Mechanical Removal TAME Melaleuca François B. Laroche South Florida Water Management District

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.

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

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

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-up retreatment for seedlings

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

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

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)

Melaleuca Control Cost by Various Methods of Treatment at Cell 17/18 Feller Buncher Manual Herbicide Clearmore Chipper Aerial Acres Treated 37.5 38.5 20 80 Total Cost $99,400 $70,199.53 $75,190 $51,411.70 Cost/Acre $2,651 $1,823 $3,760 $286 Cost/Biomass $48 $40 $67 N/A Cost/Plant $0.19 $0.08 $0.22 Labor/equipment cost/acre $1068 $60 $755 $226 Time to completion 120 days 21 days 160 days 2 days

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

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

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

Brontosaurus, Holiday Park and Prairie Pines (TAME) 2005 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

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

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

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

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

Stump Regrowth No regrowth with Feller Buncher Brontosaurus Barko

Feller Buncher Herbicide Mechanical Removal of Melaleuca at Prairie Pines (TAME) Brontosaurus Feller Buncher Herbicide Barko Chipper Acres Treated 4.8 5.0 Total Cost $9,740 $9,980 $10,000 Cost/Acre $2,029 $2,079 $2,000 Herbicide cost/acre N/A $38 Labor Hours 23

Mechanical Removal of Melaleuca at Holiday Park (TAME) Brontosaurus Feller Buncher Herbicide Barko Chipper Acres Treated 3.8 5.0 4.0 Total Cost $7,030 $9,103 $9,900 Cost/Acre $2,211 $1,990 $2,475 Herbicide cost/acre N/A $29 Labor Hours 16

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

Brown is Beautiful