Gorse
Ulex europaeus
Weed profile
Perennial
Shrub
Weeds of National Significance (WoNS)
Hinders movement- Habitat: native vegetation, pastures
Impact
Spiny thickets compete with pasture and native vegetation.
Description
- Spiny, densely branched shrub to 2 metres tall.
- Twigs green, grooved, ending in spines.
- Leaves reduced to scales or spines.
- Large, golden-yellow pea flowers.
- Oblong hairy pods contain hard round seeds.
Control options
triclopyr (600g/L)
Application Method: Cut stump
Application Rate: 1L/30L biodiesel or diesel
Product Name: Garlon 600®
Herbicide Group: 4
Situation: Nature reserves and other native vegetation, roadsides, urban open space and forests.
Timing: Cut stump, any time
Comments: Diesel can be replaced with water for ease of application.
Legal Status: PER 91974 (exp. 2027)
triclopyr (600g/L)
Application Method: Spot spray
Application Rate: 170mL/100L
Product Name: Garlon 600®
Herbicide Group: 4
Situation: Nature reserves and other native vegetation, roadsides, urban open space and forests.
Timing: Spot spray, September - February
Comments: Apply thorough foliage spray. Poisonous if swallowed; may irritate eyes and skin.
Legal Status: PER 91974 (exp. 2027)
glyphosate dual salt (360g/L)
Application Method: Cut stump
Application Rate: 1L/1L
Product Name: Weedmaster® Duo
Herbicide Group: 9
Situation: Conservation areas, bushland and other non-crop areas.
Comments: Cut stems, apply herbicide immediately.
Legal Status: PER 13371 (exp. 2027)
glyphosate (450g/L)
Application Method: Stem injection
Application Rate: Undiluted or up to 1:1
Product Name: Roundup CT®
Herbicide Group: 9
Situation: Non-crop areas.
Comments: Use drill to make holes around the base into the sapwood. Inject herbicide immediately.
Legal Status: PER 13371 (exp. 2027)
glyphosate (450g/L)
Application Method: Spot spray
Application Rate: 1L/100L
Product Name: Roundup CT®
Herbicide Group: 9
Situation: Conservation areas, bushland and other non-crop areas.
Timing: Spot spray, September - February
Comments: Non selective, avoid contact with desirable plants.
Legal Status: PER 13371 (exp. 2027)
glyphosate dual salt (360g/L) + metsulfuron-methyl (600g/kg)
Application Method: Spot spray
Application Rate: 1L + 3g/100L
Product Name: Weedmaster® Duo + Brush-Off®
Herbicide Group: 9, 2
Situation: Conservation areas, bushland and other non-crop areas.
Timing: Spot spray, December - April
Comments:
Non selective, avoid contact with desirable plants.
Soil active herbicide, may damage desirable vegetation.
Legal Status: PER 13371 (exp. 2027)
glyphosate (835g/kg) + metsulfuron-methyl (10g/kg)
Application Method: Spot spray
Application Rate: 173g/100L
Product Name: Trounce Brush-Pack®
Herbicide Group: 9,2
Situation: Non-crop areas, bushland and pastures.
Timing: Spot spray, while actively growing, any time of the year except spring.
Comments:
Add an organosilicone penetrant.
Non selective, avoid contact with desirable plants. Soil active herbicide, may damage desirable vegetation.
Legal Status: Registered
metsulfuron-methyl (600g/kg)
Application Method: Spot spray
Application Rate: 15g/100L
Product Name: Associate®
Herbicide Group: 2
Situation: Native pastures, rights of way, commercial and industrial areas.
Timing: Spot spray, while actively growing.
Comments: Bushes up to 2 m tall. Add an organosilicone penetrant. Ensure thorough spray penetration, covering whole plant. Soil active herbicide, may damage desirable vegetation.
Legal Status: Registered
picloram (44.7g/L) + aminopyralid (4.7 g/L)
Application Method: Cut stump
Application Rate: Undiluted gel
Product Name: Vigilant II®
Herbicide Group: 4
Situation: Non-crop areas including native vegetation.
Timing: Cut stump, any time
Comments: Cut stems less than 10 cm from ground and apply 3-5 mm thick layer immediately. For multi-stemmed plants treat at least 80% of stems including main stems.
Legal Status: Registered
triclopyr (300g/L) + picloram (100g/L)
Application Method: Spot spray
Application Rate: 500mL/100L
Product Name: Grazon DS®
Herbicide Group: 4
Situation: Pastures and non-crop areas.
Timing: Spot spray, winter
Comments: Brownout may not be complete untill following summer. Add a non-ionic surfactant.
Legal Status: Registered
triclopyr (300g/L) + picloram (100g/L)
Application Method: Spot spray
Application Rate: 350mL/100L
Product Name: Grazon DS®
Herbicide Group: 4
Situation: Pastures and non-crop areas.
Timing: Spot spray, summer to autumn
Comments: If plants are taller than 1.5 metres or if treating in autumn. Add a non-ionic surfactant.
Legal Status: Registered
triclopyr (300g/L) + picloram (100g/L)
Application Method: Spot spray
Application Rate: 250mL/100L
Product Name: Grazon DS®
Herbicide Group: 4
Situation: Pastures and non-crop areas.
Timing: Spot spray, spring to summer
Comments: On growth 1 to 1.5 metres tall. Add a non-ionic surfactant.
Legal Status: Registered
glyphosate (360g/L)
Application Method: Spot spray
Application Rate: 1L/100L
Product Name: Roundup Biactive®
Herbicide Group: 9
Situation: Non-crop areas.
Timing: Spot spray, while actively growing.
Comments:
Suitable for use near waterways - refer to label. Add Pulse® penetrant.
Non selective, avoid contact with desirable plants.
Legal Status: Registered
Slashing
Situation: Non-crop areas.
Timing: Any time
Comments: Slashing will not kill gorse but may improve the results of follow up herbicide treatment. Regrowth needs to be approximately 0.5-1 m high before undertaking follow up spraying.
Burning
Situation: Non-crop areas.
Timing: Winter.
Comments: Fire can be useful in reducing dense thickets of gorse to allow follow-up spraying of regrowth. Seek advice.
Legal requirements in each region
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Land owners in this region to take reasonable steps to kill plants and prevent their spread. Enforceable by the Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Land owners in this region to take reasonable steps to kill plants and prevent their spread. Enforceable by the Green Adelaide Board.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Land owners in this region to take reasonable steps to kill plants and prevent their spread. Enforceable by the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Land owners in this region to take reasonable steps to kill plants and prevent their spread. Enforceable by the Kangaroo Island Landscape Board.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Land owners in this region to take reasonable steps to kill plants and prevent their spread. Enforceable by the Limestone Coast Landscape Board.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Land owners in this region to take reasonable steps to kill plants and prevent their spread. Enforceable by the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Land owners in this region to take reasonable steps to kill plants and prevent their spread. Enforceable by the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
More Information
Find out how to:
- benefit from the early intervention of new and emerging weeds - handbook
- best manage your use and storage of agricultural and veterinary chemicals.
Control advice
For further help and advice managing this weed contact your regional landscape board: