Tree privet cream-coloured flowers are making a great show along Cove Rd at the moment. We have tagged a few with pink tape to make it easy for people to spot them. These trees make for a miserable summer for many with allergies. While people are not usually allergic to privet, the scent of privet can set off a reaction to any other allergy. People may not even know they have an allergy and still be affected by privet. Fortunately for Mangawhai there is not too much of it around. The main infestation along Cove Rd from Woodleigh Rd to King Rd and a bit up Mangawhai Heads Rd. There may well be other sites, especially near old established farms.
Tree privet and many other weedy trees are easy to control with a drill and a bit of herbicide. One hole every 200mm around the trunk and a bit of undiluted glyphosate in the hole will do the trick. Use a small nozzle bottle and apply carefully. Privet will not die when cut down but just resprout and grow again.