The dreaded bindii is back this summer, penetrating bike tyres, sticking to our thongs, and taking over our lawns.
An introduced weed, bindii can be controlled in a number of ways including hand weeding, chipping and herbicide spraying.
Greater Shepparton City Council is urging residents to contact it if they notice bindii — also known as caltrop — on council-managed property and to remove the weed from their own land to help stop its spread.
The council’s acting infrastructure director Janelle Bunfield said summer was the best time to control the noxious weed.
“With the warmer weather we have noticed bindii has really started to take off. Residents may notice the patches starting to form the seed pods, which cause so much pain,” Ms Bunfield said.
“Bindii are very easily spread once the seeds form.
“They stick to tyres and shoes and spread through parks, nature strips and lawns.
“The weed produces a large, hard, spiny seed capsule that is capable of penetrating people’s skin, animals’ paws and fur, and bicycle tyres.”
Mrs Bunfield urged residents to take a look around their own properties and the nature strips in their street, and if possible dig out the weed.
“If everyone does a little bit close to home and reports infestations to council, then together we can tackle the problem,” she said.
“Nobody wants to take their kids and dogs to the local park and not be able to enjoy the amenity because of painful prickles.
“It’s too late to spray once the seeds have formed, so removal is the most effective way to deal with it.
“Council is targeting selected problematic recreation reserves, bike paths and open spaces to complement council’s existing internal bindii-control service, but we really need residents’ help to get it under control this summer.”
She encouraged residents to phone the council on 5832 9700 if they noticed bindii on nature strips, in parks, reserves or sports grounds, along council-owned roadsides or shared pathways.
Mrs Bunfield said it was important the weed was disposed of in the green-lid organics bin and not the red-lid waste bin.
“The heat treatment the organic matter goes through will kill any weed seeds, including caltrop,” she said.
More information on caltrop can be found by visiting Greater Shepparton’s website www.greatershepparton.com.au and searching for bindii.
Agricultural chemical suppliers or nurseries also have advice.