Wireweed

The typical late germination of wireweed can make it hard to control. Although it may not compete strongly with the crop if it emerges when the crop is established, the long, tough branches of uncontrolled mature weeds can cause problems at harvest.

Description

Wireweed is a large prostrate plant, with a long, fibrous taproot and small blue-green leaves growing alternately on stems up to 1.2 m long. Its flowers are small and pinkish white./p>

Wireweed seedlings have spear-shaped, hairless cotyledons that grow up to 15mm long.

Control

Wireweed needs a period of low soil temperature to germinate, but its long taproot allows it to persist through hot, dry weather.

A second post-emergent herbicide spraying should help manage late emergence in winter crops, but a rotation to renovation crops and/or pastures may be required to clean up heavily infested paddocks.