1. Mechanical Removal TAME 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.
Tracked feller buncher cutting trees
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
Tracked Feller Buncher spraying herbicide
Treated stump
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-up retreatment 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
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

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
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
Stump regrowth
Few seedlings

15. 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

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
Stump regrowth
Few seedlings

18. Stump Regrowth
No regrowth with Feller Buncher
Brontosaurus
Barko

19. 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

20. 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

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