VICTORIAN Minister for Agriculture, Joe Helper says Melbourne show goers are asked to be on the lookout for Mexican feather grass during the spring flowering season.
According to the Minister, the Royal Melbourne Show marked the start of spring and the perfect time to identify any Mexican feather grass plants which may have been inadvertently planted in metropolitan gardens.
The Minister says the State Government took swift action in 2008 when the state prohibited weed, Mexican feather grass, was supplied to and sold by a number of retail chain stores in Victoria. It has since recovered over 70%, though an estimated 3,200 plants have yet to be found.
Helper says councils had also recently joined the fight to recover the remaining plants particularly in the areas where most of the plants were sold. It is possible residents may have purchased the plant and planted it yard without realising it was a prohibited weed.
Mexican feather grass is said to be a new weed which has the potential to seriously impact Victoria’s agricultural industry. The grass is a dense, upright tussock which grows to about 70cm high and is very similar in appearance to serrated tussock, widely regarded as the worst pasture weed.
Residents are asked to not attempt to control or dispose of the weed in any way themselves but to contact Department of Primary Industries (DPI) who will arrange for its safe removal.
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