How to Eradicate Brazilian Pepper Plants

Brazilian pepper plants (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi) are so invasive that in Florida, there is a task force that helps manage and control them. If left unattended and uncontrolled, Brazilian pepper plants pose serious ecological threats to the local natural systems. If you have a Brazilian pepper plant in your landscape, one of the easiest ways to eradicate it is to cut it down, treat the stump with an herbicide and then treat any shoots to prevent it from growing back.

Things You'll Need

• Lopping shears
• Chainsaw
• Goggles
• Gloves
• Protective clothing
• Rag
• Herbicide

Instructions

1. Prepare the herbicide you are going to use. Those recommended for Brazilian pepper plants include Brush-B-Gon, Roundup Super Concentrate and Brush Killer, which according to University of Florida can be applied without dilution. Be prepared to either spray or paint it on the stump.

2. Cut down your Brazilian pepper plant. Most likely, you will need a chainsaw for this job. Wear goggles, protective clothing and gloves, and avoid getting sap on your skin.

3. Remove all of the sawdust quickly using your hands and a rag. Sawdust prevents the herbicide from making contact with the stump.

4. Treat the stump with the prepared herbicide within five minutes of the final stump cut. Paint or spray it on, as indicated on the label, being sure to apply it to the whole stump, especially near the bark. It is illegal to use herbicides in any other way other than what is written on the label, so make sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions.

5. Dispose of your cut Brazilian pepper plant in the manner required by your community. Contact your local waste facility for instructions, which may include bagging up the plant to set out with your trash or taking it yourself to a waste facility. If the plant is too large to fit in a bag, remove the berries and bag them before taking the rest of the plant to the waste facility. Inform the attendant that you have an invasive Brazilian pepper plant that requires proper disposal.

6. Spray new growth with a foliage herbicide, such as one with glyphosate, every four to six weeks as necessary. You can also recut the stump and reapply the stump fertilizer treatment. Continue with follow up fertilizer applications until sprouts no longer emerge from the stump.

Tips & Warnings

• Wash your clothes separately afterward cutting down and treating Brazilian pepper plants.

• Do not add the cut plant to your compost pile. Also, pick up any dropped berries and dispose of them in a sealed bag in your trash.

References

• Hernando County, Florida; Property Owner's Guide to Brazilian Pepper Eradication; May 2001
• The Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council; Brazilian Pepper Management Plan; edited by J.P. Cuda, et al.; April 2006
• Hernando County, Florida; Brazilian Pepper Plant Eradication Program: Disposal; February 2008
• University of Florida IFAS Extension; Herbicides to Kill Invasive Trees in Home Landscapes; K.A. Langeland; July 2006