SPECIALIST TREE OF HEAVEN CONTROL SERVICES

OUR SPECIALIST CONTROL SERVICES WILL TREAT OR ERADICATE THIS SPECIES. TO FIND OUT IF YOU HAVE TREE OF HEAVEN USE OUR FREE ID TOOL OR BOOK A SURVEY

treatment & removal

We often get asked how hard is it to remove Tree of Heaven?

Tree of Heaven is very similar to Japanese knotweed in that its underground roots can spread rapidly. The most effective way to control Tree of Heaven is to pull young seedlings out of the ground by hand before the taproot develops. If the plant has matured, cutting alone will only help temporarily by reducing its ability to spread, so herbicide application to the cut stumps or complete excavation is required. This must be followed by monitoring.

To find out the best way to remove Tree of Heaven and the best time of year to have treatment or excavation carried out get in touch.

WHY IS TREE OF HEAVEN A PROBLEM?

Apart from being an aggressive growing plant that reproduces very quickly and crowding out native species, Tree of Heaven secretes a chemical into the soil that is toxic to surrounding plants. It also produces an overly abundant amount of seeds, which allows it to spread rapidly. The tree produces a lot of pollen which can cause allergies, and its leaves, branches, seeds, and bark can irritate the skin. Its aggressive root system can cause damage to pavement, sewers and building foundations.

ABOUT TREE OF HEAVEN

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Ailanthus altissima
ORIGIN: China

Don’t be fooled by its name – Tree of Heaven is a rapidly growing deciduous tree native to China that has become a widespread invasive species here in the UK. Known by a number of other names including stinking sumac, Chinese sumac, varnish tree and stink tree, mostly because the plant releases a strong, offensive smell, particularly from its flowers.

After the bloom fades in autumn, the male flowers wither away whereas the female flowers develop into samaras (winged seed pods, also known as helicopter seeds) containing a single seed that mature late summer – early autumn.

• Grows to a height of 60-75 feet and 35-50 feet wide.
• Large leaves 1-4 feet from a central stem with leaflets on either side
• Underside of leaves has bumpy surface.
• Rough and fissured bark.
• Fuzzy, reddish-brown twigs
• Clusters of light green seed pods.
• Repugnant smell similar to cat urine.
• Yellow/green flowers bloom in spring and summer.
• Panicle-shaped flowers of the male tree have a noxious, skunk-like smell.

HABITAT

Tree of Heaven grows just about anywhere its seed lands. It will thrive in the poorest of soils, with very little water, and even grows out of cracks in cement. Widely seen taking over fields, meadows, and forests, because the tree is drought-tolerant it grows in nutrient-poor soil. It does not tolerate shade, so is more likely to establish itself on the edge of woodland areas.

IMPACT: HIGH

Once established, Tree of Heaven constantly grows suckers that can grow 50 or more feet away from the original tree. After only two years the new trees produce seeds on their own. A female tree can produce up to 300,000 seeds per year, making this species highly invasive.

TOXICITY: ZERO

Tree of Heaven presents no physical danger to either humans or animals, however contains allelopathic chemicals, which prevent other plants from growing.