1. Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Start This tool will help you select the right treatments for managing your melaleuca problem. Press Start to begin. Press Esc to exit. Click here for help Click here for help Visit the TAME Melaleuca Project web site at http://tame.ifas.ufl.eduhttp://tame.ifas.ufl.edu

2. Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Click here for help Click here for help Kill melaleuca on your property? Kill melaleuca on your property? Suppress melaleuca on your property? Suppress melaleuca on your property? Do you want to… Start Treatment result selection phase Eradicating MelaleucaSuppressing Melaleuca ProsConsProsCons Final solution – once the trees are removed and stumps are treated High cost – can run several thousand dollars per acre to kill and remove trees. Low cost – biological control insects used to suppress the trees are free, self perpetuating, and self-sustaining. Time – it takes a long time for biological control agents to become established and have an effect. Reduces risk of fireTrees must be replaced with native vegetation so other invasive plants wont take hold. Fire risk remains as long as the trees remain. Click on the selection that best suits your needs You should kill melaleuca if the trees are few in number, the trees are near your home, or your property borders on a natural area. You should suppress melaleuca if the cost of eradication is prohibitive or if you have large numbers (acres) of trees.

3. Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Click here for help Click here for help Suppress melaleuca on your property Use biological control Use biological control Treatment method selection phase Follow-up treatment phase Start Do you want to… Treatment result selection phase Mow using a lawn mower, brush mower, etc. Mow using a lawn mower, brush mower, etc. Lawn mowers work best on seedlings of 6 inches in height or less. Brush mowers can cut saplings of an inch or more in diameter, depending on the manufacturer. Regrowth will occur unless mowing is repeated regularly. Biological control agents prefer young seedlings and saplings and can actually them. On larger trees, the insects can reduce flowering and seed production.

4. Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Click here for help Click here for help Suppress melaleuca on your property Regrowth treatment Regrowth treatment Treatment method selection phase Follow-up treatment phase Start Do you want to… Treatment result selection phase Mow using a lawn mower, brush mower, etc. Use biological control Use biological control

5. Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Click here for help Click here for help Kill melaleuca on your property? Kill melaleuca on your property? Remove the trees? Remove the trees? Leave the trees? Leave the trees? Treatment result selection phase Start Do you want to… Not recommended for populated areas or near homes and buildings. The trees are a fire hazard and pose a threat during heavy weather. Preferred option but can be expensive.

6. Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Click here for help Click here for help Kill melaleuca on your property Kill melaleuca on your property Remove the trees Remove the trees Cut down the trees? Grind or chip the trees? Grind or chip the trees? Treatment result selection phase Start Do you want to…

7. Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Click here for help Click here for help Kill melaleuca on your property Remove the trees Remove the trees Grind or chip the trees Grind or chip the trees Use heavy machinery Use heavy machinery Treatment result selection phase Treatment method selection phase Use hand tools Use hand tools Start Do you want to… Chainsaws, machetes, portable chippers, etc. Chainsaws, machetes, portable chippers, etc. Barko chipper, brontosaurus, etc. Barko chipper, brontosaurus, etc.

8. Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Click here for help Click here for help Kill melaleuca on your property Remove the trees Remove the trees Regrowth treatment Regrowth treatment Grind the trees Grind the trees Heavy machinery Treatment result selection phase Treatment method selection phase Follow-up treatment phase Use biological control Use biological control Start Do you want to…

9. Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Click here for help Click here for help Hand tools Treatment result selection phase Treatment method selection phase Follow-up treatment phase Kill melaleuca on your property Remove the trees Remove the trees Regrowth treatment Regrowth treatment Grind the trees Grind the trees Use biological control Use biological control Start Do you want to…

10. Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Click here for help Click here for help Kill melaleuca on your property Remove the trees Remove the trees Cut down the trees Heavy machinery Heavy machinery Treatment result selection phase Treatment method selection phase Hand tools Hand tools Start Do you want to… Chainsaws, machetes, portable chippers, etc. Feller-buncher

11. Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Click here for help Click here for help Kill melaleuca on your property Remove the trees Remove the trees Cut down the trees Heavy machinery Treatment result selection phase Treatment method selection phase Follow-up treatment phase Use biological control Use biological control Start Do you want to… Regrowth treatment Regrowth treatment

12. Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Click here for help Click here for help Treatment result selection phase Treatment method selection phase Follow-up treatment phase Hand tools Kill melaleuca on your property Remove the trees Remove the trees Cut down the trees Use biological control Use biological control Regrowth treatment Regrowth treatment Start Do you want to…

13. Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Click here for help Click here for help Kill melaleuca on your property Leave the trees Leave the trees Hack & squirt Hack & squirt Aerial spraying Aerial spraying Treatment result selection phase Treatment method selection phase Start Do you want to… Hack & squirt is a technique where you girdle the tree with a machete, then apply herbicide to kill the tree. Best for very large tracts (acres of trees).

14. Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Click here for help Click here for help Kill melaleuca on your property Use biological control Use biological control Leave the trees Leave the trees Hack & squirt Hack & squirt Regrowth treatment Regrowth treatment Treatment result selection phase Treatment method selection phase Follow-up treatment phase Start Do you want to…

15. Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Click here for help Click here for help Kill melaleuca on your property Use biological control Use biological control Leave the trees Leave the trees Aerial spraying Aerial spraying Regrowth treatment Regrowth treatment Treatment result selection phase Treatment method selection phase Follow-up treatment phase Start Do you want to…

16. Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Click here for help Click here for help First released in April 2002, the melaleuca psyllid (SILL-id) is difficult to see directly because of its small size (1/8 inch). However, its nymphs (immatures) are easy to detect from the waxy flocculence (white fluff) that they secrete onto melaleuca leaves and stems. This wax is harmless and washes off with rain. Psyllids complete their entire six-week life cycle on the melaleuca tree. Pale to bright yellow eggs are laid on leaves and stems and hatch in about two weeks. Nymphs cause the majority of feeding damage and take around three weeks to develop into adults. First released in April 1997, the melaleuca weevil has been distributed to over 150 locations. Evidence of their presence includes holes or gouges in buds and leaves. Adults are fairly easy to spot on melaleuca – they are gray-brown, with six legs and a snout, and larger than a ladybug (up to 3/8 inch). When touched, they tend to play dead and fall to the ground. Adult weevils may live longer than one year, and females may produce up to 1,000 eggs. Eggs hatch after seven days and spend seven weeks as larvae (immatures). Larvae grow up to 1/2 inch and are sluglike, and trail thin coils of fecal matter. Larvae are usually gray but might appear yellow at times. When the larvae are ready to pupate, they cease feeding, crawl or drop to the ground, and spend about four weeks underground in an earthen capsule. Due to this time spent in the soil, weevils do not fare well in permanently flooded habitats. You can order melaleuca psyllids and weevils from the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at http://tame.ifas.ufl.edu/html/faq.htm http://tame.ifas.ufl.edu/html/faq.htm You can order melaleuca psyllids and weevils from the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at http://tame.ifas.ufl.edu/html/faq.htm http://tame.ifas.ufl.edu/html/faq.htm Biological control is always an option! Two biological control agents are available. Biological control is always an option! Two biological control agents are available. Continue…

17. Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Click here for help Click here for help Damage caused by melaleuca psyllids. Damage caused by melaleuca weevils. Finish…

18. Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Click here for help Click here for help Heavy machinery options A brontosaurus grinds standing trees all the way down to the ground level. The remaining mulch can cover the stumps, reducing the amount of regrowth from the stumps. A feller-buncher grabs standing trees, cuts them off at the base, treats the stumps with herbicide, then stacks the trees for later removal. Stacking the trees limits the phase of seedling recruitment thus lowering the amount of follow-up needed. A Barko chipper attacks standing trees, toppling the trees and chipping them into a mulch that remains on the ground. If the mulch covers the stumps sufficiently, minimal regrowth will occur. Although the above machines are common, they are but three of the many types used. Continue…

19. Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Click here for help Click here for help Heavy machinery options A brontosaurus grinds standing trees all the way down to the ground level. The remaining mulch can cover the stumps, reducing the amount of stump regrowth. A feller-buncher grabs standing trees, cuts them off at the base, treats the stumps with herbicide, then stacks the trees for later removal. Stacking the trees limits the phase of seedling recruitment thus lowering the amount of follow-up needed. A Barko chipper attacks standing trees, toppling the trees and chipping them into a mulch that remains on the ground. If the mulch covers the stumps sufficiently, minimal regrowth will occur. Although the above machines are common, they are but three of the many types used. Continue…

20. Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Click here for help Click here for help Hand tool options Using a chainsaw to cut down a tree. A machete was used to girdle this tree by cutting through the bark into the cambium layer. It is important to treat the exposed cambium layer with herbicide as girdling alone will not kill melaleuca. Using a machete to cut down a tree. Regardless of the method used to cut down a tree, you need to treat the stump with herbicide. Continue… If doing this work yourself, always follow the manufacturers instructions when using machinery and herbicides, and always wear the appropriate personal protective equipment.

21. Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Click here for help Click here for help Hand tool options Using a chainsaw to cut down a tree. A machete was used to girdle this tree by cutting through the bark into the cambium layer. It is important to treat the exposed cambium layer with herbicide as girdling alone will not kill melaleuca. Using a machete to cut down a tree. Regardless of the method used to cut down a tree, you need to treat the stump with herbicide. Continue… If doing this work yourself, always follow the manufacturers instructions when using machinery and herbicides, and always wear the appropriate personal protective equipment.

22. Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Click here for help Click here for help Regrowth Coppicing occurs when a tree is cut or falls down. The tree will regenerate easily. Melaleuca used as fence posts have been known to regrow. Recruitment occurs when stressed trees drop their seeds. A mature tree can hold 50 million seeds, and when those seeds drop, a significant amount of seedling growth will occur within a couple of weeks, often creating a bigger problem than the one that originally existed. There are two kinds of regrowth: Recruitment and Coppicing. There are two kinds of regrowth: Recruitment and Coppicing. Continue… Herbicide treatment and biological control are both effective methods of controlling coppicing. Biological control is an effective method of controlling recruitment but large outbreaks may require retreatment.

23. Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Click here for help Click here for help How to use this tool Navigating Click here for help Start To return to the beginning, click either the home button in the top left corner or the Start symbol at the top of the page. To return to the last page that you viewed, click the u shaped arrow in the top left corner. To return to this page for help, click the Help button in the top left corner. If you need more information about melaleuca or how to treat it, go to the TAME Melaleuca Project website at http://tame.ifas.ufl.edu.http://tame.ifas.ufl.edu Conceived, designed, and created by John C. Scoles, writer/editor for the TAME Melaleuca Project, 2006.

24. Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Melaleuca Treatment Decision Tool for Homeowners Click here for help Click here for help For more information, you can download a handbook from the publications page of the TAME website. http://tame.ifas.ufl.edu Press Esc to exit