Translate: As discussed telephonically, we would like advice on correct treatment of Sand Olive which is taking over large areas of veld in the Rustenburg area. We need the results to be permanent and for grass to re-establish.
 
Ferdi Jordaan antwoord: Sand Olien (ook soms Yster Bossie) Dodonaea viscosa variëteit angustifolia

Twee GEREGISTREERDE (bewese effektiwiteit!) produkte uit Arysta se stal is beskikbaar:
1.      Kaput 100 Gel. Hier moet die plante net bo die grond afgesaag word en Kaput onmiddellik daarna aangewend word op die stomp.  Dis nou vir groter plante.
2.      Vir plante korter as 2m, kan mens Impala EC aanwend as ‘n loofbespuiting.
 
Aangesien Sand Olien immergroen is, kan mens wegkom met somer- of winterbehandelings, maar wat loofbespuiting met Impala betref, is somer dalk beter. (die proewe is toe gedoen).
 
Daar is deeglike navorsing om die effektiwiteit van beide bostaande produkte te bepaal en ek kan bevestig dat beide hoogs effektief is (verskaf permanente beheer), mits dit korrek aangewend word.  Die navorsing was juis die gevolg van navrae tov chemise beheer uit die Swartruggens-omgewing.

Ferdi Jordaan answers: Dichrostachys cinerea (Sickle bush) can be controlled in several ways:

1. Cut stump (where the tree is cut down less than 10cm above soil level) and the remaining stump treated with a suitably registered (tried & tested) herbicide.  You have options, with my favourite being Kaput 100 Gel, but one can use Browser as well.  It seems to make no difference whether cut stump treatments are done in winter or summer.  Most selective treatment.  Little or no effect on grass.  Grasses will proliferate once tree competition has been removed.
2. Foliar sprays have to be done during a period of active growth, particularly as far as deciduous plants go and that would usually be summer an early autumn.  Browser can be used for this, but one must be aware that some picloram, the active ingredient in Browser, will unavoidably end up on the soil or grass around the target plant.  That portion of the product can be absorbed by adjacent vegetation, which may be killed or damage should the “accidental dosage” be sufficient. As far as I know, there is currently no registered herbicide that does not contain picloram.  This treatment is less selective than cut stump.  Little or no effect on grass.  Grasses will proliferate once tree competition has been removed.
3. Limpopo 200 GG is a soil applied herbicide which is strictly root absorbed.  It is the least selective treatment of the three discussed here.  As such, there are no guarantees that other plants may not be killed.  Grasses will proliferate once tree competition has been removed, but for a year or two, grass damage will be visible where Limpopo GG had been applied.  It needs rain to wash the herbicide into the root zone of treated plants.

Acacia species:

1. While Browser is registered on several species, one must understand that this product is a generic version of the original.  If the dosage rates on the original product’s label were inadequate, the same would be true for Browser.  And this is exactly the case.  Browser works at the registered rate on some species, but not so well on others.  Any idea what Acacia species you are ready to take on?

Euclea divinorum (Magic gwarri):

1. This plant can be controlled with Kaput Gel, applied as a cut stump treatment.  Browser can also be applied as a foliar spray (see above for warnings, etc.)