Invasive Species Removal in
Broward County, FL

Why Invasive Species Removal in Broward County

Targeted removal of Brazilian pepper, melaleuca, Australian pine, and other invasive vegetation. Selective clearing that preserves desirable native trees and landscape.

Broward County may have the most severe invasive species burden in TreeShop's service area, with Brazilian pepper and melaleuca dominating the western fringe along the Everglades levee and Australian pine colonizing coastal areas. The county's tree canopy replacement ordinance sometimes inadvertently perpetuates invasive trees when property owners plant fast-growing non-natives to meet mitigation requirements, creating an ongoing cycle of removal and replacement that our invasive removal programs address systematically.

Broward County occupies a narrow band of developable land between the Atlantic Ocean and the Everglades, making it the most densely populated county in TreeShop's service area. The Atlantic Coastal Ridge—a strip of well-drained oolitic limestone—supports the urban core from Deerfield Beach south through Fort Lauderdale to Hollywood. West of the ridge, the terrain drops into the low-lying flatwoods and former sawgrass marshes that were drained in the mid-twentieth century to create the western suburbs of Weston, Pembroke Pines, and Coral Springs. The Everglades begins abruptly at the western boundary, held back by the L-35A and L-36 levees. Southwest Ranches and western Davie retain a rural-residential character with horse farms, nurseries, and scattered hammocks amid the suburban matrix.

Broward County's high density and near-complete buildout mean that traditional large-scale land clearing is rare. Instead, the market revolves around infill redevelopment—demolishing older commercial structures or single-family homes and clearing the resulting site for new construction. Southwest Ranches and western Davie support the county's most active rural clearing market, with horse property owners maintaining pastures, removing invasive species, and clearing overgrown paddock areas. Parkland and Coral Springs generate selective clearing for residential additions and pool installations. Commercial clients along the I-95, Florida Turnpike, and Sawgrass Expressway corridors commission site preparation for redevelopment and adaptive reuse projects. Broward County's near-total buildout has shifted clearing demand from greenfield development to redevelopment and property maintenance. Rising property values incentivize teardown-and-rebuild projects in Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, and Hollywood, each generating clearing work on the demo site. Southwest Ranches—one of the last municipalities in Broward with lots exceeding one acre—attracts buyers seeking semi-rural living, and many of these properties require clearing and invasive removal upon purchase. The county's severe invasive species pressure, particularly from Brazilian pepper, melaleuca, and schefflera, generates year-round removal contracts on both private and municipal properties.

Our Invasive Species Removal Process in Broward County

Environmental Considerations in Broward County

Broward County's environmental regulations reflect its position as an urban buffer to the Everglades. The county's tree preservation ordinance protects all native trees over three inches in diameter and requires one-to-one canopy replacement for permitted removals. Each of Broward's 31 municipalities may enforce additional local tree ordinances, creating a patchwork of requirements across the county. The western levee system marks the boundary of the Everglades water conservation areas, and any clearing activity within one mile of the levee triggers South Florida Water Management District and Army Corps of Engineers review. Florida burrowing owl colonies are found in open areas throughout the county—including vacant lots, parks, and road medians—and each burrow requires a 10-foot buffer during nesting season. Broward County also enforces mangrove protection along the Intracoastal Waterway and New River.

Protected species: Broward County is home to Florida burrowing owl, Gopher tortoise, Eastern indigo snake, West Indian manatee, Wood stork, Least tern, American crocodile, Florida bonneted bat. Pre-clearing wildlife surveys may be required depending on habitat type and project scope.

Waterways & buffers: Properties near New River, Intracoastal Waterway, C-14 Canal, C-13 Canal, C-11 Canal, North Fork New River, South Fork New River, Hillsboro Canal, Everglades Water Conservation Areas, Hollywood Canal may require setback buffers and water management district permits. TreeShop works within all required buffer zones.

Soil conditions: The Atlantic Coastal Ridge through Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach is underlain by Krome and Chekika gravelly loams over oolitic limestone—well-drained but extremely shallow soils that make excavation difficult. Western Broward suburbs sit on Dania and Lauderhill muck soils, organic remnants of the former Everglades that were drained for development. Hallandale and Margate fine sands, with limestone within twenty inches of the surface, dominate the transitional zone between the ridge and the muck. The shallow bedrock throughout the county complicates stump grinding and excavation.

Invasive Species Removal Near You in Broward County

TreeShop provides professional invasive species removal across Broward County, including:

Invasive Species Removal FAQ — Broward County