[MAIPC] Removing stiltgrass after it has gone to seed

[Diana Carter]

Hi Susan. I’m anxious to hear from those wiser than me, but I’ll share what I’ve done just based on my gut sense of it. First, I think there is a lot more seed production pending based on what I’m seeing. So my sense is to get it out before the whole load drops. On bad infestations I have rolled it up to contain the seeds within the stalks. On milder infestations I have used a tub type container on its side and pushed the stiltgrass in seed first. Then I’ve poured it into large bags which I sneak into the regular trash pickup. 

You make a good point about checking shoes afterwards. I will add that to my method. But I (like you) am hoping to learn from others and see what they are doing at this time of the year.   I suppose spraying may be an option but I never use herbicides. I have heard that glyphosate dries out cornstalks late in the season. 

Diana Carter

On Sep 21, 2019, at 8:10 PM, Susan Gitlin <susan.mclaughlin at alumni.stanford.edu> wrote:

Hi.   Today I was at a property that is built on and into the edge of national forest land, outside of Waynesboro, VA.  This property has some new buildings around which I noticed a bunch of stiltgrass.  The forest land surrounding these buildings looked clean of any infestations.

I mentioned this to the property owner, and he was sincere in his interest in removing the Microstegium.  I could not stay there to do the removal myself at the time, but I promised him I would send him information on how to do it.

However, the plant is now in seed, and all information that I have about stiltgrass recommends removal or weed whacking prior to seed development.  That makes sense, of course, but what should I recommend to the property owner?  
a) That he remove and bag it this year?  Could that lead to additional spread of the seeds via shoes, bags, etc.?  
b) Or should he wait until next year, thus allowing a thousand plants to release their seeds?

Please share your wisdom.

Thank you.

--Susan
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