Protecting Your Garden: 6 Ways to Deal with Invasive or Weed Trees

Did a random tree suddenly appear in your garden? Although they may appear harmless at first, invasive or weed trees can become a significant problem in the future. Besides, they grow significantly faster than regular trees, spread quickly, and steal the nutrients that regular trees and plants need to grow healthier.

So, whether you’re maintaining your garden or not, looking out for these invasive trees is a must. After all, even if you don’t have many trees, these invasive trees can also affect your property negatively if you just let them grow in your yard.

In this article, we’ll discuss some of the ways to deal with invasive or weed trees.

1. Identify the Species

The first step to ensure you’re eliminating invasive trees is to confirm whether they are invasive. As mentioned, invasive trees spread quickly, grow faster, and get all the nutrients without leaving anything behind for those trees that need them. So, you should observe their physical form.

In addition, you should be aware of the most common invasive trees that grow anywhere. Some of these include Chinese tallow, Mimosa, Camphor tree, and Heaven tree. Once you know their common names, it’s easy to search their pictures online and compare them to the tree growing on your property.

However, if you can’t see specific signs that the tree is invasive, or they don’t match the pictures you searched online, the best way to identify their kind is to contact your local arborist, and they can instantly identify whether a tree is invasive.

2. Manual Removal

Once you’ve identified that a tree is invasive, the next step is to get rid of it. If the invasive tree is still small or at its seedling stage, you can easily pull it by hand. Usually, the best time to do so is right after the rain, in the morning, or whenever you notice that the soil is wet.

Meanwhile, if the tree is a bit bigger, you can still remove it manually, but you just need to use some tools. Some of the tools you can use include a shovel, wrench, and other tools that can help dig the invasive trees from the roots.

3. Applying Chemicals with Caution

Another way to remove invasive trees in your garden is to use chemicals. However, if you choose this method, you should be as careful as possible. If you’re having doubts about your ability to apply chemicals, specifically to these invasive trees, it’s best to call an arborist to do it for you. Besides, they have extensive knowledge about all types of trees and how to manage them.

Meanwhile, if you choose to DIY, some techniques may help you successfully apply the chemical. Some of these techniques include applying the herbicide at the tree's trunk base, foliar spray (for many scattered seedlings), cutting the tree and applying herbicide to the stump.

4. Prevent Regrowth

Whether the invasive tree is still small or has grown, preventing its regrowth is a must. After the tree removal, ensure that the stump, or whatever’s left of the tree, won’t be able to grow any longer.

For instance, if you remove the seedling, monitor if some new seedlings or shoots will grow in the next few days. If there are, take some time to remove them right away. Meanwhile, if the tree is already big, and a stump is left after the tree removal, you may opt for a tree grinder, which can help remove the stump. Additionally, you can pour some herbicides, as mentioned in the previous method.

5. Hire an Arborist for Large Trees

If the invasive tree can no longer be dealt with by DIY methods, it’s best to call an arborist. Arborists have the right tools and equipment, and they also have enough knowledge and experience in dealing with this type of tree.

In addition, this is the best option if you have a lot of plants and trees in your garden. If you choose to DIY, and your garden is in full bloom, you might end up damaging them.

6. Know the Law 

If you don’t have a lot of plants and trees in your garden, and you choose to let the invasive trees grow, you might end up facing some charges. So, before you let them grow on your property, you should know the laws that come with having them around.

Usually, local laws may vary, so it’s best to look them up or consult with your local arborist. One of the most common laws about removing invasive plants is the IPM or Integrated Pest Management. It encourages individuals and professionals to practise applying a combination of natural methods when dealing with invasive trees, before resorting to chemicals.

Final Thoughts

As a homeowner, dealing with invasive trees can be a daunting task, which is why you should be aware of the different methods that you can use and pick the one that is more convenient for your current situation. And if you don’t have the time to DIY, you can always call an arborist to help you ensure that the invasive trees will no longer grow back in your garden.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Aliana Baraquio is a web content writer working for Sydney Tree Solutions, a company that provides tree removal and arborist services throughout Sydney. As a writer, she is passionate about providing good-quality articles that help readers make the right choice.