I like to get rid of them. They outcompete native species and ruin biodiversity.
I use no chemicals. My method involves uprooting anything possible, and chopping the rest at ground level. This weakens the roots, and prevents seeds from getting an opportunity to form and spread. In heavily infested areas, 2-3 revisits to the same area may be required for full eradication. However, regrowth is soft and fragile in the early weeks, easily managed by slashing or hand removal of fresh shoots. Once the weeds have wasted their energy trying to regrow, any remaining rootstocks can be easily removed.
I’m currently designing a tool to remove large rootstocks and stubborn stems, which will be ready for use early in 2026. This will eliminate the requirement to check for regrowth (besides seeds brought by water or wildlife), as all roots will easily come out on the first pass.
Right now I’m especially targeting devil figs, lantana and cane grass. These three species have taken over vast areas of the Northern Rivers, particularly our precious waterways. Overseas, entire rivers have been rendered inaccessible by devil fig infestation, and due to the fact little else can grow beneath them, a huge amount of damage has been done to biodiversity.
If you have some which need maintenance in the Nimbin area, give me a call or send me a message via the contact page. I’d be happy to come and have a look if there’s anything I can help you with.
Do you have a large property with a serious weed problem?
Would you be interested in having a group of enthusiastic people spend a weekend cleaning it up without charge, with music or entertainment as a reward?
Recovery Instinct is working on a larger project called TransForm, which can connect young, environmentally conscious people with those whose land needs some honest help and positive energy. If this sounds like something which could benefit you, please send a message with your postcode/suburb and a few details about your property, to find out if our project is suitable for your land.