North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Tony Adrian <nursingdata@gmail.com>]

Hello Jim,

I have no idea how to remove the Trifoliate. When we bought our land 
five years ago the woods were already loaded with them. Some are 15 feet 
tall and probably that big in diameter. My first clue that there was a 
problem was when a friend from the U.S. Fisheries and Wildlife came over 
to tromp around. He took one look at these beasts and told me that he 
didn't know they were a problem this far south in our area. He said on 
one project about 20 miles north of here they were battling them..

I'll email him and ask as he is the reforestation guy for our region and 
he'll either know or can find out easily. I'm willing to bet it is going 
to have to be a chemical. If not some rude chemical then perhaps a rope 
with a sling or a chain and a tractor. Yank them out and add them to a 
large burn pile might work. But they look like they'd come back from any 
roots left behind.

Tony
Opelousas, LA
Zone 8 (right between A & B)


> Tony,
> How do you remove the Trifoliate plants?
> Jim Nottke
>
> -----Original Message-----
>   
> > From: Tony Adrian <nursingdata@gmail.com>
> > Sent: Apr 15, 2007 1:49 PM
> > To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
> > Subject: Re: [NAFEX] rootstock under meyers lemon
> >
> > We have Trifoliate established as an invasive throughout the woods 
> > behind us. The flowers are abundant, very pretty, but only lightly 
> > scented for a citrus. The bees appear to like them. The fruit is 
> > worthless. The thorns are so large and sharp I had to replace the front 
> > tires (plural) on my farm tractor with 19 ply jet airplane tires filled 
> > with foam. Every time I'd try to clip the trails thru the woods, no 
> > matter how careful I mowed around and attempted to avoid these monsters, 
> > I always got multiple punctures.
> >
> > These things are a hazard. If you are mowing and aren't aware it is easy 
> > to get slapped by a branch as it is pulled loose from another tree or 
> > shrub. The risk of serious injury is very high. When I say serious 
> > injury I mean a trip to the emergency room and perhaps some inpatient 
> > time as well.
> >
> > If you see them starting in your area I would strongly advise getting 
> > them out ASAP.
> >
> > Tony
> > Opelousas, LA
> > Zone 8 (right between A & B)
> >     
> > > Trifoliate Orange (Poncirus trifoliata) can grow to a large citrus tree.  The 
> > > juvenile spines are thin, but on the mature tree they are stout and up to 2.5 
> > > inches long.  Here it is hardy to 5 degrees.  The fruit is very seedy and the 
> > > pulp is very tart - with much effort, the fruit can be made into marmalade or 
> > > lemonade.  They are hard to eradicate once established.
> > >
> > > Jim Nottke
> > > near Winston-Salem, NC   Z7
> > >