[MAIPC] Italian Arum

Mon Mar 1 13:08:22 PST 2021

Just a caution for the soil sieving method. In areas subject to erosion
(floodplains and slopes in particular) the major soil disturbance can
result in significant erosion. And, soil disturbance disrupts the soil
structure, alters water infiltration, and brings deeply-buried seeds to the
soil surface. In soils with stratification (such as forest and grassland
soils) it has been my observation that soil inversion or major soil
disturbance creates a long-term negative impact to the native flora. I have
seen the methods you are suggesting work in young sand dunes where the soil
particles experience regular mixing and there is no obvious stratification.
These considerations do, of course, need to be weighed against the impacts
of the invasive plants themselves and the alternate treatment methods.
Ficarai in particular can create bare ground subject to erosion in the
summer and the exclusion of ephemerals in the spring. As Johnny recommends,
herbicide provide a proven method with no soil disturbance.

Mark

On Mon, Mar 1, 2021 at 3:42 PM Randall, Johnny <jrandall at email.unc.edu>
wrote:

> Judy: Hardware screen mesh is as small as 1/32-in to 0.5-in. For Ficaria,
> I am planning to first use a ½-in screen to reduce the volume of soil (and
> catch some tubers), but then use a ¼-in screen on what gets through. (This
> is really only practical in areas that have only a handful of plants, and
> is particularly useful when using volunteers who are not equipped or
> comfortable using herbicide.)
>
>
>
> Here’s a how-to-dig Ficaria video we put together last year, which is
> useful. BUT – my preferred technique is 2% aquatic-approved glyphosate. See
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecm9jRHnbzU&feature=youtu.be
>
>
>
> Johnny
>
>
>
> *From:* Judy Fulton <jfulton5 at gmail.com>
> *Sent:* Monday, March 1, 2021 1:45 PM
> *To:* Jil Swearingen <jilswearingen at gmail.com>; Randall, Johnny <
> jrandall at email.unc.edu>
> *Cc:* MAIPC Listserve <MAIPC at lists.maipc.org>; Ruth Douglas <
> cvilleruth at gmail.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [MAIPC] Italian Arum
>
>
>
> Johnny,
>
> I agree with Jil that the screen frame is a great idea. What size mesh do
> you recommend for Ficaria verna and what size for Arum italicum? You should
> go into business -- I would definitely buy one of each from you.
>
> BTW, I was just trying to convince a neighbor on Saturday to get rid of
> the A. italicum she'd planted on her property, but she didn't want to hear
> what I was saying. She said it was filling a bare slope that was eroding.
> And, she's even helped with a native plant symposium for ~30 years, and
> noted that it was spreading to another person's yard. In addition, I had
> just warned another neighbor in February about the Italian arum that his
> landscaper had planted for him in 2020. I'm wondering whether this
> difficult-to-eradicate invasive is becoming increasingly popular.
>
> Judy
>
> ____________________________________________
>
> Judith P. Fulton
> EcoPlant Consulting: Native and Invasive Plants
> Master Gardener, University of Maryland Extension
> Chair, Maryland Invasive Species Council's Committee on Invasives Lists
> Board, Mid-Atlantic Invasive Plant Council
> Voice: 410-337-3701, Text only: 410-404-8201
>
> On 3/1/2021 9:31 AM, Jil Swearingen wrote:
>
> Johnny,
>
>
>
> That's a great idea! Tell us more about the size of the mesh screen you've
> found to work best for filtering out the tubers.
>
>
>
> Jil
>
>
>
> On Mon, Mar 1, 2021 at 8:53 AM Randall, Johnny <jrandall at email.unc.edu>
> wrote:
>
> Ruth: Jil is unfortunately correct! We haven’t found a herbicide treatment
> that works very well.
>
>
>
> I recommend building a screening frame with the proper hardware cloth
> dimension for trapping tubers, but allowing soil to sift through. (I’m
> building some of these now for Ficaria verna diggings….) The only thing
> you’re putting in the trash is vegetation and not heavy soil.
>
>
>
> Johnny
>
>
>
> *From:* MAIPC <maipc-bounces at lists.maipc.org> *On Behalf Of *Jil
> Swearingen
> *Sent:* Monday, March 1, 2021 8:43 AM
> *To:* Ruth Douglas <cvilleruth at gmail.com>
> *Cc:* MAIPC Listserve <MAIPC at lists.maipc.org>
> *Subject:* Re: [MAIPC] Italian Arum
>
>
>
> Ruth,
>
>
>
> That plant is a monster. Italian arum is or was at the national arboretum
> (that's where I first got to know it about a decade ago). It's very hard to
> get rid of. It's best to dig plants up - you have to get ALL the
> underground tubers and bag and dispose of the material in a landfill. You
> could leave it in the bags for a while to let it rot before disposal. It
> would be best to remove most of the soil in the area where the plants are,
> if that's a possibility. That would help ensure removal of all tubers.
>
>
>
> Here's a good fact sheet from the State of Washington.
>
> https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/italian-arum
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
>
> Jil
>
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Mar 1, 2021 at 8:33 AM Ruth Douglas <cvilleruth at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Help! A well-meaning person or persons planted Italian arum (Arum
> italicum) an unknown number of years ago at my church, and it's been
> spreading. I've seen the Maryland info on this plant (
> http://mdinvasives.org/iotm/nov-2015/) and  it's discouraging about how
> to get rid of it.
>
>
>
> However, no mention is made of tarping or laying black plastic on areas
> where it is spreading. Has anyone tried this, and if so, with what success?
> I know its underground structures can be fairly deep, but does that
> preclude use of this technique?
>
>
>
> Any advice is welcome.
>
>
>
> Thanks.
>
>
>
> Ruth Douglas
>
> Charlottesville, VA
>
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