May 14, 2025

Eradicating some of our worst weeds

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Bushcare, Fox Gully Bushcare | Tags: , , , , |
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Leigh with Tree Popper

By: Michael Fox

Leigh, one of our Fox Gully Bushcare team, tried out one of our most valuable tools: Tree Popper.

How to remove a troublesome weed. Pull it out roots and all.

Chinese Elm Celtis sinensis and Ochna Ochna serrulata are two Brisbane’s troublesome environmental weeds that have seeds that are spread by birds eating the fruit. Both called woody weeds they are very difficult to remove as their extensive root systems get a hold.

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Yellow Bells Tecoma stans

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Leigh loved using the Tree Popper so I spotted a small Yellow Bells Tecoma stans needing removal. Ironically I saw these attractive trees in flower in a park when I visited Quito in Ecuador where they occur naturally.

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Pauline with her pile of Corky Passion Vines

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Another team member Pauline focused on another of our troublesome weeds Corky Passion Vine Passiflora suberosa which is currently covered in fruit which will be eaten and spread by birds.

 

April 24, 2014

Tree Popper cuts out infections

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Bushcare, Fox Gully Bushcare, Mt Gravatt Conservation Reserve, Threats to Conservation Reserve | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |
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Removing Chinese Elm with Treepopper

Removing Chinese Elm with Tree Popper

By: Michael Fox

Marshal and I tackled the Chinese Elm Celtis sinensis infestation in Fox Gully Bushcare this morning. Mature Chinese Elms can reach 20 metres in backyard gardens.

A Tree Popper is the ideal tool for this job allowing us to remove all but six larger Elms without using poison. The largest we removed with the Popper as about twice my height with an extensive spreading root system.

In total we removed 40 Chinese Elms, about 30 Umbrella Trees Schefflera actinophylla, dozens of Micky Mouse Plants Ochna serrulata, Camphor Laurels Cinnamomum camphora, Small Leaf Privet Ligustrum sinense and Indian Hawthorne Rhaphiolepis indica.

Chinese Elm with extensive root system

Chinese Elm with extensive root system

The Tree Popper is perfect for use in safely and easily removing these woody weeds in bush restoration sites. The jaws of the Popper clamp around the trunk and the long handle provides leverage to pull the weed roots and all. The Popper is particularly useful for tackling the deep-rooted Micky Mouse Plant.

Using Cyclone 2-Prong Hoe we also removed two garbage bags of Asparagus Fern Asparagus aethiopicus and Climbing Asparagus Fern Asparagus plumosus. The long handle and sharp prongs of the 2-Prong Hoe reach past the prickly leaves and the prongs get right under the crown of the plant allowing the complete weed mat to be removed quickly and easily.

 

 

July 2, 2013

Removing troublesome Ochna

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Bushcare, Fox Gully Bushcare | Tags: , , , |
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Ochna removed with Tree Popper

By: Michael Fox

Mickey Mouse Plant Ochna serrulata is one of the most difficult woody weeds to remove or even poison.

One of our key Bushcare tools, the Tree Popper is an ideal weapon to attack Ochna and no poison required.

Ochna bushes commonly have extraordinarily deep tap roots out of proportion to the size of the bush. This Ochna removed at Fox Gully Bushcare is an excellent example – a thick 60cm tap root hidden under a tiny bush.

The Tree Popper is an excellent tool for Bushcare work however best results are obviously achieved when the ground is soft after rain.

 

August 2, 2012

It’s beautiful in the bush on a sunny winter’s afternoon …..

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Bushcare, Gertrude Petty Place | Tags: , |
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By: Susan Jones

After the fun of last week’s National Tree Day planting of 140 natives to attract birds, bees, butterflies and koalas, it was time to start watering.   Council do not supply water for smaller plantings and we are not permitted to use mains water.   Consequently we have to depend on water from our own garden tanks, which we bottle in recycled 3 litre milk containers and carry to site.  Sheamus shared the load and added a dash of worm juice to his bottles, which will give the plants a good start.  We will continue to water weekly for a month, unless it starts to rain again.

Mirandha and her Griffith Uni volunteer team of Lin, Lyn, Moeko, Thomas and Rashed joined our regular group members and quickly dispersed to water and put mulch around the base of our plantings.   Next, it was back to the tedious task of removing Creeping Lantana Lantana montevidensis and Guinea Grass Megathyrsus maximus.  Rashed tried his hand at using our Tree Popper, a very handy device that grips and easily pulls deep-rooted weeds from the ground. His target was Mickey Mouse Plant Ochna serrulata, an extremely deep rooted weed that is now showing the first signs of flowering.    With the arrival of Spring, the plants will fruit and birds will disperse the seeds all around the mountain and into our gardens.   If we do not get all the plants out before fruiting time, we remove fruiting branches and return later to remove the rest of the plant.

A lot of work was achieved at this regular Wednesday afternoon working bee.   It’s so beautiful in the bush on a sunny winter’s afternoon – why not come out and join us, and meet delightful young people from all around the globe.

 

 

November 30, 2011

CVA team roll up weeds on Mt Gravatt

Posted by Mt Gravatt Environment Group under Bushcare, Gertrude Petty Place | Tags: , , , , , , , |
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Removing weeds with Tree Popper

By Susan Jones

Last Saturday, Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA) brought a corporate group of twelve young volunteers to assist Mt Gravatt Environment Group with weed removal at the entrance to the Summit Track.   Their main targets for the day were Creeping Lantana Lantana montevidensis and Mickey Mouse Plant Ochna serrulata.

Group leader, Fabian was interested in trying out our Tree Popper on the Mickey Mouse Plants, as he had not seen one of these used before.  The tool is placed around the main stem of the ground at ground level, the pincers are closed firmly and the tool levered towards the user.  With very little effort the weed emerges from the ground with its deep tap-root intact.

Whilst the blokes were grappling with Mickey Mouse Plants, the girls were rolling up Creeping Lantana like a carpet.  After shaking off the dirt, the ‘carpet’ was laid out to dry.  Once the materials has dried out, it will be returned  to the earth as mulch.

Rolling up Creeping Lantana

Thanks to Conservation Volunteers Australia  and the volunteers for a great day’s work!

Conservation Volunteers organise groups of local volunteers, often corporate groups, as well as volunteers from around Australia, New Zealand and the rest of the world.