Some herbicides can be wiped onto the leaves of the weed using a rope wick applicator - a PVC pipe with a rope wick at the base and a canister at the top of the pipe to hold the herbicide.

You can also improvise with small scale wiping equipment. For example: a waterproof glove with foam attached to the palm for wiping; or a modified hand sprayer with foam over the nozzle; or food serving tongs with foam attached.

Be careful to avoid drips and spills, especially when you re-moisten the wiping surface with herbicide.

Herbicide is painted onto a freshly cut surface with a paintbrush. This is done by cutting down a woody weed (tree, shrub or vine) to ground level and painting the surface WITHIN 10 SECONDS before the wounded cells on the stem are sealed off.

This method is useful for large woody vines. A knife is used to scrape 20-100cm off the stem to expose the sapwood, which is then immediately painted with herbicide. You may need to make two or three scrapes but do not cut right around the stem. Leave the vines in place to die.

Use this on young woody weeds and root suckers. Paint diluted herbicide onto the bark from ground level to 30cm high.

Drill 5cm holes at an angle of 45° into the trunk of a woody weed and fill the holes with herbicide using a syringe or eyedropper.

You can spot spray individual weeds or blanket spray larger areas, using a selective or non-selective herbicide.Be careful to avoid damaging non-target native species, especially if you use a non-selective herbicide. Plastic tree guards can protect young native plants or you may need to place a plant shield (made of plastic or cardboard) over native species to protect them from the spray.

Spray to thoroughly wet the foliage but no more. If the weed you are spraying has waxy leaves you may need to add an adjuvant to increase herbicide uptake.