[MAIPC] invasive plant removal

[frazmo]

Hi Pia, and thank you for being one of our elite corps of lifetime
MA-EPPC/MAIPC members. I too have some thoughts on your questions. I must
emphasize these are opinions based on my own experience, but I can't point
to solid supporting data.

For light infestations of non-seeding invasives, I usually scatter the
pullings with the intent they decompose in place and return nutrients to
the soil. If the amount of pulled material is too great to scatter without
risking smothering natives, I usually go for piles. I try to completely
clear each pile site of invasives. Then, my aim is to go vertical with the
pile to the max possible and avoid horizontal spread that may smother more
natives. My greatest pile briefly achieved 10 feet high with a minimal
ground footprint. As you say, the piles may provide some wildlife values.
Also, the greater vertical promotes some early drying that may reduce any
risk of resprouting. I find it takes patience but the piles eventually
compost down nicely. And they have some symbolic value as totems of hard
work done well.

I typically space the piles on the order of 10 or more meters apart.

I find that cut multiflora rose often seems to start to heave itself out of
the ground so that it is easier to pull up by the roots. I generally follow
Rod Simmons' creed that it is best to let the native plants regenerate on
their own and avoid any plantings.

I would recommend avoiding soil compaction as much as possible.

I hope this is helpful. Best and cheers, Steve Young, MAIPC treasurer and
Arlington County VA volunteer
On Apr 10, 2015 9:37 AM, "Pia van de Venne" <pia.parkprotector at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Hello,
>
> During the 16 years that I have assisted in the removal of invasive
> plants, I learned that garlic mustard should be certainly taken out of the
> woods because of the amount of toxins in the plants. So we bag garlic
> mustard and most of the stiltgrass.
>
> I do believe that none of the non native plant residue is beneficial to
> the native woods; we have masses of oak leaves and other native debris, so
> I just hope that piles of multiflora roses, burning bush, barberry, and
> honey suckle bush will decompose together with the native plant debris
> without causing too much harm or slowing down the growth. Our piles are 5ft
> tall and I lean on them to condense them.Since we have few volunteers we
> have left behind a lot of pulled out invasive material in the woods in
> piles.(They make very good bird and animal shelters.) I pay attention to
> not allow privet to touch the forest floor. We also compact the ground,
> disturbed by the digging and pulling, with our feet. I know that some
> people prefer to cut the stem and paint, but that is not the issue right now
>
> My aim is to leave as much natural area between the piles to give native
> vegetation the right environment, since we still have tons of small
> saplings and herbaceous plants growing and exploding when we remove the
> invasive plants.
> *Question: does it make a difference whether we make these concentrated
> piles or whether we just spread all the removed branches and roots of
> invasive bushes over the entire area.*
>
> *Question: will planting new saplings between cut multiflora roses without
> removing or killing the roots make sense? Will the competition of the cut
> roots not prevent growing of the newly planted saplings?*
>
> Thank you very much for responding.
> Pia van de Venne, Volunteer coordinator Murrysville Parks 724 733 2770
>
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>
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