I'm Restoring a Forest! How To Clear Invasive Trees of the Southeast!

In this video I'll show you how I remove invasive trees from my forested woodland in Houston, Texas.
MY PO BOX: Paul Cantu PO BOX 580281, Houston, TX 77258
For Inquiries Email Me:
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Music:
Gone in a Flash by Broke in Summer
/ brokeinsummer
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Free Download / Stream: bit.ly/3x9V5SR
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• Gone in a Flash - Broke in Summer (No...

[@sammiedopee]

So excited for you. I’m looking forward to buying land too

[@Fabdanc]

This is super cool, and I love what you are doing.

[@TekedixXx]

Paul, I work with guys who buy and sell raw land like you purchased. (I've had to advertise how well a property will grow somewhat invasive grasses, I know what I've done) It's super cool to see how the owners decide to develop and improve their land. Great to see your improvement. Might be worth it to turn any waste plants into mulch to maintain the soil biome. You know how incredible mulching is! Tell the people! (I know you do! ;)) Love the videos, full support. Can't wait to see more, totally invested as a viewer because you're totally invested as a passionate citizen. 🌎

[@paulplantu]

For sure, the soil already has tons of leaves on it but for the most part all the leaves and small sticks I’m going to let break down and replenish the soil. Not quite sure what I’ll do with the logs yet. Might use them on the edges of garden beds

[@Tambisme]

And as the actual path to step on for the logs

[@grantwest7942]

This is amazing! Great work!

[@cliffmcbride9734]

If you have access to a drone, you should get before and after video… it will really show the difference from above, keep up the great work

[@mollyoutdoors]

Absolutely love watching this!!!! I'm from the Houston area but now live in GA. Glad to see someone taking a piece of that mangled Houston bush and turning it back in to what it's supposed to be. I hope more people follow in your footsteps with their land after watching you.

[@charlesdavenport4640]

Good luck!

[@TheLittleSindyMuseum]

Love your videos! This one was extra funny 😂 Thanks dude! /Martina in Sweden

[@Sitoshinakamoto]

Love it

[@nicolebergelin6200]

Awesome to see you getting after it right away! Nice work clearing the invasives! Gotta get a wood chipper out there and put them to good use as mulch.

[@jeffreyrossi5084]

Great positive energy going to a good project. You've probably already thought of this but make sure every berry and seed end up in that fire pit. With all that newly opened ground and new sunlight you could have a great weed seedbed. Have fun!

[@delightfuldesignsbydenise9710]

This place is reminding me a lot of my brothers 1/2 acre off a lake up outta Houston. He has water run off thru his place too. He pd someone to come in & do what U r doing & mulch all the cuttings onto the ground. Love the way you R planting the water w/grasses & groundcovers. I always thought my brother should dig the water trench a bit deeper & build up the banks like what U r planting.

[@Bluesage2024]

I am so happy you got Plantu Ackers. This is going to be great to watch what you do. Outstanding!!!!

[@santahampton]

Young man, you always make me happy and that baby boy of yours is growing up like weeds--so precious! Congrats!

[@johnasides9049]

Hello love love what you are doing. Just a suggestion check with the conservation agency in your area, they will have the best way to get rid of the invasive species. What I've read is to cut low then spray the glyphosate, if cut the at the height you are doing now there is a very good chance it may survive. Also, the baby plants usually work by pulling them up but some of those nasty invasive species can grow with just a root or 2 left in the ground. Soon the native plants that are waiting to grow will come back. Good Luck!!

[@paulplantu]

Thanks for the tips. Yeah I’m not sure if this brush killer will do the trick but I’ll monitor it for sure.

[@stephanieparker5049]

So proud of you Dr Landtu!!!! Saving the 🌍 earth❤❤❤❤it 👍👍👍👊✌️💥💥💥🥳

[@paulplantu]

Hahahahahaha Landtu

[@user-tucsonsw]

Paul, thanks for showing us the start of the clearing process, It's good seeing a young man working for what he wants. And understanding it does't happen over night. I would ask you to consider one thing. Even with the lower powered battery chain saw, get some leg coverings. Even the saw you have can kick back on you. Take care and the best to you and the family. Gary, Tucson AZ

[@jamesdegaeta7277]

This is so fire, bro! Can’t wait to see what you do with this property.

[@Justin-op5tf]

That wax leaf scream bout took me out folk..😂😂😂

[@kmarch6630]

Good luck with using herbicide on privet. In my area (Georgia) herbicide doesnt work. It has to be pulled up by the roots and it still comes back sometimes.

[@Cquoya]

3 acres is a lot, but I have faith in you bro. You got this,peace.

[@user-su2xe4me4d]

This is such a cool endeavor! Earth really is your planet, and you're doing your part to take care of her. I wish you the best of luck and look forward to more videos.

