Brazilian Pepper can take over quickly.

The Brazilian Pepper invasion represents a significant threat to Florida’s native plant and wildlife populations. They form dense thickets of closed canopies that exclude all other plant life and are poor habitat for native wildlife species and can negatively impact bird populations. These plants are by far the most common problem when managing the boarder between common spaces, like parks and residential areas, and the environmental areas that are normally part of wetlands or the water retention systems. They grow two feet a year but we repeatedly see suckers from previous cuts exceeding 6 feet within a year. It is best to rip them out by their roots, but most property managers lack the budget for such extensive management of their environmental areas. The best option for restrictive budgets is to have your cutbacks done in the fall and winter cycle. There is less material to remove so we’re able to take more out. BUT**** this is an important point, use the same tree service company each year if they’re doing good work, with the understanding that each year they are going to push further back. Brazilian Pepper is extremely gnarly and very difficult and dangerous to chip, so it is preferred to load it out. This is why landscapers tend to cut them like shrubs because there is simply too much debris when cut back properly. Partnering with a knowledgeable tree service and applying a small budget over two or three years will help reduce the threat this invasive species represents. https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/habitat/invasive-plants/weed-alerts/brazillian-pepper/