[MAIPC] Fwd: WEED ALERT | Japanese Stiltgrass

Wed Jul 14 07:24:53 PDT 2021

All: I have read over and over that vinegar (and any of the suggested additives such as salt, dishwashing liquid, etc.) are far more toxic than most herbicides – particularly glyphosate. Vinegar is toxic to soil microorganisms including invertebrate larvae. A ½% (0.005) glyphosate solution works great for us at the NC Botanical Garden, which we have used for 20 years.

Johnny Randall

Johnny Randall, PhD
Director of Conservation
North Carolina Botanical Garden
CB 3375
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill NC 27599
ncbg.unc.edu
C – 919-923-0100
W – 9191-962-2380

[cid:image001.jpg at 01D7789A.64312CC0]

From: MAIPC <maipc-bounces at lists.maipc.org> On Behalf Of Richard Gardner
Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2021 10:19 AM
To: MAIPC Listserve <maipc at lists.maipc.org>; MNPS Board <board at mdflora.org>; Jil Swearingen <jilswearingen at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [MAIPC] Fwd: WEED ALERT | Japanese Stiltgrass

I had really good results when spraying Japanese Stiltgrass with horticultural vinegar (30%)on a trail I use a lot. I used a standard backpack sprayer. The horticultural vinegar looks like it works well on grasses in general.

                                                 Richard Gardner

On Tuesday, July 13, 2021, 11:09:12 PM EDT, Jil Swearingen <jilswearingen at gmail.com<mailto:jilswearingen at gmail.com>> wrote:

Please see email below.
Thanks,
Jil

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Blue Ridge PRISM <info at blueridgeprism.org<mailto:info at blueridgeprism.org>>
Date: Fri, Jul 9, 2021 at 5:42 PM
Subject: WEED ALERT | Japanese Stiltgrass
To: Jil Swearingen <jilswearingen at gmail.com<mailto:jilswearingen at gmail.com>>

Identify and control Japanese stiltgrass now!
View this email in your browser<https://mailchi.mp/blueridgeprism/weed-alert-japanese-stiltgrass?e=bf80900bf7>
[https://mcusercontent.com/14f106d040bc4a19e9b83a704/images/82474893-9ae3-49f3-b52b-6504bf38e7e4.png]<https://blueridgeprism.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=14f106d040bc4a19e9b83a704&id=87fe4a6d35&e=bf80900bf7>

- WEED ALERT -
ACT NOW ON JAPANESE STILTGRASS
[https://mcusercontent.com/14f106d040bc4a19e9b83a704/images/61763efa-e9ce-2bc9-d1b7-111527fa732a.jpg]

Image: Japanese stiltgrass.  Photo credit: Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia

Now is the time to begin controlling Japanese stiltgrass, Microstegium vimineum, in the weeks just before it flowers and sets seed. A native of Asia, Japanese stiltgrass was once used as packing material for transporting porcelain-- this is probably how it was introduced to North America. The earliest report of Japanese stiltgrass in the United States was in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1919. Currently, abundant amounts of Japanese stiltgrass can be found in most of the eastern United States. In Virginia, it is present in every county<https://blueridgeprism.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=14f106d040bc4a19e9b83a704&id=8a6a21f4f7&e=bf80900bf7>.

A single Japanese stiltgrass plant can produce up to 1,000 seeds that can remain viable in the soil for at least three years. The seeds are then spread by animals, rain runoff, soil, and even human foot traffic. Taking action now will help minimize seed production and prevent stiltgrass from achieving a wider footprint.

JAPANESE STILTGRASS THREATENS
NATIVE PLANTS AND FORESTS

Japanese stiltgrass can spread quickly into a dense mat invading disturbed areas like floodplain forests and openings in the forest canopy. It moves readily along trails and roads. White-tailed deer especially avoid this plant increasing the browsing pressure on native plants. This leaves the stiltgrass to invade the ensuing open spaces, thereby posing a potential threat to the future of our forests. Japanase stiltgrass also increases the threat of intense forest fires due to the thick mats of dried leaves and stems present in the fall.