[@drb996]

Can't wait to see this project's evolution over the next couple year's ❤

[@kso808]

I had to deal with a similar situation as you, with my back wooded area, over the past several years. My culprit was invasive running bamboo, which had spread from a neighbor’s yard kitty-corner to mine. I had to initially have it professionally cut down and its mulch created on-site. It began to return the following year, and I basically cut that down myself. Finally, this past year I hired a plant ecologist to spray cut areas with a glyphosate solution, and so far , this year, the area still looks good. Good luck with your removal!

[@joak.vintage]

This is so amazing, earth truly is your planet! Just be safe, using those safety glasses is great - it's shocking how fast an accident can occur so it's best to not take any chances! Keep up the good work

[@jheiny1231]

Hell yeh man! Let's go! Can tell how excited u are in the beginning of video! Following your passionate hobbies will for ever be good on the heart. Now I just need a plan to get out of my construction job and follow mine! Somehow lol. Let's go!

[@marky3131]

Could not tell if the spray u used is a premix or if u mixes it. But I’ll tell u that the premixed rarely are concentrated enough to work. Consider mixing ur own at 20%. Also consider buying either a puller bear or extraxtigator. Very well done. Wish more folks thought like you. They could even just adopt a plot of woods if they can’t afford to purchase land.

[@janemarsh2966]

Brilliant watch! Just love watching you create masterpieces 🍀🌿 my son introduced you to me many years ago, as he's been an avid fan... now I'm the same ❤ keep safe, cant wait for the next video ❤

[@makeupbymelic]

Awww it was cute seeing your son make an appearance. I remember watching you thrift baby stuff sometimes before you had a baby

[@sharonhart1232]

I'm excited to watch your journey

[@HCV2962]

Always looking forward to your videos. I haven’t missed one. Love the projects you have lining up. Happy Planting! 🌱

[@NorthToSouthChannel]

Good for you!!! So glad you got the land. LOVE the plan to restore the natural landscape. I want to do the same thing on my humble .5 acre lot in South Carolina. I have the benefit of being close to nature/wildlife areas, so I know when I build it, they will come!

[@jujuray169]

I'm so excited to see what you do with this space! You're very inspiring, thank you dude.

[@marissashamalamabingbong2272]

I have a lil plot and it’s actually on a dried creek bed. It’s amazing just this little bit has so many different ecosystems and growing environments. Plowing some of the invasive species allows better growing conditions for the crops, it does take awhile though! Be sure to allow a rotating cycle of laziness and complete focus during the ripe seasons. A perfect garden is never perfect the first round. When my son was born I wasn’t able to get out in the garden and the neglect almost made the soil more fertile?? Plants can surprise you and come back when you gave up on them. Now he is a terrorist (about to be 2) and I can’t imagine this year will consist of counting on my fragile plants to survive another year. I just want to show him nature and what it takes to take care of the garden, but safety is #1 priority!

[@2425wjgk]

So proud of you for taking the next step on restoration. Clearing out invasives is hard work but your impact will echo forever on the land. All it takes is one person who cares. Agreed, that chainsaw will help you conserve energy for the big stuff. I recommend backup batteries since bigger cuts can really eat up a charge quick. You might need to spray multiple times for some of those trees. I'm up further north and struggle with white mulberry and tree of heaven. I've smothered some areas with cardboard and a thick layer of mulch to take them out. Sometimes I use tordon for a more scorched earth approach. Roundup for areas that I want to plant again on soon. Can't wait to see your vision come to life. Good luck brotha

[@paulplantu]

Thank you so much for the comment and support! The small trees I’m not as worried about immediately since they can’t reseed yet. I have 5 batteries so I’m pretty good thus far. There definitely are going to be areas I’ll need to spray and you’re right not sure how effective the hack and squirt technique will be yet.

[@marissashamalamabingbong2272]

I have literally all of these native plants and more but you neeeeed to get some tx mountain laurel 😍😍😍

[@margievaughan2456]

Great progress, I’m sure it will be awesome when you’re finished. So nice to see someone your age interested in the planet. Proud of you 👏 0:15

[@paulplantu]

Thank you so much, I like sculpting with nature it’s fun

[@rickyt3961]

Thanks Paul! nice start.... 🌳🪚

[@foragingandurbanfarmingatt4745]

Should check on burning parts of it.

[@rootsshootsgardenboots]

Love it!

[@Pookielicious11]

Hey man, you should invest in a small woodchipper. I know you know about keeping your biomass. You can also be making your own mulch. It'll come in handy for separating out finer bits for starting seed. Good luck!

[@CHUYFRESH]

👏 👏 👏

[@caranwysong3065]

I was looking into mulch today. At Lowe's they have one by Living Earth called Houston Mulch which says, "Made from Trees and Brush collected in Houston." Where do they get their supply? Maybe you get one of those machines that turns it into mulch and put it back on your land or there is something called ChipDrop where others might want it. Just thinking about another way other than burning it so you can save the air and the land. Just a thought! Congratulations on your purchase.

