Protecting the Health of Existing Trees

OPT liaised with Perth's departments of Community Development and Environmental Services to permit OPT volunteers to cut out/remove invasive vines growing on trees and shrubs in the parks and along the streets. Invasive vines damage and kill trees by smothering their leaves and their weight can break the branches.

In the photo to left two OPT volunteers can be seen removing vines the size of ropes from one tree on town property.

Photo to the right shows two young Black Walnut trees whose lower branches were mangled by vines that were growing up the trunk. By what our group refers to as “freeing the trees” we were able to save the upper branches from meeting the same fate. The trees would have died. At a time when more trees are needed, why not focus on keeping existing trees alive?

The 2 photos below pertain to a maple tree planted in Last Duel Park along the river, that was being overtaken by vines which would eventually kill the tree. Difficult to even see the tree  Before and after shots show the comparison. 

We refer to it as" freeing the tree" when the branches are released from the vines.

We'd like people to be on the look out for this type of problem whether on their property or elsewhere. If residents need assistance to remove the vines, they can contact OPT, and volunteers will help out. Our email address is ourperthtrees@gmail.com

To the left can be seen the "Before" shot of a young maple tree that was slowly being strangled to death by vines.

To the right you can see that same tree now freed from the vines that would have killed it. If trees could talk would this young tree say "Thank you!" or "Merci beaucoup!"?