Weedbusters

A tree from heaven (not)

FOUND: North Island, North Canterbury, Canterbury, Dunedin

FEATURES: Ailanthus altissima is a deciduous native of China and was once a popular garden feature tree. It grows rapidly, forming an attractive large tree with smooth, grey, pale-striped bark. The large 60cm-long leaves are made up of many alternating, hairless leaflets with bluishgreen undersides. Clusters of greenish-yellow flowers are produced from December to January, followed by seeds enclosed in pink to tan, papery, twisted, winged sheaths. All parts of the tree have a strong smell described as similar to peanuts or cashews but unpleasant.

HOW TO CONTROL IT

1. Hand pull seedlings and small plants (all year round): remove all roots and fragments, as these can regrow, and dispose of at a refuse transfer station.

2. Basal bark application (late winter or early springsummer): spray or paint 30cm wide band around trunk using triclopyr 600EC (50ml/L).

3. Swab stump (spring-summer): cut down and paint freshly cut stump with triclopyr 600EC (50ml/L).

4. Spray (spring-summer): glyphosate (100ml/10L + penetrant) or metsulfuronmethyl 600g/kg (5g/10L) or triclopyr 600EC (60ml/10L

+ penetrant).