Invasive species removal in Lee County targets melaleuca, Brazilian pepper, Australian pine, earleaf acacia, and Old World climbing fern—species that have colonized vast swaths of the county's flatwoods, sloughs, and disturbed lands. We employ mechanical removal paired with targeted cut-stump and basal bark herbicide treatments. Serving Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, Bonita Springs, and 8 more communities across Lee County.
Targeted removal of Brazilian pepper, melaleuca, Australian pine, and other invasive vegetation. Selective clearing that preserves desirable native trees and landscape.
Melaleuca infestations in Lee County's wetlands and cypress sloughs have been a management challenge for decades, and the disturbance caused by Hurricane Ian created fresh invasion corridors throughout the county. Properties adjacent to Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve and Conservation 20/20 lands face particular pressure to manage invasives, as non-native seed sources on private parcels threaten the integrity of public conservation investments.
Lee County encompasses a vast coastal plain stretching from the Caloosahatchee River estuary and barrier islands on the Gulf of Mexico to inland pine flatwoods, cypress sloughs, and freshwater marshes in the east. The Caloosahatchee River bisects the county from east to west, serving as the boundary between Cape Coral to the north and Fort Myers to the south. Lehigh Acres occupies an enormous grid of platted lots on flat, poorly drained flatwoods in the southeast interior. The Six Mile Cypress Slough runs north to south through the county's midsection, functioning as a critical stormwater conveyance and wildlife corridor. Barrier islands including Sanibel, Captiva, Fort Myers Beach, and Pine Island shelter Matlacha Pass, Pine Island Sound, and Estero Bay.
Hurricane Ian's catastrophic September 2022 landfall on Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel generated clearing demand at a scale unprecedented in Lee County's history, with barrier island reconstruction, mainland debris removal, and lot restoration continuing years later. Lehigh Acres contains one of Florida's largest inventories of undeveloped platted lots—over 100,000—and steady population growth drives ongoing residential clearing. Cape Coral's canal-laced grid continues to absorb new construction on vacant lots. Commercial development along the Daniels Parkway, Colonial Boulevard, and US-41 corridors in Fort Myers requires large-format site preparation for retail, healthcare, and logistics facilities. Hurricane Ian caused an estimated $110 billion in damage across southwest Florida, with Lee County absorbing the worst of the storm surge and wind destruction. Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel, and Pine Island required near-total rebuilding. Lehigh Acres continues its decades-long buildout of platted residential lots, adding thousands of new homes annually. Gateway and Estero are attracting corporate relocations that drive commercial clearing demand.
We assess your Lee County property in person — evaluating terrain, vegetation density, and equipment access to deliver an accurate T&M quote.
Clear scope, timeline, and expectations documented in our Master Service Agreement before any equipment rolls. No surprises, no hidden charges.
CAT track loaders and 20+ ton excavators mobilize to your Lee County site. Production-grade equipment means faster timelines and cleaner results.
Owner Jeremiah Anderson walks the finished project with you to confirm every detail meets expectations before we close out the job.
Lee County operates under one of southwest Florida's most comprehensive tree protection ordinances, requiring permits for removal of any protected native tree over four and a half inches in diameter. Mangrove alteration is prohibited without state and federal permits. The county's Conservation 20/20 program has preserved over 30,000 acres of environmentally sensitive land. Gopher tortoise surveys are required on all undeveloped upland parcels prior to clearing. Bald eagle nest protection zones are numerous throughout the county, and Florida bonneted bat habitat in the Pine Island and Estero areas triggers U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service consultation. Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve imposes strict setback requirements on adjacent development.
Protected species: Lee County is home to Gopher tortoise, Florida bonneted bat, West Indian manatee, Eastern indigo snake, Bald eagle, Wood stork, Smalltooth sawfish, Florida scrub-jay, Loggerhead sea turtle. Pre-clearing wildlife surveys may be required depending on habitat type and project scope.
Waterways & buffers: Properties near Caloosahatchee River, Estero Bay, Pine Island Sound, Matlacha Pass, Six Mile Cypress Slough, Orange River, Ten Mile Canal, Hendry Creek, Imperial River, Estero River may require setback buffers and water management district permits. TreeShop works within all required buffer zones.
Soil conditions: Lee County's dominant soils are Boca, Hallandale, and Pineda fine sands—shallow, poorly drained limestone-underlain soils characteristic of southwest Florida's coastal lowlands. The Lehigh Acres interior sits primarily on Oldsmar and Immokalee fine sands with a spodic horizon that impedes drainage. Along the Caloosahatchee corridor, Riviera and Winder soils occupy the floodplain, while tidal areas on the barrier islands feature Kesson and Captiva fine sands. The shallow limestone bedrock underlying much of the county complicates excavation and stump grinding at depth.
TreeShop provides professional invasive species removal across Lee County, including:
$2,500/acre
Time & Materials billing. Free on-site estimate for Lee County properties. Transport: High.
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Invasive Species Removal in Lee County