Australia's remarkable flora and fauna are one of its greatest boons, but the sheer uniqueness of Australian wildlife can be a double-edged sword -- species from other parts of the world that are introduced either deliberately or accidentally can wreak havoc on local ecosystems, as the native life is simply unprepared to deal with the growth of organisms it has never encountered before.

While cane toads and wild hogs might be two of the more notorious invasive species infesting the Australian countryside, not all invasive species are animals, and the humble pond apple tree, a relatively small and slender tree bearing apple-like fruits, can be remarkably destructive if left to grow unhindered. As such, if you find any pond apple trees on your land, they should be removed as soon as possible by a professional tree removal service.

Why should pond apple trees be removed from my land?

One of the main reasons pond apple trees are considered a particularly dangerous invasive species is the rate at which they produce. These fast-growing trees produce enormous amounts of seeds during the hottest part of the year, which blanket the ground for yards around each tree and can swiftly lead to an exponential increase in pond apple numbers. The sheer number of seeds produce by an average pond apple tree can quickly kill neighbouring flora, as the new trees grow quickly and sap the ground of much-needed water and nutrients.

Pond apple trees are also particularly troublesome if your land contains a lake, river or other waterway access; pond apples grow even faster, and reproduce even more quickly, when allowed to grow by water, and the dense thickets of trees that result from unchecked growth can deprive you of access to the water. This is especially troublesome for livestock farmers, who often rely on easy access to local waterways for watering their animals.

How can pond apple trees be removed from my land?

Tackling pond apple thickets without the right training, equipment and experience can be difficult and dangerous, and calling in the services of a professional tree removal company is always the easiest and most effective way to remove any number of pond apple trees from your land. Tree removal experts can use a variety of methods to remove these tenacious trees from your land, depending on your circumstances and preferences:

• Herbicides are probably the most widely used method, and are most effective when used during the height of the dry season when the trees are at their weakest. These herbicides are usually applied directly to the trunk and roots of a pond apple tree, minimising the chances of the chemicals contaminating nearby ground and water.
• Bulldozing and chain-dragging are faster and more direct methods, and are particularly effective at tackling larger thickets of trees. An experienced tree removal crew can bulldoze a large number of trees and remove them from your land in a matter of hours; however, this method can be much more challenging when pond apples are growing very close to water.
• Fire is the most definitive way to remove large amounts of pond apple trees quickly, but is usually considered a last resort for the obvious dangers and damage to local, native wildlife. Controlled burns must be carefully planned and overseen by a tree removal company specialising in fire-based removal methods.