Day of Action!
Saturday November 7, 9 a.m. to noon
This month the NOT WANTED campaign is sponsoring the first in a series of events to remove invasive plants from a visible public site in town. It will be a safe and family-friendly event with tools and expertise provided. Lots of volunteers make it possible to have a real impact on invasive plants.
Rain date is Saturday November 14.
For more information, call or text David at 860-508-0107.
Great Advice from State Experts
The state’s information and action hub on invasive plants, the CT Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG, pronounced “sipwig” by those in the know) held its annual symposium virtually October 7. It was packed with information, strategies and inspiring stories of success. For a very detailed agenda and speaker resources, contact David at 860-508-0107.
Information and Strategies
November Invasive Action
Resources
UCONN, 7-pages, download, Guidelines for Best Management Practices for movement of topsoil and gravel fill, mulch and equipment in Connecticut, August 2020
NiptheKnotweed, 3-step organic starvation method of controlling invasive Japanese Knotweed, 4-page factsheet on Niantic CT effort, presented at October 2020 CIPWG Symposium
Saturday November 7, 9 a.m. to noon
This month the NOT WANTED campaign is sponsoring the first in a series of events to remove invasive plants from a visible public site in town. It will be a safe and family-friendly event with tools and expertise provided. Lots of volunteers make it possible to have a real impact on invasive plants.
Rain date is Saturday November 14.
For more information, call or text David at 860-508-0107.
Great Advice from State Experts
The state’s information and action hub on invasive plants, the CT Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG, pronounced “sipwig” by those in the know) held its annual symposium virtually October 7. It was packed with information, strategies and inspiring stories of success. For a very detailed agenda and speaker resources, contact David at 860-508-0107.
Information and Strategies
- Soil disturbance – both “wholesale,” through construction and earthmoving, and “retail,” when we weed or transplant and leave open soil – is a huge cause of invasive plant spread. Invasive seeds, like all seeds, may live in the soil for many years and take advantage of any opportunity for light and moisture. Just as boats should be washed when moving from one body of water to another to deter the spread of aquatic invasives, construction and landscaping vehicles should be cleaned between worksites. When we wed, pull a plant or otherwise disturb the soil, we should take a minute to press it back into place to help non-invasive plants thrive.
- Alternatives -- of the 2800 plants known to exist in our state, about 1800 are native and 1000 are non-native. Of the non-natives, only 97 are considered invasive (“non-native plants that are disruptive in a way that causes environmental or economic harm, or harm to human health” -- CIPWG). Native plants often are outcompeted and overshadowed by the invasives, but are usually still present and emerge when given the chance.
- Native grasses -- lifesavers for birds and other wildlife that survive on grass seeds in the dead of winter, native grasses can be planted where invasive plants have been removed. Examples are Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), and Deer-tongue grass (Panicum clandestinum).
- Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), described in the September 2020 NOT WANTED, is really tough: tiny root bits can rapidly form whole new colonies. A presenter from Mystic described their success with non-chemical “solarization.” Mow or cut the mugwort as low as possible, then cover with heavy clear plastic, weighed down well, and leave in place for several months during the growing season. The temperature under the plastic can exceed 110 degrees, destroying the plants above and below ground. Remove the plastic and plant native alternatives.
- Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum), described in the April 2020 NOT WANTED, is also a super-invasive. East Lyme presenters described their “Power of 3” non-chemical approach. 3 Tools -- clippers/loppers, gloves, industrial strength garbage bags. 3 Actions -- cut the knotweed below the lowest node, bag and dispose, repeat. 3 Cuts -- May, mid-July, before the end of August. 3 Years - be persistent and patient.
November Invasive Action
- Late fall is a great time to pull young Oriental Bittersweet, Multiflora Rose, Russian Olive, Japanese Barberry, and Garlic Mustard plants before they get established. As the sun wanes, their hold on the soil weakens.
- Oriental Bittersweet. Cut larger vines close to the ground, so they have to resprout in shade rather than the full sun on top of whatever they have been climbing, to weaken the plant over time. An alternative with large vines is to cut and carefully paint stumps with liquid herbicide, any time of year except for early spring when the plant is drawing resources up from the roots.
- Multiflora Rose. The base of the shrub is more visible after the leaves fall. Use a pole saw or other long handled tool to cut close to the ground by early winter so that heavy snow crushes the dying plants in place and make it easier to follow up next year.
Resources
UCONN, 7-pages, download, Guidelines for Best Management Practices for movement of topsoil and gravel fill, mulch and equipment in Connecticut, August 2020
NiptheKnotweed, 3-step organic starvation method of controlling invasive Japanese Knotweed, 4-page factsheet on Niantic CT effort, presented at October 2020 CIPWG Symposium