Death by a 1 000 cuts: Weed-eater damage threatens our urban forest

Urban trees in George, which form a vital part of the city's natural heritage and environmental resilience, are increasingly under threat - not only from drought, development, densification and the PSHB (polyphagous shot hole borer beetle), but from an often-overlooked culprit: the weed-eater.

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Damage caused by a brush cutter.

(Photos: Monica Vaccaro)

In a recent statement, the George Municipality's Tree Committee aired its concerns about the damage done by weed-eaters (brush cutters or line trimmers) that are operated too close to tree trunks. The committee warned that they can cause serious and often irreversible damage. The nylon cord or blades strip away bark at the base, exposing the sensitive cambium layer beneath. This is the living tissue responsible for transporting water and nutrients throughout the tree.

The consequences are significant: