Cutting down of albizia tree

[bystander]

I heard the albizia trees were brought here from Fiji or somewhere. They were supposed to be used to make match sticks but that market dried up with the advent of cheap disposable lighters.

Cutting down the young trees does no good because they regrow as someone said. My neighbor showed me a good way to get rid of them. He debarks some of the trunk with a machete. The tree quickly dies and usually doesn't regrow.



Edited by - bystander on 08/30/2007 10:41:00

[Mitzi M]

Here you go Jean,

The tree commonly called albizia here is actually falcataria moluccana. There are several of its relatives here as well which they kind of resemble, like monkeypods and mimosas. But if you find them growing wild in the Puna lowlands chances are it's going to be an albizia. You can rip up the seedlings by the roots if they are small enough, but if you leave a stump they'll grow back. Like bystander said, the girdling method is an easy way to do it provided there's nothing you care about underneath. You are wise to deal with them now before you build and, as a friend of mine said, it's always easier to step on the dragon's egg than kill the dragon;> In fact, falcatarias were brought here from Central America to provide fast shade for coffee grown on land previously cleared for sugarcane etc. They were also planted in the Panaewa area as part of a reforestation effort(!). I read somewhere that they are the world's fastest growing tree.

http://www.hear.org/pier/imagepages/thum...uccana.htm

Good luck!
Mitzi

Uluhe Design
Native Landscape Design
uluhedesign@yahoo.com

[leilaniguy]

Here's an interesting note about the origin of Albizias in HPP: Go to www.hawaiianparadisepark.org Click on "history" and read the account of Mr. Rick Edwards, one of the areas pioneers who brought Albizias from Lava Tree park and planted them (on purpose, Oh yeah,) on Makuu and Paradise Avenues.

[wisson]

I bought a lot in HPP this year, but my BF wouldn't let me chop down the baby albezias until I was legal owner. Unfortunately I'm back on the mainland and worried those little devils are taking over! I know I'd be pleased if someone weeded them out and saved me a lot of trouble later. I'm sure most absentee owners would feel the same. Chop away!

Kris

[Carolann R]

Someone near and dear to us once said "Kill 'em while they're young!!" (John Dirgo LOL)

They stink REALLY bad when they decay though...I mean smells like bad SKUNK.


Carrie

"All I can say about life is, Oh God, enjoy it." Bob Newhart



Edited by - carolann r on 08/31/2007 08:21:17