The most common way that the noxious weed Wheel Cactus spreads is by birds. They love to eat the fleshy, red fruit (each containing hundreds of seeds) then fly off to sit and digest their meal. However, they have no sense of fence lines and boundaries, and often fly off to perch in a tree on the next door property, and before they leave, excrete the seeds under the neighbour’s tree.
Sadly, this means that Wheel Cactus plants don’t stop growing when they get to a fence. Local communities can help each other to combat this problem, by organising neighbourhood working bees and offer a helping hand to clear each property of cactus.
The Tarrangower Cactus Control Group can loan you the injecting and digging equipment and will even come out to show you how best to attack the plants.
Or come along to our next Community Field Day on Sunday 25th September where we’ll demonstrate how to destroy Wheel Cactus. The location this month is a property along Seer’s Road, Welshman’s Reef, which will be well signposted off Newstead Road. The morning’s activities will begin at 10:30 am and end with an enjoyable BBQ and friendly chat. If you have any queries, please contact Ian on 0412 015 807 or check out our website at www.cactuswarriors.org.
