How to kill Gorse and furze with Grazon* Extra and Gusto herbicides

Grazon* Extra and Gusto herbicides kill a range of woody weeds, noxious weeds, and broadleaf weeds including blackberry,ragwort and thistles. Gusto is a similar product to Grazon* Extra and the two products are registered to control many of the same weeds.

Best kills on gorse and furze are achieved with high volume spraying using a professional handgun sprayer.

Grazon* Extra and Gusto herbicides are also very effective to kill blackberry in association with broadleaf weeds including, ragwort & thistles. Grazon* Extra and Gusto are have little impact on established pasture grasses. This is an important benefit as the ground is not bared out as would be the case if using glyphosate based products.Bare ground following a spray application invites regrowth and the establishment other problem weeds such as thistles.

Best results are achieved when Grazon* Exta and Gusto herbicides are applied from late spring to autumn when gorse bushes are actively growing.

Gorse and furze needs to be actively growing for these herbicides to have optimum effect. If bushes have been grazed, slashed, bulldozed,burnt, or on areas which have previously been treated with a herbicide, delay treatment until regrowth has had time to grow to approximately 1 metre. 

One application may give satisfactory control but subsequent re-growth and seedlings should be re-sprayed after hardening off. Do not use this product under extremely dry conditions or when gorse bushes are stressed as considerable re-growth may occur.

Mixing Rate

To control gorse and furze Grazon* Extra or Gusto herbicides are mixed at rates as follows:-

  • 250 per 100L of water for bushes 1 to 1.5m tall. This rate is only suitable for spring/summer treatment.
  • 350mL per 100L of water for bushes > 1.5m tall or when treating in autumn
  • 500mL per 100L of water when treating in winter
Always add a 100% wetting agent such as Holdfast wetter and penetrant when treating Gorse and furze. Penetrants help spray coverage and herbicide uptake thereby maximising results.



Application & Coverage  using a high volume handgun

Thorough coverage of gorse foliage to the point of run-off is essential, however avoid excess spraying which is wasteful of chemical.


Application & coverage using a knapsack

Apply the recommended spray mix to give full coverage of leaves and stems. The final volume of application should be similar to hand gun application ie A spray volume of 3 to 4L per 10 square metres should be used.

Note that knapsack sprayers do not have the pressure of high volume handguns so penetration and coverage will not be as effective. Poor coverage and penetration may result in excessive regrowth.

The Grazon* Extra label states that knapsack application is only recommended for the control of herbaceous weeds,
such as capeweed, fireweed and spear thistle, and woody weeds that are not regrowth and less than 60 cm. 

Use of marking dyes

A marking agent can be used to check spray coverage and identify sprayed areas to avoid double treatment

Read the product label

It is important to read the product label before using any agricultural chemical. The product label and Directions For Use booklet are attached to every container. The labels and associated booklets contain directions for use and other important practical information relating product use along with personal and environmental safety directions.

Please note that the information above is general in nature and does not constitute advice nor recommendation. You personally are responsible to read the product labels to determine suitabilty and appropriate use patterns for your situation.

* Grazon is a registered trade mark of Dow Agrosciences
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Posted 24/12/2018 in Weed Control Case Studies