A potent team of Invasive Plant Activists (IPAs) converged on the Red Trail West at Holcomb Farm in November to continue repairing the damage borne of our love of intense fall colors (see photo).
Burning bush (Euonymus alatus) is a carefree shrub native to China with curious winged stems that’s been planted on highways and in yards for decades and is valued for its fiery fall plumage. Unfortunately, birds distribute the seeds and it multiplies unchecked in a wide range of environments, dominating woodlands and choking out native plants.
IPAs have contributed over 100 hours in the past year along a few hundred feet of the trail, pulling younger plants and cutting mature shrubs repeatedly to starve the roots. We’re about half done. Those who treasure their burning bushes are most cordially invited to join the repair effort on Dec. 14, our next Second Saturday Invasive Action. There’s more information on the plant in the March 2021 column, available at GranbyInvasivePlants.weebly.com
Nuggets of knowledge
The Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group, our state info hub, held its biennial symposium at UConn in October. Here are a few insights that panelists shared on controlling invasive plants and helping the flora that feeds the native fauna we favor to flourish.
Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris): The best non-chemical treatment for dense concentrations is to cut it and then cover with sturdy black plastic for at least a year. Repeated mowing is not effective.
Woodchips: A thick layer of fresh woodchips (not bark mulch) at least 12 inches deep is a great way to prepare a site for native plantings. Woodchip smothering allows water to pass through, suppresses seedlings by blocking light, loosens the soil to make it easier to remove unwanted roots and gradually decays to enrich the soil.
Bare-Root Transplants: The best time to transplant woody plants, shrubs and small trees is March through early April, when the ground has thawed, before leaves appear.
More
Updates, sign-ups, photos, previous columns and more on invasive plants and the NOT WANTED campaign is available at GranbyInvasivePlants.weebly.com