[@paulplantu]

The city collects bags of leaf litter and probably sells it to them since we Houstonians don’t have access to that mulch. Man those mulching machines aren’t cheap and probably consume a lot of fuel. I probably will leave the brush piles alone but if it gets really crazy yeah I’ll need to burn it.

[@Hayley-sl9lm]

Have you heard of Native Habitat Project? Maybe you could learn how to do a controlled burn like they do on their channel. I live in the Pacific NW in the city and I don't have any acreage or whatever but just dealing with the invasive blackberry that I had in my yard after the previous owners neglected it... It's been an ordeal, can't imagine 3 acres... Cutting it did nothing, it only came back worse, digging it you could never get it all, if I left the debris I pulled out it would even keep living and try to re-root 😢😂😂. Thankfully I figured out if I could get the right herbicide and spray at the right time (fall, when perennials are taking everything down to their roots), I could finally make progress. And you have to replace the plants with something, you have to get that niche occupied. If I could have used fire, I would have bc it's all natural and gets a lot of natives to germinate. You should look into it, digging too much could lead to burn out! And if you do a lot of spraying invest in some good PPE including a well fitting respirator.

[@nippolitica]

I think some of those plants are in my yard, but I would guess they're native here... because Asia.

[@cheandtd]

Doing the Lord’s work removing those invasive species.

[@Lou_Mansfield]

Hack and squirt is the way to go on the invasive trees

[@michellepollino4986]

I am excited to see what you do with your new land. Looks like you are going to be busy clearer the species you don’t want to continue growing. Do the trees die fast after you sprayed them? You still are going to have to cut down those trees you sprayed.

[@BossMan_Jerm]

@8:18 🤣

[@jeredshriver9736]

Wonderful stuff, my brutha. I'll be curious to see if the hack and spray technique works. Please be sure to revisit those trees and plants you tried that on.

[@paulplantu]

Me too, I’ll definitely do follow ups.

[@gurrenlagann6371]

have you heard of prescribed burning

[@snailcage]

Yo Paul, I have a little oak forest on my property but it’s full of poison oak and I have no idea how to get rid of it without killing the oak trees. Any ideas?

[@lifeyang2]

Glyphosate doesn't quite kill trees. You should use Torton. Torton will kill trees, all the way down to the root.

[@paulplantu]

I bought a brush killer I need to check the exact compounds. Thanks for the tip man

[@gdog79175]

Look into permaculture

[@allenslater9234]

If native azaleas grow in your area they would be lovely!

[@paulplantu]

I think there are some that grow in Texas I’ll have to research this zone.

[@jujuray169]

Yes, although invasive Lugustrum greens and berries are very popular in floral arrangements. Sell them to a local florist as an extra perk of getting rid of them. Just saying bro. $$$

[@paulplantu]

Hahaha, I didn’t know that. I can’t stand those trees 😂

[@curtisortiz128]

Earth is mah plahnet

[@StarsRevolt1]

You don't have issues with the Brazilian Pepper Tree up there? Killing us down here in Port A/Coastal areas.

[@TekedixXx]

I know how this feels lol In my area I drive by a dozen trees of heaven every day (When the leaves are on the trees anyway) and all I think about is wanting to cut them down so they stop seeding my property! The only thing I use herbicide on is invasives and I'd like to not have to use any hahaha

[@paulplantu]

I haven’t heard of that being an issue here I’ll need to research it.

[@Homohumulus]

Paul, ang plants to build a home out there? Buried quonset hut?

[@paulplantu]

I may put a small structure out there in the short term.

[@thecollegepicker]

Get them invading colonizing plants!

[@user-tb8dg6vl8m]

I would not suggest burning Chinese tallow. It has sap that can hurt you.

[@FullmoonEffects89]

With that much land, you need to invest in some gas powered tools.

[@TekedixXx]

In terms of chainsaws, I 100% agree. I love battery powered tools, but I've never messed with a battery powered chainsaw that was worth the time I spent. The cheapest name brand traditional chainsaw will probably do him well for the rest of his life lol

[@paulplantu]

I have 5 batteries so I’ll see if they can last a full day of clearing. If it’s an issue I’ll get a gas one. Trying to keep all the tools electric to keep stacking up a battery bank

[@skrtskit1521]

Aren't you still going to have to cut down the dead trees.

[@paulplantu]

Dead trees that are standing make great habitat for bird nests. Eventually they will rot and fall but that will take a long time. It’s just a little easier to leave some things standing while I clear other parts. If I cut everything at once it would be a bit overwhelming with that much tree material on the ground

[@MrTRYTOO]

Bro why are you using glyphosate? Wtf😂

[@braincruz]

Love the content but Paul, your family is a cowboys family 😢