What’s been done, what to do, where to get plants

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This hardy group of volunteers freed a series of sycamores and smaller trees and shrubs at Holcomb Farm. From left, Mary Humason, Robert Humason, David Desiderato, Kathy Agresta, Melody Smith, Nick Thoms, Nicole Cloutier, Josh Anderson, Jim Watso, Cathy Watso. Not pictured: Valerie Raggio. Photo by Lee Barba

IPAs on the Move

Despite some difficult winter weather, Invasive Plant Activists made massive progress freeing a series of mighty sycamores and smaller native trees and shrubs at Holcomb Farm in recent months. Twelve volunteers brought favorite tools and high energy to the task on Feb. 12 (see photo) in the area between the horse corral and Simsbury Road. There is more to be done there, including preserving the wildlife corridor among the trees. Granby’s next Invasive Action is April 9. For more information, visit GranbyInvasivePlants.weebly.com

Now is the Right Time

Some of Granby’s worst invasive plants are very visible and vulnerable in April and May. For biennials and those that start from seed, roots are young and their grip on the earth is not as firm as in later months. For vines and shrubs, spring is the time to cut them to the ground before they flower and set seeds that help them multiply. Details on these plants can be found at GranbyInvasivePlants.weebly.com Search for CT’s Invasive Plant Management Calendar, an excellent month-by-month resource from the CT Invasive Plant Working Group, in one-page and 50-page versions.

Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)

An insidious little biennial, garlic mustard’s 3000+ seeds per plant allow it to rapidly carpet an area in green. Pull young plants carefully from the roots before they flower. Get the whole family involved, and try to pull every last plant, and plan to do it again next year, and the next, as seeds live in the soil for several years.

Asiatic Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)

This vine is most visible as a mature strangler, climbing and covering trees 30 feet high or more, and requires loppers and saws. But the seeds distributed by birds, and those from the unfortunate holiday wreaths still in use, sprout all across the land and are easily pulled up by the roots when they are just twigs.

Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum)

Digging up mature knotweed is tough, and risky because of the potential to distribute root particles, which easily reestablish. Spring is a great time to do the first of three annual cuttings, after knotweed has leafed out but before they flower. Repeat twice before early September and plan to do it for two more years to gradually exhaust the roots. It works! Check out the Nix the Knotweed campaign in southeast CT towns.

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)

A relatively recent invader to our area, mugwort’s proliferation has vaulted it to crisis status. Individual plants and small clusters can be carefully pulled, getting all the roots while they are young and tender. Larger clusters need to be “solarized”: completely cover with plastic sheeting, well weighed down, for several months to cook the plants and their roots. Prepare to plant native alternatives after peeling back the plastic in late summer or early fall.