[MAIPC] beddleia infestation

[Richard Gardner]

  We saw our first infestation of buddleia in Pennsylvania on the Appalachian Trail above Palmerton.  What is the best way of taking care of this?  What is the most efficient?  Does a weed wrench or similar work?  It is on top of the mountain along a 5 mile stretch of AT between access points, so the tools have to be light enough to hike with.  Also, the ground was poisoned by a zinc smelter and then had forest fires removing the trees and most of the native vegetation many years ago.

  As a further note, this stretch has pockets of all the expected invasives, including stinging nettle, phragmites, Ailanthus, Japanese honeysuckle, Morrows honeysuckle and a fabaceae I am guessing is sweet pea.  The stinging nettle and phragmites near the top of the ridge were a surprise as the ridge is dry.  There are probably a couple water seeps for these two plants.

                                                                                        Richard Gardner