Capeweed develops a strong, highly competitive rosette, choking out most other crop and pasture plants. It can occur at very high densities in our region, especially on degraded pastures and cropping areas, limiting the reestablishment of other more desirable annual and perennial species such as clover and beneficial grasses. Capeweed is also an economically significant competitor of crops. On the contrary, some graziers consider this weed as nutritious to their animal stock.
Our approaches to controlling Capeweed and therefore RLEMs, are to ultimately out-compete it one way or another by improving the soil structure and mineral balance of the soil (thus supporting establishment of more desired ground covers and other plants), slashing it before it has a chance to go to seed and therefore multiply and with rigorous green manure crops and of course hand weeding of herb and vegetable beds. Bare ground from digging out weeds or lack of plant cover only encourages weed regrowth. Each seed case at the flower centre houses thousands of tiny seeds and it is said that neglecting to slash the weed crop before it seed heads form (let alone disperse the seed) ensures a seed bank of another 7 years duration of Capeweed (many different weeds/plants) to arrest. We have found that this autumn/winter's green manure crop of oats accompanied by the good rainfall we've had has been very successful in out-competing the Capeweed in those areas. Farming/gardening really does help you develop a respect and marvel for nature and her so-called pests, as their ingenuity is to be admired!
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