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Global Invasive Species Team listserve digest #044
Sun, 3 Oct 1999 16:48:19 -0700 (PDT)
--CONTENTS--
1. Weed-eating goats on Smilax and other woodies
2. Goats vs. knapweed, goats with herbicide
3. Succulent control
4. November 6 weed conference in Massachusetts
5. Two items on working with nurseries to prevent weed problems
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1. Weed-eating goats on Smilax and other woodies
From: Karen Budd (kbudd3030(at)aol.com)
We have used goats on the serpentine barrens in southern Chester County,
Pennsylvania, to eat Smilax rotundifolia (catbrier), which is choking out
the native vegetation. They also happily eat Rosa multiflora, Lonicera
sp., and grape vines. Unfortunately, however, they will also eat
desirable woodies. So don't put them anywhere where you have trees and/or
shrubs that you value.
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2. Goats vs. knapweed, goats with herbicide
From: David Hodge (dhodge(at)tnc.org)
A question arose in an earlier posting about using goats to control
spotted knapweed. I have never tried this, but have heard that goats only
prevent the further spread of knapweed. Since the root systems are very
hardy, killing the tops (either with goats or herbicide) will not kill the
plant. Therefore this should only be used if you only want to control
further spreading.
Has anyone used goats in conjunction with herbicides? It may be that after
the resprouts come up, they are more vulnerable to herbicides.
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3. Succulent control
From: Pat Bily (pbily(at)tnc.org)
Does anyone have experience successfully controlling succulent plants with
herbicide? Certain species of Kalanchoe have naturalized in Hawaii, as
well as Agave and Furcraea, and there is the potential of more garden
escapes in the future. We have had luck on individual plants using low
volume treatments of triclopyr in oil, but want to explore foliar
applications that will also continue to kill pieces (propagules) that
later fall off the target plants. This could involve a systemic combined
with a good penetrating surfactant. Who has got the magic bullet for
lasting control of Carpobrotus?
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4. November 6 weed conference in Massachusetts
From: Kay Sadighi (KayTrees(at)aol.com)
Invasive Plants: Challenges, Options, and Methods of Control, a conference
sponsored by the New England Wildflower Society, will be held November 6,
1999 at the Sheraton Terra, Framingham, MA 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Keynote
speakers will be Dr. John Randall, The Nature Conservancy, and Dr. Randy
Westbrooks, Invasive Plant Liaison, U.S. Dept. of Interior-U.S. Dept. of
Agriculture National Invasive Species Council. Four panels will address
upland invasives, wetland invasives, aquatic invasives and species of
concern. Please contact Greg Lowenberg, NEWFS Education Director
(lowenberg(at)newfs.org) or call 508-877-7630, ext. 3303 for information.
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5. Two items on working with nurseries to prevent weed problems
From: John Randall (jarandall(at)ucdavis.edu)
Back in May the Florida Nurserymen and Growers Association (FNGA)
issued a press release announcing that it is urging a halt in sales of 11
invasive plant species. FNGA issued the release jointly with the Florida
Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC) which had identified 24 species which
are both invasive and grown commercially in the state. Eleven of the 24
were identified as being of relatively minor value in the current market
and FNGA decided to recommend that these 11 species no longer be
propagated, grown or marketed in Florida. The 11 plants are Albizia
lebbeck (Woman's tongue), Bauhinia variegata (Orchid tree), Bischofia
javanica (Bischofia), Cupaniopsis anacardioides (Carrotwood), Macfadyena
unguis-cati (Cat's claw vine), Melia azedarach (Chinaberry), Nephrolepsis
cordifolia (Sword fern), Psidium guajava (Guava), Rhoeo spathacea (Oyster
plant), Syzgium cumini (Java plum; jambolan), and Thespesia populnea
(Seaside mahoe). FNGA represents Florida's leading 1,900 nurseries,
landscapers, garden retailers and allied suppliers. Further
recommendations of species whose sales should be halted will be based on
information and recommendations being developed by the University of
Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS). Doria Gordon,
TNC's Florida ecologist, serves on both the FLEPPC Board and the IFAS
committee charged with making recommendations on invasive species.
American Nurseryman magazine published an 'Invasives Roundtable' in
its July 15 1999 issue (v. 90 no. 2 pages 54-77). The magazine asked nine
horticulture professional and conservation workers to each answer seven
questions on the topic including how they define 'invasive', what the
nursery industry should do about invasives and what impacts on the
industry can be expected. All replies were printed in full. Sarah
Reichard of the University of Washington and I were the two conservation
workers invited to participate. I was impressed and pleased with how well
most of the horticulture professionals who replied understand the problem
and with the willingness to take actions to help address it indicated by
several of them. Contact Barry or John for copies of the 'Roundtable'.