Wild growth by the canal (house, live in, legal)

[rock creek]

Hi all:
I have some wild bushes at the edge of my canal that block my view of the water. How do I tell if they are Mangroves and if they are can I still trim or remove them? Does any one know of some one who will do that work. Thanks

[nphomeowner]

Can you post a picture? Not that I would know what they are but someone here probably will.

[Harbor Hopper]

I DM'd you

[TamRE]

You may want to look up on the Internet photos of mangroves. There are several different species and they are protected in Florida. There is a Mangrove Trimming and Preservation Act. There are also regulations for cutting them back. Check with the county that you live in. There are licensed companies that can cut the mangroves to the correct height.

Here is the Florida Department of Environmental Conservation web site with info on mangroves:

* FACTS ABOUT MANGROVES IN FLORIDA: Southwest District of the Dept. of Environmental Protection

[sware2cod]

There are 3 kinds of mangroves that are protected. They grow near saltwater. Also buttonwoods can't be killed (in some counties), but buttonwoods can be trimmed.

Then there are brazillian peppers which are out-of-control plants that can and should be removed.

Sometimes all of the above are intermixed near the water and all can be similar in size. You have to identify the species before you take action.

There are companies that specialize in mangrove trimming and they know the laws and they submit permits that are needed to trim. Google mangrove trim and your county. They have to be licensed mangrove trimmers.

[Harbor Hopper]

Once you have them all removed (eh hemmmm, legally, of course ;-) go out once a month and remove the new seedling tubes (very easy to pull) before they have a chance to really root in and grow so you don't have this problem again.

[sware2cod]

Originally Posted by Harbor Hopper

Once you have them all removed (eh hemmmm, legally, of course ;-) go out once a month and remove the new seedling tubes (very easy to pull) before they have a chance to really root in and grow so you don't have this problem again.

This is against the law..to remove the mangroves when they are big or to remove the mangrove seedlings that are taking root.

It's bad enough that you are breaking the law(else why would you know they are easy to pull), but then advising others to do so?

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by sware2cod

This is against the law..to remove the mangroves when they are big or to remove the mangrove seedlings that are taking root.

It's bad enough that you are breaking the law(else why would you know they are easy to pull), but then advising others to do so?

Agree. NO ONE should be doing this.

[Harbor Hopper]

Yeah yeah yeah. If nobody did it, there wouldn't be a single waterfront home because EVERY property's frontage would be consumed by peppers and mangroves, rendering the water inaccessible, and therefore worthless. Legal or not, it happens. I have nothing to hide, yes, I do maintain my water frontage by removing the seedling tubes. So do all of my neighbors and pretty much everyone on my waterway. Send the environmentalists :-0 If you live on the water, you know what I am talking about. If you don't, then you really don't have any credibility arguing with me on this.

[blueherons]

Originally Posted by Harbor Hopper

Yeah yeah yeah. If nobody did it, there wouldn't be a single waterfront home because EVERY property's frontage would be consumed by peppers and mangroves, rendering the water inaccessible, and therefore worthless. Legal or not, it happens. I have nothing to hide, yes, I do maintain my water frontage by removing the seedling tubes. So do all of my neighbors and pretty much everyone on my waterway. Send the environmentalists :-0 If you live on the water, you know what I am talking about. If you don't, then you really don't have any credibility arguing with me on this.

But aren't the mangroves going to protect your house and property?