Moreover, because infestations of Japanese stiltgrass change the habitat of the forest floor, it becomes less hospitable for some ground-nesting bird species and even the American toad. Left alone, Japanese stiltgrass can overtake native plant life and vegetation in just three to five years.

Learn more:
Deer prefer native plants leaving lasting damage on forests<https://blueridgeprism.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=14f106d040bc4a19e9b83a704&id=a6950d9882&e=bf80900bf7>
More wolf spiders feasting on American toads due to invasive grass<https://blueridgeprism.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=14f106d040bc4a19e9b83a704&id=054d7c6ba3&e=bf80900bf7>

[https://mcusercontent.com/14f106d040bc4a19e9b83a704/images/4599a9f5-a489-f34e-d177-9c84eaed5d5d.jpg]

Image: A forest invaded by Japanese stiltgrass.  Photo credit: USDA Forest Service

APPEARANCE

Japanese stiltgrass is a warm season, annual grass with shallow roots. It is found across a variety of light and moisture conditions. Plant height varies from 6 inches to 4 feet tall depending upon the growing conditions and grows tallest in moist and sunny environments. Taller plants will typically lie flat along the ground or propped up against other vegetation. Stiltgrass has pale green, lance-shaped leaves that are between one to three inches long. The leaves alternate along an often droopy stem. Look for a silvery main vein running just off center of each leaf.

[https://mcusercontent.com/14f106d040bc4a19e9b83a704/images/a3b4e92e-ef80-4fc8-83e0-795cc18d00f8.jpg]

Image:  Japanese stiltgrass leaves feature an off center silverly main vein.  Photo credit:  West Virginia Extension Service

CONTROL

Hand-pull:  Small patches in garden beds or elsewhere can be easily hand-pulled because of Japanese stiltgrass' shallow root system. Pulling when the soil is moist will speed the process.

Mow:  For larger areas of stiltgrass, use a mower set very low and cut as close to the ground as possible, so no green is left on the plant. This decreases the chance of it resprouting. If using a string-trimmer, hold the trimmer at a slight downward angle so the string digs about a quarter-inch into the ground to sever roots from stems. Leave clippings from mowed or cut stiltgrass in place to die if seeds have not formed. Timing is key here. Mow when the plants are just about to flower, August - September.

Foliar Spray:  Apply a recommended herbicide before stiltgrass flowers and sets seed, July - early September. Grass selective herbicides are most effective. See Virginia Department of Forestry Guidelines<https://blueridgeprism.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=14f106d040bc4a19e9b83a704&id=1347c58e7c&e=bf80900bf7> or A Management Guide for Invasive Plants in Southern Forests<https://blueridgeprism.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=14f106d040bc4a19e9b83a704&id=54b76ac96c&e=bf80900bf7> for specific herbicide recommendations.

Notes:

Be aware that although you have eliminated this year’s seed production there is still seed in the soil that can germinate. As a result, you will need to employ monitoring and management techniques for a number of years. It is worth it!

Always follow all herbicide label directions and wear personal protective equipment (PPE) per label instructions.

Take care to avoid herbicide contact with desirable plants.

Download our fact sheet<https://blueridgeprism.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=14f106d040bc4a19e9b83a704&id=d55a251c16&e=bf80900bf7> for more information.

[https://mcusercontent.com/14f106d040bc4a19e9b83a704/images/81f21025-91a9-5b89-de1a-9965c2bdb7cb.jpg]

Image:  Characteristics of Japanese stiltgrass. Photo credit: Alabama Cooperative Extension System

Want to learn more about managing Japanese stiltgrass
and other invasive warm season grasses?

Join Blue Ridge PRISM for our quarterly summer meeting
on Wednesday, July 21st at 1 pm!

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