[APWG] [CalWeedTalk] Removing invasive grasses

[Wayne Tyson]

1. Do not disturb soil for any reason.
2. Cut back the tall grasses to a convenient height; destroy seeds and 
stolons/rhizomes. Cut them green, before they are capable of dehiscence (if 
this is a problem, use a torch to cautiously cut bundles wrapped with bags 
to contain seed.
3. Let new leaves form.
4. Touch/swipe with wet wick with degradable herbicide sufficient for a good 
kill. Do not spray (Very low pressure with spray drift guard attached to 
head of wand, coarse spray only, zero atomization, to wet only target 
[larger] plants. Do not remove dead plants.
5. Work hard to determine optimal concentration and dose--start with light 
concentration and minimal dose and increase gradually.
6. Increase density of indigenous species.
7. Plug ten square meter circles with (say ten?) soil samples taken 
widely-spaced from donor/comparable site, placing them evenly over entire 
site as budget will permit. You can plug indigenous plants the same way, at 
the same time. Each year, add plugs until a satisfactory density is reached.
8. Do entire site at one time.
9. Keep after it with zero-tolerance removal of new sprouts or steps above.
10. Apply patience liberally.
11. Measure and map initially, after treatment, and during follow-up, 
measuring and mapping trends.
12. Minimize trampling.

WT

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Holly Sletteland" <hslettel at calpoly.edu>
To: <apwg at lists.plantconservation.org>; "'californiaweedtalk at topica.com'" 
<CaliforniaWeedTalk at topica.com>
Sent: Monday, April 04, 2011 7:19 PM
Subject: [CalWeedTalk] Removing invasive grasses


>
> Does anyone have any suggestions on an approach for removing invasive
> grasses that are inter-mixed with wetland vegetation such as rushes, 
> sedges
> and native salt grass? The grasses we are dealing with are veldt grass
> (Ehrharta calycina) and velvet grass (Holcus lanatus) primarily. We have a
> real problem and we're not winning the battle by hand digging. There's too
> much of a seed bank and the soil disturbance just brings up a whole new
> crop. I'm thinking of perhaps "sacrificing" a section at a time and just
> spraying everything and replanting wetland vegetation. I would try to hold
> the line against any new invaders and move to a new section when things 
> were
> pretty well established. It might be  easier to control new grass shoots.
> But I recoil at the thought of killing that many native plants. Are there
> any selective herbicides (or concentrations) that would set the grasses
> back, but not do in the sedges and rushes? Any other mechanical methods -
> mulches, weed barriers, flamers, whatever that anyone has used with any
> success? Help!
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> Holly Sletteland
> Preserve Manager
> Morro Coast Audubon Society
> PO Box 1507
> Morro Bay, CA 93443
> 805.772.1991 / 805.239.3928
> _______________________________________________
>
>
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