7 Plants And Trees It's Best To Avoid

A step-by-step guide to problem plants and shrubs, such as fig trees, Cocos palms, rhus trees and London plane, and what you should do if they are growing in your garden. Aborist Mark Hartley, of The Tree Doctor (www.treedoc.com.au), suggests making sure you know what care is required before planting anything. Also check with your […]

A step-by-step guide to problem plants and shrubs, such as fig trees, Cocos palms, rhus trees and London plane, and what you should do if they are growing in your garden.

Aborist Mark Hartley, of The Tree Doctor (www.treedoc.com.au), suggests making sure you know what care is required before planting anything.

Also check with your local council to find out what plants have been declared noxious or invasive, and consider where trees and shrubs are positioned to keep nuisance plants away from fences, paths and driveways.

The solution to most so-called pest plants is maintenance to prevent them from growing out of control.



1. Running bamboo

1. Running bamboo
Max Pixel

Problem



Highly invasive if not kept in a pot, and the roots can end up next door. 


Solution



Choose a non-running bamboo instead. 



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2. Fig tree

2. Fig tree
Wikipedia

Problem



Roots can grow a metre a month in wet weather, and the closer the root is to the surface, the more likely it is to do damage. 


Solution



Keep in a pot or an area with good soil where it can develop deeper roots. 



3. Wandering Jew

3. Wandering Jew
Flickr

Problem



This is known for its invasive nature and propensity to cause dog allergies. 



Solution



A blue-flowered native version is less of an allergen and not so invasive. 



A step-by-step guide to problem plants and shrubs, such as fig trees, Cocos palms, rhus trees and London plane, and what you should do if they are growing in your garden.

Aborist Mark Hartley, of The Tree Doctor (www.treedoc.com.au), suggests making sure you know what care is required before planting anything.

Also check with your local council to find out what plants have been declared noxious or invasive, and consider where trees and shrubs are positioned to keep nuisance plants away from fences, paths and driveways.

The solution to most so-called pest plants is maintenance to prevent them from growing out of control.



4. Rhus tree

4. Rhus tree
Pixabay

Problem



This can cause severe skin irritation, sometimes resulting in hospitalisation. 



Solution



Remove and never plant it. 



5. Leighton's Green

5. Leighton's Green
Bunnings.com.au

Problem



A hedging plant that, if not rigorously maintained, quickly becomes massive and uncontrollable, with removal the only solution. 



Solution



Choose an alternative such as lilly pilly that can be hedged at any time. 



6. Cocos palm 



6. Cocos palm 


Flickr

Problem



Produces over 100kg of fruit a year that is inedible to everything except troublesome flying foxes. 


Solution



In Sydney, two new bat colonies have started because of this tree. Avoid planting. 



A step-by-step guide to problem plants and shrubs, such as fig trees, Cocos palms, rhus trees and London plane, and what you should do if they are growing in your garden.

Aborist Mark Hartley, of The Tree Doctor (www.treedoc.com.au), suggests making sure you know what care is required before planting anything.

Also check with your local council to find out what plants have been declared noxious or invasive, and consider where trees and shrubs are positioned to keep nuisance plants away from fences, paths and driveways.

The solution to most so-called pest plants is maintenance to prevent them from growing out of control.



7. London plane

7. London plane
Wikimedia

Problem



Extremely hardy, making it popular with local councils, but the fruit and leaves produce small fibres that can cause some people considerable discomfort. 



Solution



Choose a different hardy plant that likes lots of sunlight.

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