Increase productivity and reduce environmental impact by correct weed management.
Who is this course for?
This course provides valuable learning for land managers, farmers, gardeners, orchardists, market gardeners, landscapers, spray contractors, nurserymen or anyone else concerned with the control of weeds.
How Weeds are Controlled
There are many different ways of controlling weeds, and literally thousands of different weed species which might need controlling. It is always important to use the appropriate treatment for the weed(s) in question.
Young weeds are far easier to control than older ones.
Some chemicals, for instance will effectively kill certain weeds when they are in the early stages of growth, but will not control other types of weeds. You may need to be able to distinguish between types of weeds to determine whether the chemical will or won't work.
Lesson Structure
There are 7 lessons in this course:
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Weed Identification
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Review of the system of plant identification
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Common groups of weeds
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General characteristics of the weeds
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Resource guide
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Weed Control Methods
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Different ways to control weeds
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Types of weed problems
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List of plants to avoid
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Profile of some common weeds
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Mulching
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Soil treatments to control plant problems
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Physiological effects of weedicides on plants
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Pesticides terminology
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Chemical Weed Control
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Review of commercial groups of herbicides and their use
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Weedicides for home gardens
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Weed Control In Specific Situations
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Methods of controlling weeds on turf
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Types of weedicides used
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The law in relation to chemical use
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Commonly used commercial formulations
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Weed control in plant nurseries
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Safe Chemical Application
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Safety rules for using chemicals
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Safely storing and mixing of chemicals
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Correct usage of chemicals
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Cleaning up and disposing chemicals
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Basic first aid in relation to chemicals
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Keeping records of chemical usage
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Selection of pump and tanks
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Sprayer maintenance and cleaning
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Effects of chemicals on humans and animals
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Non-Chemical Weed Control
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Effects of chemical herbicides on the environment
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Biocontrol of pests and diseases
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Advantage and disadvantage of biocontrol
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Developing a Weed Control Program Report
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A practical lesson where the student can fully demonstrate their understanding of weed control by devising a weed management plan for a designated area.
Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.
Aims
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Distinguish between different types of weeds, and identify common weed species, growing in your locality.
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Explain the characteristics of different weed control methods.
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Explain the use of chemical herbicides to control weeds.
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Specify appropriate weed control methods, for different types of situations.
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Determine appropriate techniques for the safe application of chemical herbicide in a specific situation.
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Explain different non-chemical weed control methods.
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Devise appropriate methods for control of weeds, for specific problems, in both the horticultural and agricultural industries
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Determine a detailed weed control program for a significant weed problem.
What You Will Do
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Observe and consider over 100 different varieties of weeds and prepare plant review sheets for different weed plants.
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Make up a list of information resources.
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Plant, grow and observe different varieties of weeds.
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Make drawings of young seedlings of at least fifteen different weeds.
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Speak/interview people who have to deal with weed control in their daily life.
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Visit a nursery, garden shop or hardware store that sells herbicides to the public.
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Visit at least one supplier of herbicides for industrial and agricultural use.
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Contact larger chemical companies for leaflets on different herbicides.
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Investigate at least two workplaces where weed control programs are regularly carried out.
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Visit and inspect different sites where weeds are a problem.
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Photograph different places that have been treated with weedicides.
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Contact your local Department of Agriculture or Lands Department for researching purposes.
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Visit several farmers who raise different types of livestock.
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Develop a 12 month guideline for an integrated weed control program for a particular site.
What are Weeds?
"A weed is any plant that is growing where you don't want it".
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A weed will compete with your desired plants for light, space, water and nutrients.
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It might taint the milk from your animals, or be toxic to animals making them sick.
A plant could also be a weed because of a particular characteristic; it could be poisonous to stock or humans, if it acts as a host plant to pests and diseases (of both other plants and/or animals), if it has damaging roots, or if it causes allergies.
Any plant has the potential to be a weed.
Farmers who do not control weeds, will have a less productive farm!
There are many different ways of controlling weeds, and literally thousands of different weed species which might need controlling. It is always important to use the appropriate treatment for the weed(s) in question. Young weeds are far easier to control than older ones. Some chemicals, for instance will effectively kill certain weeds when they are in the early stages of growth, but will not control other types of weeds. You may need to be able to distinguish between types of weeds to determine whether the chemical will or won't work.
STEPS IN CONTROLLING WEEDS
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Know what weed or weeds you are dealing with.
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Know how those varieties grow, and what conditions they do and don't tolerate.
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Then create conditions which they don't like.
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You then need to consider whether you want to kill or just control the weeds.
When you know these things you can consider which method is best for your situation.
Weeds on Farms
Some types of weeds may never be a serious practical threat to the productivity of a farm. They may look untidy; but farm animals might eat them, or pasture grasses may compete with them; stopping them from ever getting out of control. Some weeds however can become a very serious problem on a farm.
Toxic Weeds
Poisonous plants are considered to be weeds (i.e. unwanted plants) by many people, though others may in fact prize those plants for their beauty. Some poisonous plants cause mild irritation such as skin rashes, but others can cause serious illness, or even death. These can affect both farm animals and people on the farm. Common poisonous plants include: Arum Lily, Datura or Brugmansia (Angel’s Trumpet), Dieffenbachia, Digitalis (Foxglove), Nerium (Oleander), and Rhus.
Noxious Weeds
These are weeds which have become such a serious problem that they have been declared "noxious" by government authorities. Once a weed is declared noxious, it becomes illegal to grow that plant either intentionally or unintentionally. Property owners may be forced to eradicate the weed or have government authorities enter their property and eradicate it. Fines may be incurred for growing the plant. Weeds may be declared noxious in one part of a country and not another, or may be considered noxious throughout an entire country.
Environmental Weeds
Many garden plants escape into bush or farmland areas, where they can compete or even completely take over from other vegetation. Foreign plants will flourish without the pests and diseases that kept them in check in their original country, if suitable pollinators and seed dispersing animals are present - all at the expense of the native plants. Garden creepers or ramblers can encroach upon pastures, diminishing edible grasses. Plants may spread by being dumped (common along railway lines) or by seed, often carried by birds. Another problem is that garden plants can sometimes cross-pollinate with farm species or the local native (indigenous) plants. This interbreeding results in hybrids which interfere with the natural evolution of the indigenous plants, and can destabilize the ecosystem on a farm.
WHO WILL THIS COURSE BENEFIT?
If you need to control weeds effectively and efficiently using the world best practice techniques then this is the right course for you.
For:
- Land managers
- Farmer,
- Gardeners
- Orchardists
- Market gardeners
- Landscapers
- Spray contractors
- Nurserymen
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