Lodgepole pine

Lodgepole pine is a large shrub or small to medium (sometimes large in cultivation) pine tree with branches that are either straight or twisted down the trunk almost to ground level.

Description

• Two needle-like leaves per bundle. Each needle is usually twisted and yellow-green with resin ducts halfway.

• Bark is reddish-brown and grey on the surface, fissured, and forms small plates.

• Male cones are cylinder-shaped and woody. Female cones are long-lived that point backwards or downwards on the branch.

• Seeds are winged and spread via wind or water.

• Habitats include disturbed and open forest, tussock land, bare land, and screes, mainly in sub-alpine areas.

What you need to know

Lodgepole pine forms dense, often pure, stands extending the forest above the native tree line. It uses lots of water resource in summer but fails to retain it during winter resulting in drought and flooding. Leaf litter inhibits the growth of understory species, affecting water quality and destroying freshwater habitats.

Management approach

Lodgepole pine is declared an unwanted organism by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) because it is capable of causing harm to the natural environment, physical resources or human health in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

These species pose a high risk to our environment, economy, recreation, and cultural values.

Rules

Any species declared a pest cannot be sold or be in a place where plants are being sold. Pest plants cannot be propagated, bred, multiplied, communicated, released, caused to be released, or otherwise spread.

To help protect our environment:

Consider removing this invasive species from your property and consult your local council for appropriate disposal. Consider lower-risk alternatives for your garden, such as native plants.

Control

Physical control

Dig or pull-out small plants and seedlings

Plant parts requiring disposal: cones

Contact your local council for appropriate disposal options

Chemical control

Cut plant close to the ground and immediately treat the stump with herbicide gel containing metsulfuron-methyl.

Basal spray with X-Tree Basal - apply from the ground to a height of six times the diameter of the tree, ensure the base is thoroughly covered at ground. Suitable for trees up to 20cm in diameter.

Drill downward sloping holes around the circumference of the trunk about 8-10cm apart. Fill with 20g metsulfuron-methyl (10g/L).

Foliar spray with 20ml glyphosate plus 2ml penetrant per 1L of water.

Foliar spray with 0.5g metsulfuron-methyl plus 3ml penetrant per 1L of water.

Caution: When using any herbicide or pesticide please read the label thoroughly to ensure that all instructions and safety requirements are followed.