Warmer weather has brought the rapid growth of bindii in City of Greater Shepparton and council is urging the community to take an active role in getting rid of it.
The fast growing weed is also known as Caltrop and it has been growing rapidly in the area.
Greater Shepparton City Council is asking people to report any sightings of it on council land and to remove the weed from their own land to help stop its spread.
Council’s acting infrastructure director Janelle Bunfield said now was the time to get on top of the weed before it got out of hand.
“With the warmer weather, we have noticed bindii has really started to take off,” she said.
“Residents may notice the patches starting to form the seed pods which cause so much pain.
“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, animal’s paws and fur, and bicycle tyres.”
There are many tools available to tackle the bindii problem such as hand weeding, chipping and herbicide spray.
Ms Bunfield advised residents to be aware that different stages of the weeds growth required specific solutions.
“It’s too late to spray once the seeds have formed, so removal is the most effective way to deal with it,” she said.
It is also crucial that they are disposed of in the green lid organics bin only.
“The heat treatment the organic matter goes through will kill any weed seeds, including Caltrop,” Ms Bunfield said.
“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.”
More information on bindii can be found by searching for it on the council’s website.
To report any bindii sightings in parks, nature strips, reserves, sporting grounds, along council owned roadsides and shared pathways, call the council on 5832 9700.