OLIVE removal by stem-injection
by
Mark Ellis - for Ilkari
 (Flinders University Conservation Group)

With a small toolkit & team of three, we are able to work in sensitive areas with minimum collateral damage. The tree is left standing to provide bird habitat while other species regenerate. We also have easy access to olive seedlings which always appear under the tree. It is important to not take on too much poisoning in one year as maintenance is heavy in the following year. (Olive seedlings take about 4 years before they are too big to grub out with a mattock)

  Tool kit (for three people):
 hammer
 12mm chisel (ground from 3/4 inch works well)
 pruning saw (folding is convenient)
 pruning snips (anvil type)
 chemical gloves
 leather gloves (3 pairs)
 50% glyphosate in a wash bottle (low surfactant type is safest)
 dye for glyphosate if not already coloured
 wire & tags to mark trees
 bucket
 trowel
 mattock

Method:
1.      Select a tree too big to be grubbed out with a mattock.
2.      Clear lower branches/twigs to gain access to ligno-tuber.
3.      Clear trunk/branches every 600mm up the tree and at all major forks.
4.      Drag all cuttings to a heap away from any olives so that we have access to sprouting seedlings next year.
5.      If the weather is dry: chisel ligno-tuber close to ground level & apply poison immediately. Repeat every 10mm around tuber.
6.      Tree forks: chisel 2 points on the inside on both sides.
7.      Branches over 40mm diameter: every 600mm treat as per ligno-tuber.
8.      Label the tree "poisoned 50% glyphosate - date"
9.      Next year, remove seedlings & other weeds.