For Australian farmers, the battle against Blady Grass (sometimes called cutty grass)  goes beyond aesthetics; it’s a fight for profitability. This weed’s dense, unpalatable growth and allelopathic properties, and its ability to release chemicals that inhibit the growth of other plant can devastate pasture quality and reduce carrying capacity. Ignoring a blady grass infestation can lead to a significant decline in farm income, making a proactive control strategy an essential business decision.

Killing Blady grass with the redback Weedwipers 1Killing Blady grass with the redback Weedwipers 2

Understanding the Enemy: The Blady Grass Rhizome

The key to its persistence lies in its extensive network of sharp rhizomes, or underground stems. These rhizomes store significant energy, allowing the plant to rapidly regenerate even after a top-growth treatment. This is why a simple spray often fails; the above-ground part dies, but the vast root system remains, ready to re-emerge.

Effective control must target this underground network, depleting its energy reserves over time.

A Phased, Three-Step Action Plan for Australian Farmers

A successful blady grass management strategy isn’t a single event but a multi-season plan. By breaking it down into these three phases, you can achieve long-term control and protect your investment.

Phase 1: Strategic Assessment and Timing 

Before you act, you must assess. The best time for initial treatment is during the late summer to early autumn when the plant is actively pulling nutrients down into its rhizomes. This is the most vulnerable time for chemical treatment, as the herbicide is translocated deep into the root system for a high kill rate. Walk your property to map out infestation zones, noting density and size.

Phase 2: The Weedwiping Advantage

For a highly effective, one-pass solution that protects your valuable pasture, targeted application with a weedwiper is the superior choice. The Redback Weedwiper is designed to apply a powerful herbicide concentration directly onto the blady grass. With its two rows of wicks and a front bruise bar that assists with chemical penetration, this method delivers a higher dose directly to the plant’s surface, increasing the chance of a successful kill in a single pass. This targeted approach significantly reduces chemical use and safeguards your surrounding pasture.

Phase 3: Prevention and Pasture Competition 

An empty patch of soil is an open invitation for weeds. The final and most critical step is to outcompete blady grass. Once the treated areas are clear, sow a competitive perennial pasture species. Healthy, dense pasture will shade out any new blady grass seedlings and exhaust any remaining rhizomes, acting as a natural, long-term barrier against future infestations.

By adopting this phased approach, you’re not just fighting a weed; you’re restoring your pasture’s health and securing your farm’s productivity for years to come.

Ready to take control of your pasture? Learn how the Redback Weedwiper can transform your weed control strategy and save you time and money.

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Before & After photos

The photos below highlight the effectiveness a weedwiper targeted approach. You’ll see how the blady grass is eliminated, allowing productive pasture grasses to thrive and repair the land. This precision method not only saves time and chemicals but also helps maintain the health of your pasture.

Take a closer look at the images to see the results for yourself. If you’re battling blady grass, the Redback Weedwiper could be the solution you’ve been searching for.

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Blady Grass Resources

Watch our video about weed strategies for weed control in Australia below

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