If you live in the Scenic Rim, up on Tamborine Mountain, or tucked into the gullies around Logan and Ipswich, you have seen it. Wild Tobacco is that fast growing, woolly leaved shrub that seems to appear out of nowhere the moment you look away from a fence line. It has those distinct clusters of small purple flowers and yellow berries, and while it might look like a lush bit of greenery, it is a massive headache for landholders.
At ADS Forestry, we spend most of our days on the side of hills that would make a mountain goat nervous. We see plenty of Lantana and Privet, but Wild Tobacco is a different beast. It grows with a ferocity that catches people off guard, often reaching four or five metres high in just a couple of seasons.
I will be honest with you: clearing this stuff by hand is a nightmare. The fine hairs on the leaves irritate your skin and throat, and if you just cut it down with a chainsaw, the stump will usually laugh at you and sprout three new heads by next month. This is why we get so many questions about how to actually get rid of it.
Why Should I Worry About Wild Tobacco On My Slopes?
The main reason we get calls for weed removal involving Wild Tobacco is the sheer volume of biomass it creates. In South East Queensland, we often get those heavy rains in February and March. That is when this weed goes into overdrive. By the time we hit the dry, windy weeks of August and September, those lush green plants have turned into thick, woody thickets.
Wild Tobacco acts as a "ladder fuel." If a small grass fire starts, it uses the low-hanging, furry leaves of the tobacco bush to climb up into the canopy of your Eucalypts. On steep terrain, fire moves significantly faster. If your gullies are choked with this weed, you have effectively built a chimney of fuel that leads straight to your house. Clearing it out creates essential fire breaks that can save your assets when the westerly winds start howling.
Can Your Machinery Handle The Steep Gullies Where It Grows?
This is the most common question we get. Most tractors or skid steers are useless once the gradient hits 20 degrees; they become unstable and dangerous. Wild Tobacco loves the rich, damp soil found in steep gullies and on South East Queensland escarpments.
We use specialised steep terrain clearing equipment designed to operate safely on slopes up to 45 degrees and beyond. While a person with a brushcutter would spend a week struggling on a hillside, our forestry mulchers can process the entire plant into a fine layer of mulch in minutes. We do not just knock it over; we grind it down to the ground level, which helps suppress new seedlings from popping up immediately.
Is It Better To Spray It Or Mulch It First?
I always tell customers that it depends on the density. If you have a few scattered plants, a spot spray might work. However, if you are looking at a "wall of green" that is three metres thick, spraying is a waste of time and chemicals. You cannot get the coverage needed to kill the heart of the infestation, and you are left with a standing skeleton of dead, dry wood that is an even bigger fire risk.
The most effective method we have found is forestry mulching first. By mulching the heavy infestation during the cooler months of June or July, you clear the bulk. This gives you clear access to the ground. When the remaining seeds inevitably strike during the Spring rains in October, you can easily walk the land and spot-treat the small regrowth with a backpack sprayer or even pull them out by hand.
Will Animals Eat Wild Tobacco To Keep It Down?
I get asked this a lot by people who have just moved onto acreage in places like Beaudesert or the Gold Coast Hinterland. The short answer is no. Most livestock will avoid it because the leaves are unpalatable and the berries are toxic. In fact, if you are trying to do paddock reclamation, Wild Tobacco is one of your worst enemies because it shades out the beneficial grasses your cattle or horses actually need.
Because the birds love the yellow berries, the seeds are spread constantly across your property. You might clear one corner, but if the back gully is still full of "mother trees," the birds will ensure your paddocks stay infested. It requires a whole-property approach to truly get on top of it.
What Happens To All The Wood Once You Clear It?
One of the best things about the way we work is that nothing needs to be burned or hauled away. In the old days, you would bulldoze it into a heap and wait for a day to light a fire. In our current climate, that is often too risky or restricted by local council regulations.
Our mulching head turns the Wild Tobacco, along with any Camphor Laurel or Other Scrub/Weeds mixed in with it, into a coarse organic mat. This mat stays on the soil. This is particularly important on steep slopes because it prevents erosion during our heavy Queensland storms. It protects the topsoil while discouraging new weed seeds from getting the sunlight they need to germinate.
How Do I Ensure It Does Not Come Back Next Year?
Consistency is the key. Wild Tobacco is a pioneer species; its job in nature is to grow fast in disturbed soil. After we clear an area, you have a "window of opportunity" to re-establish native trees or pasture grass.
I usually suggest that property owners keep a close eye on their cleared areas about six weeks after the first big rain following our visit. You will see little green shoots. Because we have cleared the "mains," these babies are easy to manage. If you ignore them for two years, you will be right back where you started. By staying on top of the maintenance, you turn a weekend-long chore into a ten-minute walk around the property.
If your hillsides are becoming a wall of furry green leaves and you are worried about the upcoming fire season, do not wait until the grass turns brown.
get a free quote today and let us help you take your land back from the weeds.