Woody Weed Control
Learn how to identify and remove invasive tree species or “woody weeds” from your property.
Everyone from suburban gardeners to bush block owners is urged to get on board and help stop the spread of the invaders, which cause huge problems when they jump from gardens to surrounding bushland, reserves and catchment areas.
Why woody weeds are a problem
Weedy trees such as Sydney Golden Wattle, Flinders Range Wattle, Sweet Pittosporum, Victorian Teatree, Blackwood and Olives also pose big problems by outcompeting native plants and dominating bushland.
Weedy shrubs and trees are one of our biggest threats to native bush because they can spread vigorously, outcompete local trees, and the seed can last for decades in the soil.
Identifying the invaders
To help with idenfication, we’ve made a series of short videos on some of our region’s problem weed trees. Each video is several minutes long and covers the essentials of identifying the species, how to control it, what natives not to mistake it for, and any other species-specific info you need to know.
Sydney Golden Wattle:
Native to New South Wales, this species grows to 10m, with elongated leaves that are 5cm-25cm in length and yellow, cylindrical flowers from June to November. It reproduces from seeds dispersed by water, birds, ants, soil movement and dumping of garden waste.
Sweet Pittosporum:
Native to eastern Australia, this species is planted widely in backyards and gardens across the region and now threatens our iconic karri forests. It has smooth grey bark and glossy green leaves similar to bay leaves, often with wavy margins, and sweet-smelling white flowers. Flowers are followed by orange grape-sized fruit containing sticky seeds that are eaten and dispersed by birds.
Victorian Teatree:
Also known as Coastal Teatree, this species is from south-eastern Australia and was introduced as a garden plant, for screening and wind breaks. It’s a tall shrub or small tree growing to 6m with sprays of white flowers from July to October, a solid trunk with strips of bark, and small rounded leaves in a distinctive grey-green colour, growing in sandy and gravel soils and thriving in coastal areas and roadsides.
Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon):
A large, slender tree that can grow to more than 20m, with smooth grey bark and deep green foliage. Its cream-coloured flowers in spring make it easy to distinguish from most other tree wattles which typically have deep gold or yellow flowers. Their clusters of curly, twisted seed pods also make it distinctive from other wattles.
Olive:
A popular garden specimen grown for its fruit and draught tolerance, olive trees can become weedy if they are not netted and birds are able to eat the fruit and spread the seed. Olive trees form large, dense monocultures, transforming ecosystems and outcompeting natives. Growing up to 10m, the common olive has leaves with silvery-grey undersides and pointed tips.
Dealing with woody weeds
Once you’ve identified the invaders, you can either hand-pull seedlings, remove larger shrubs and trees with a pruning saw or chainsaw, and for bigger jobs call in contractors or the Nature Conservation’s Bush Regeneration Team.
We really encourage you to remove them because one tree can spread over a large area in just a few years. Once the woody weeds are gone, it’s important to replace them with local natives to restore habitat, complement our bushland and be beneficial for wildlife. Please note, if wildlife are using your woody weeds for food or habitat, a staged removal will minimise the impacts on animals.
Latest news on Woody Weed Control
Landholders team up to tackle woody weeds
There's been a big win for the Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park at Redgate thanks to a coalition of landholders teaming up to remove woody weeds from their land and protect the nearby bush. Four landholders near Boodjidup Creek have teamed up with Nature Conservation...
Simon Cherriman headlines sundowner
Nesting box expert, wildlife guru and author Simon Cherriman will feature at Nature Conservation Margaret River Region’s next Environmental Sundowner. The Good, the Bad & the Ugly will be held at the Margaret River HEART on Thursday, May 8 from 6.15pm-8.30pm, with...
Family farm joins woody weed fight
A picturesque family-owned winery in Gracetown is stepping up to protect the local bushland, joining forces with Nature Conservation Margaret River Region in the fight against wood weed species. Grace Farm, known for its premium hand-crafted wines and sustainable...
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Email: info@natureconservation.org.au
