Mechanical Removal TAME Melaleuca

1. Mechanical RemovalTAME Melaleuca François B. Laroche South Florida Water Management District

2. Melaleuca Control • Mechanical removal not used for melaleuca removal in natural areas. • Land clearing for development, along canals, roadside, utilities ROW. • Cell 17/18, comparison of herbicide and mechanical methods • TAME demonstration project • Melaleuca control in natural areas traditionally done with herbicide treatment methods.

3. Tracked Feller Buncher Cutting Trees (Cell 17/18 - 2002) • Holiday Park and Prairie Pines demonstration sites • Cutting head mounted on front of vehicle. • Cell 17/18 • Cutting head mounted on hydraulic arm • Better maneuverability

4. Tracked Feller Buncher Spraying Stumps (Cell 17/18 - 2002) • Gyro Track for smaller trees and saplings Spraying Treated Stump • Cutting head mounted with herbicide sprayer

5. CELL 17/18 • Frill /Girdle/Cut/stump herbicide treatment, 3 years later • 95% mortality • Follow-up retreatment for seedlings • Stumps and trunks remain • Feller Buncher/Gyrotrack/ Skider/Chipper, 3 years later • 90 – 95% mortality. • Follow-upretreatment for seedlings

6. Clear-More Tree Chipper Stumper Knocking Down Trees (Cell 17/18) • High selectivity and maneuverability, little non-target damage and no melaleuca left standing • Separate motor for chipping head • Grinds stumps into the ground • 99% mortality • 0 seedling recruitment • Slow when trees are dense

7. Clear-More Tree Chipper After Treatment (Cell 17/18) Natives • 3 years later Ground Rutting Ground Rutting • Days after

8. Cell 17/18 • Aerial herbicide treatment, 3 years later • 99% mortality • 0 seedling recruitment • Follow-up treatment needed • Dead trees remain standing (10 year + for decay)

9. Melaleuca Control Cost by Various Methods of Treatment at Cell 17/18

10. Tracked Feller Buncher Cutting Trees, (TAME) - 2004 • 90% mortality • some seedlings, 0.3/m2 Prairie Pines Preserve, Lee Co. Prairie Pines • 65% mortality • some seedlings, 1.3/m2 Holiday Park Holiday Park, Broward Co. • Restricted to certain trunk diameter • Need second pass for small trees • Somewhat selective • Treat stumps with herbicide

11. Tracked Feller Buncher Cutting Trees, (TAME) - 2006 Prairie Pines Holiday Park

12. Brontosaurus, Holiday Park and Prairie Pines (TAME) 2004 • High selectivity and maneuverability • Does not grind stumps Holiday Park • Little non-target damage and few melaleuca left standing • Able to take down large trees • Separate motor for chipping head Prairie Pines

13. Brontosaurus, Holiday Park and Prairie Pines (TAME) 2005 Holiday Park • 20-30% mortality • 0 seedling recruitment Prairie Pines • 50 % mortality • some seedlings, 0.7/m2 Holiday Park Prairie Pines • Mortality greater (less regrowth) where trees were larger or denser and mulch is therefore deeper

14. Brontosaurus, Holiday Park and Prairie Pines (TAME) 2006 Prairie Pines Holiday Park • Stump regrowth • Few seedlings

15. Barko Chipper, Holiday Park and Prairie Pines (TAME) 2004 Holiday Park • Coarse mulch, some stems/trunks missed by chipper once down • Rubber tires • Low selectivity, cannot maneuver well around natives Prairie Pines

16. Barko Chipper, Holiday Park and Prairie Pines (TAME) 2005 • 40% mortality • Seedling recruitment 3/m2 Prairie Pines Holiday Park • 60% mortality • Damage to pine • Seedling recruitment 0.7/m2

17. Barko Chipper, Holiday Park and Prairie Pines (TAME) 2006 Holiday Park Prairie Pines • Stump regrowth • Few seedlings

18. Stump Regrowth • No regrowth with Feller Buncher • Brontosaurus • Barko

19. Mechanical Removal of Melaleuca at Prairie Pines (TAME)

20. Mechanical Removal of Melaleuca at Holiday Park (TAME)

21. Follow up treatment required • Seedling recruitment • Other exotics • Need herbicide and follow-up treatment • Restricted (wetland areas) • Not selective (under story) • Tracks create rutting • Costly • Instant results • Many types of equipment

22. Brown is Beautiful