Bidens pilosa. That’s South African pigeon grass or Setaria sphacelata with the flowerheads. Obviously, it’s not a native grass. Our neighbour to the...

Post #0071a - War of the weeds – Tidying and solarisation - Part LXVI This update is about what we spend a substantial portion of our time doing from day-to-day, rather than what we pay others to do that we can’t do. Let me think 🤔out aloud about that. Actually, some activities covered in this...