[APWG] Microstegium control in West Virginia.

[A & T Schrum]

I have found that using a crabgrass pre-emergent in mid February and 
again in early June (for my zone 7b/8a Georgia location) prevents 95+% 
germination for that year. Unfortunately with an established seed bank, 
the process will have to be repeated probably forever. Pre-emergents 
don't harm native perennials, but do block their germination from seed. 
I have found it easier to collect the seed of desirable plants and 
germinate them in a seedling bed for transplantation back later.

I have read that Chasmanthium latifolium was being used (within its 
native range) to out-compete Microstegium with promising results.

--TS.

Marc Imlay wrote:
>
> “Herbicides that contain glyphosate, the active ingredient found in 
> Round Up have been proven to be extremely effective against Japanese 
> stiltgrass. One major disadvantage to using glyphosate based 
> herbicides is that those types of chemicals are non specific, meaning 
> that they pretty much kill every plant they touch.”
>
> Excellent report. I have a comment on the paragraph above. We have 
> found it extremely easy to hand pull Japanese Stiltgrass where it is 
> mixed with native species (about 5% of the population). The individual 
> stiltgrass plants are large and can be pulled faster than they can be 
> sprayed, weed wacked, or mowed. In contrast, we spray where the more 
> established populations typically consist of many small stiltgrass 
> plants per square foot. We easily avoid the very few natives (about 
> one per 10 square feet) by spraying very carefully. Ten days later the 
> natives are seen to suffer no damage! Cheers
>
> Marc Imlay, PhD
> Conservation biologist, Anacostia Watershed Society
> (301-699-6204, 301-283-0808 301-442-5657 cell)
> Board member of the Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council,
> Hui o Laka at Kokee State Park, Hawaii
> Vice president of the Maryland Native Plant Society,
> Chair of the Biodiversity and Habitat Stewardship Committee
> for the Maryland Chapter of the Sierra Club.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> *From:* apwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org 
> [mailto:apwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org] *On Behalf Of 
> *ForestRuss at aol.com
> *Sent:* Monday, August 14, 2006 6:14 PM
> *To:* APWG at lists.plantconservation.org
> *Subject:* [APWG] (no subject)
>
> APWG:
>
> Please check out the following link to an article on Microstegium 
> control in West Virginia.
>
> http://www.hurherald.com/cgi-sys/db_scripts/articles/articles?Action=user_view&db=articles_hurherald&id=19872 
> <http://www.hurherald.com/cgi-sys/db_scripts/articles/articles?Action=user_view&db=articles_hurherald&id=19872>
>
> Russ Richardson, Certified Forester
>
> Arnoldsburg, WV 25234
>
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