Woolly nightshade removal
Woolly nightshade removal, before it takes over.
Woolly nightshade removal for rural land, lifestyle blocks and bush margins across Auckland, Northland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty. Our commercial 4×4 flail mowers and remote-controlled tracked mowing equipment cut and mulch this fast-growing pest plant on suitable flat ground and banks, without spraying.
On this page
Know your weed
What is woolly nightshade?
Woolly nightshade (Solanum mauritianum), also known as tobacco weed, is a fast-growing shrub or small tree from South America. It has large, grey-green, velvety leaves, clusters of purple flowers and round berries that ripen from green to yellow.
It’s a National Pest Plant Accord species, which means it can’t be sold or propagated anywhere in New Zealand, and it’s managed under several regional pest management plans. Birds, especially kererū, spread the berries widely, seedlings come up along bush edges, banks and neglected corners, and a single plant can grow several metres tall in just a few years.
Irritant hairs
The leaves and stems are covered in fine hairs and dust that can irritate skin, eyes and airways.
Poisonous berries
All parts of the plant are considered poisonous, especially the unripe berries.
Spread by birds
Birds eat the berries and drop the seed far and wide, and seed in the soil can come up quickly once the ground is cleared.
How we clear it
Woolly nightshade control in three steps.
01
Assess the site
We look at plant size, slope, ground conditions and access to choose the right machine, and plan around natives or trees you want to keep.
02
Mulch it down
Our commercial 4×4 flail mowers, or remote-controlled tracked equipment on suitable banks, mechanically cut and mulch suitable woolly nightshade growth in place, without spraying. No burn piles.
03
Follow up
Cut stems can reshoot and new seedlings may emerge, so follow-up mowing can help manage regrowth.
Woolly nightshade taking over?
Send us the location, a few photos and roughly how big the area is. We’ll assess whether it suits our machinery and explain the next steps.
Your obligations
Is woolly nightshade a pest plant where you are?
Woolly nightshade is listed in regional pest management plans in several parts of the upper North Island, and some councils expect landowners to control it on their property, particularly near boundaries. The rules differ by species and region, so check your regional council’s plan for your property; mechanical clearing on its own may not meet every requirement. Weedbusters also has identification and control information for woolly nightshade.
Whatever the rules, it’s easier and cheaper to deal with while plants are young. We also clear tree privet and gorse and blackberry, which often grow in the same places. Our guide to clearing without spraying covers the follow-up that stops pest plants taking hold again.
Real jobs
Woolly nightshade removal, before and after.
Before
After
Woolly nightshade hillside cleared
Before
After
Overgrown rural block cleared
Google reviews
What clients say about Overgrown Mowing
★★★★★
“Amazing work from the team clearing 2 acres of thick kikuyu and blackberry from my land. They were great operators and were able to keep all my native trees while nailing the invasive stuff. Communication was good and the quote was very fair. Would recommend Overgrown Mowing to anyone with land!”
★★★★★
“Great company to work with for land clearing, very courteous and professional. Communication is top notch throughout the project. Really appreciate the hard work and overcoming the challenges my project presented.”
Where we work
Woolly nightshade removal across Auckland, Northland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty
We clear woolly nightshade across Northland, Auckland, the Waikato and the Bay of Plenty, from a few plants on a bank to dense stands along bush margins. For larger overgrown blocks, see land clearing.
Common questions
Woolly nightshade removal, answered.
How do you get rid of woolly nightshade?
Cut or mulch the plants, then deal with the regrowth and seedlings while they’re small. Our commercial 4×4 flail mowers and remote-controlled tracked equipment mechanically cut and mulch suitable woolly nightshade growth in place, and follow-up mowing can help stop new seedlings establishing.
Do you spray woolly nightshade?
No. We clear it mechanically by mulching, with no herbicide. Cut stems can reshoot and new seedlings may emerge, so follow-up mowing can help manage regrowth.
Is woolly nightshade poisonous?
It’s considered poisonous, especially the unripe berries, and the hairs and dust on the leaves can irritate skin, eyes and airways. Keep children and pets away from the berries and wear gloves if you handle it.
Do I have to remove woolly nightshade from my property?
In some regions, yes. It’s listed in several regional pest management plans and the rules differ by council, so check your regional council’s plan for your area.
How much does woolly nightshade removal cost?
It depends on how big and dense the plants are, the slope, the ground conditions and the access, so we quote per job rather than off a flat rate. Send us a few photos and roughly how big the area is, and we’ll give you a straight answer. See what affects the price.
Can you clear woolly nightshade from banks and bush edges?
Often, yes. Our remote-controlled tracked mowing equipment can work some steeper or hard-to-reach banks, and we plan around native plants or trees you want to keep. We assess the slope, ground conditions and access first; very soft or boggy ground isn’t suitable for our machinery. See steep slope mowing.
How should I prepare before you clear woolly nightshade?
Clearly identify the area you want cleared and point out any hidden hazards, such as fencing wire, waratahs, holes or rubbish. Mark any trees, native vegetation or other plants you want protected, make sure there’s suitable access for our machinery, and move livestock away from the work area. Avoid handling the plants without gloves and eye protection, as the hairs can irritate skin, eyes and airways. To get a quote, send us the property location, a few photos and the approximate area to be cleared.
Woolly nightshade removal, available across all four regions.