The Tree Popper

Alan adds some technical information :-
The Tree PopperTM was originally designed by Terry Negus in South Africa to deal with Australian invasive woody species introduced to the tip of Africa. The Tree Popper was introduced into the UK and Europe in September 2015.
The Tree Popper is a robust, uncomplicated tool, operated by one person that extracts unwanted woody specie, roots and all by means of “Popping”.
It is an additional weapon in the armoury in the war on scrub or unwanted woody species, which avoids multi stem regrowth or having to stump treat with herbicide. When using a Tree Popper the ground flora is only flattened, and not disturbed or damaged. Popping leaves the flora cover intact which restricts unwanted self-seeding woody scrub from recolonizing the sites.
The Tree Popper has limitations. When it comes to coppiced plants (cut down and have regrown multi stems from the original stem on the same root system) with well-developed roots that have produced a large amount of biomass below ground, especially if the soil is very stony, heavy clay or dry chalk (and you cannot get a root saw in to servre a few lateral roots) you will find them difficult or impossible to pop. Very wet or spongy conditions where the foot piece of the Poppers sinks lower than the stem also reduces effectiveness (but the Tree Popper does come with a big foot plate that helps reduce sinking).
If you are thinking of popping to replant, the jaws of the Tree Popper can and often do damage the bark on the stem being popped. Popped shrubs or trees are often not suitable for replanting due to damage to bark on trunk.
Price? around £300.
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