Basal bark treatment

Video courtesy of Northland Regional Council

Before you start ensure:

• you have the right safety equipment
• the weather conditions are good, that is, a sunny day
• all pets and children are safely away from the treatment area
• you have read and heeded all of the herbicide labels and equipment manuals

The equipment you will need is:

• hat, safety eyewear, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, covered footwear
• chemical resistant gloves, face shield, mask, impervious apron
• herbicide, measuring container, small paint brush and a sealable container

Herbicide mixing

Estimate the amount of mixture you will need - be conservative. It is easier to mix up more herbicide than it is to dispose of excess mixture.

Measure out the required amount of kerosene and add it to a container, then measure out the required amount of herbicide and add it to the container. (The quantities are available on the APVMA off label permit.)

Seal all containers and agitate the mixture with a paint brush.

Paint the stem

Starting at the base of each stem, paint all the way around the stem to a minimum height of 30 centimetres.

Ensure the treated area is not disturbed for 24 hours to allow herbicide uptake.

Depending on the species, this technique can take up to two months to show results so you will need to be patient.

Clean up

The best way to dispose of any herbicide is to use it up as per label instructions until the product is gone. Any left over mixture should be used up on target weeds.

Never pour the product down the sink or storm drain as it can contaminate water sources and harm aquatic life.

All equipment and empty containers should be triple rinsed to remove all traces of herbicide. Use the rinse water from containers on target weeds.

More information

For more information send an email to the Invasive species team.