An Aussie gardener has shown first-hand the destructive nature of a beloved garden plant, telling Yahoo News Australia he often “sees the results of them being put in the wrong place” — and doing so can cause significant damage to homes, walls, fences and even pools.
Jason from Choppers and Chippers Tree Service, based in Australind, WA, said yuccas are “nice” when small, but their invasive root system will become extremely problematic as they mature and take over Aussie gardens.
“As they mature some of them can grow out of control. Root systems can damage underground services, and trees can grow quite high and be dangerous in storms,” he told Yahoo. Sometimes it can cost homeowners thousands.
“Yucca by name, yuk by nature,” Jason wrote on Facebook alongside images of a recent job he completed. The “tree guy” was tasked with removing the overgrown yucca plant from a backyard which had started causing damage to a nearby fence and retaining wall.
“When removing you need to get all the bulbs out or they will grow back,” he explained. He told Yahoo, “people don’t research their plants and trees before planting them”.
The entire root system has to be removed or it will continue growing back. Source: Choppers and Chippers tree service
Speaking to Yahoo previously, Steven from Zani’s Gardening said they’re “absolutely not suitable” around homes. Although they’re often fine in “open farms” where the roots have room to grow, or contained in a pot where they’re restricted, he added.
Aussies urged to remove invasive yucca plants from gardens
Photos show the extent of Jason’s recent job in WA and part of the damage caused by the resilient plants, native to Mexico, which were once planted along poolsides and fence lines in Australia “by the millions between 2000 and 2010” because of their “modern” appearance, Steven said.
But now it’s always recommended they’re removed before they cause too much damage.
Responding to Jason’s post, some people shared their own yucca horror stories. “Been there done that. Never again,” one person said.
“Just had to remove heaps from the house we purchased. Six months on and still digging out small shoots,” another person shared.
The gardener was tasked with removing the large tree which can cause significant damage to its surroundings. Source: Choppers and Chippers tree service
But Aussies have long warned against the plants, with comments flooding social media in recent years.
“We had yuccas in our front garden, took forever to remove them all. A family friend wanted some so she took a few clippings. She hired a tree removal company to remove them,” someone shared previously.
Another said a yucca plant growing too close to their home had broken the structure’s brick and gutters. Others claimed they would be ripping the plant out of their yards as soon as possible after learning of the damage they cause.
Yuccas plants cause spike in injuries
What’s more, the plants can also be a serious hazard with one warning they’re a “great way to lose an eye” thanks to the spikey nature of their leaves.
In 2018, research revealed the yucca plant’s signature spike was the reason for an increase in gardening-related ear injuries. Over a five-year period, 28 people presented to the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in Melbourne with ear injuries, a study published in the UK journal Clinical Otolaryngology claimed.
Yuccas are desert natives so it is safer to plant them in pots as to limit their growth. Source: AAP
Love Australia’s weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week’s best stories.