[MAIPC] Volunteer wants to use beech trees as amagic wand to remove stiltgrass.

[William Buettner Jr]

I have observed similar situations. Forest with tall mature trees and high canopy like tulip poplar have stilt grass and little understory  or subcanopy layer, thus not enough deep shade.  Where I have seen beech forest with less stilt grass. Problem is that too many deer browse understory and basically remove it from the subcanopy or preventing subcanopy development.

I believe deer population control is key to encouraging and developing subcanopy as well as reducing invasive spread.  It's time to look at multiple approaches, control deer population, use fencing to restrict deer access/browse, herbicide treatments for isolated patches. It would be interesting to know if areas where deer hunting is common and consistent (like PA WMA) are any different than areas of less hunting (like Parks). Is anyone aware of research that corelates deer population/density with stilt grass density?

Bill Buettner

From: MAIPC <maipc-bounces at lists.maipc.org> On Behalf Of MARGARET L CHATHAM
Sent: Monday, October 4, 2021 8:35 AM
To: Marc Imlay <ialm at erols.com>
Cc: MAIPC Listserve <maipc at lists.maipc.org>
Subject: Re: [MAIPC] Volunteer wants to use beech trees as amagic wand to remove stiltgrass.

The key here is shade density: take another look & notice that holly does an even better job of creating a stiltgrass gap - but beech & especially holly keep everything else out at the same time. Not much point in holding back stiltgrass if it doesn't encourage native forbs.

Margaret Chatham (totally uncredentialed weed warrior)


On Oct 3, 2021, at 5:29 PM, Marc Imlay <ialm at erols.com<mailto:ialm at erols.com>> wrote:


Volunteer wants to use beech trees as a magic wand to remove stiltgrass.
-----Original Message-----
From: keith barrack <rkbarrack at yahoo.com<mailto:rkbarrack at yahoo.com>>
Sent: Sunday, October 03, 2021 3:10 PM
To: mark imlay <ialm at erols.com<mailto:ialm at erols.com>>
Subject: today, Oct 3

Hi Mark,
boy, carrying three of those bags back was a chore....I had to drag them at times and hope the bags didnt get too torn!

Anyway, on my stroll back, I paid particular attention to where the stilitgrass was growimg prominently....and where it wasn't.  In conjunction with our brainstorm, earlier, wouldnt you know it....wherever there were patches of zero stiltgrass, there was an abundance of beech trees.  Thats not to say I didmt run into a beech tree....or two...that had stilt grass under it.....but also there were other trees amidst that beech tree.
So, there does seem to be something about those beech trees that keep the stilitgrass in check.  Whether it is the soil that beech likes to grow in or simply a chemical compound in the leaves might be something worth investigating.

otherwise, enjoy the following pictures from our hike today, alomg with the mushroom growing in our yard that i told you about.

sorry I couldnt stay longer.  i'll be in touch about next weekend.

I tried to send all pics in the email but files were too big, they will ne comimg seperate.

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