Is Your Tree a Weed? Invasive Tree Species In South-East Queensland

When we think of weeds in the yard, we very rarely consider the trees around us to be hazardous to our environment and other flora in the area. Just like the plants that we normally classify as weeds, such as lantana, an invasive tree species can be an introduced species that possesses high germination rates that allow it to rapidly grow and colonise areas.

An issue with this fast colonisation means that it can tip the balance of your local ecosystem and alter the landscape. Over time, the shape and size of a tree is determined by its competition and environment. If a taller growing tree is introduced to an area that is populated by short natives, it can propagate and start to starve the existing trees of light. This causes the trees to wither and die out while the introduced species thrives.

While this means the destruction of our native species of trees, it can also upset the ecosystem that it shares with native fauna. If an animal forms a relationship with a certain tree species, its removal means that the animal is left to wander the ground where predators and other dangers can cause its demise.

Do You Have Invasive Tree Species In Your Yard?

The chance that you have an invasive species in your backyard is much higher than you probably think. It is quite an alarming fact that one third of all invasive tree species were introduced as garden ornamentals. Quite often, these species will sport beautiful and colourful flowers, hence the reason for them being used in everyday gardens.

The proliferation of these introduced garden species was helped along by our initial definitions on what qualified a species as a weed. At first, a tree was determined to be an invasive species if it directly impacted upon the agricultural production of land. This narrow scope meant many trees were allowed to be imported and planted that should not have been. Over time, the public has experienced a growth in environmental consciousness, which has broadened our definition in order to consider more than just the financial impact on our farming industry.

As mentioned above, the effect that an introduced species can have is not just limited to other tree species. Recently, we have seen the impact of the African Tulip tree in killing off our native bees. This tree is an extremely common species that was planted due to its vibrant flowers and strong shade coverage. The tree favours wetter habitats such as rivers, creeks and gullies, which provide a perfect transportation system for their extremely light and numerous seeds.

O’Briens Tree Care Can Advise You On Replacement Trees

While a tree can look beautiful, it can also present a danger to your local ecosystem, which has been balanced by thousands of years of growth. O’Briens Tree Care is able to ascertain the species of a tree and inform you as to what impact it can have on your environment. We can also provide suggestions for which tree should replace it should you make the choice to have a potentially dangerous species removed.