[MPWG] Microstegeium germination

[ForestRuss at aol.com]

MPWG:
 
Has anyone been keeping track of the time frame when some of our problem  
invasive plants (like Japanese stiltgrass) germinate in the spring?
 
In spite of overnight lows in the 20's and daytime high temperatures that  
have barely reached 50 degrees, a series of snow storms and lots  of rain, 
the Japanese stiltgrass has started to germinate in central West  Virginia.
 
We had one warm day in the past three weeks, Monday April 4 when it hit 80  
degrees.  By today, Wednesday April 6, Microstegium germination is  taking 
place in most sunny locations.  So far, most plants are less  than 1/4" tall 
but the little buggers have roots that go 1.5 inches into  the soil.  If we 
have a severe frost (below 20 degrees) most MV seedlings  will die and be 
immediately replaced by seed bank plants.  
 
In some places the ground surface is already becoming an unbroken mat of  
stiltgrass seedlings, less than a day after the first seed sprouted
 
>From several years of observation it now appears that Japanese stiltgrass  
will germinate in most of central West Virginia anytime after April 1 if the 
 conditions aren't too cold.  Unfortunately is isn't generally noticed 
until  after May 1. 
 
It now appears that Bipolaris fungus impacts several native plant species  
but it also appears to not be as lethal on natives as it is on stiltgrass.   
Hopefully, like last year, the first signs of Bipolaris fungus will start 
to  show up in some plants within the next few weeks.  
 
Sincerely,
 
Russ Richardson, Certified Forester
Arnoldsburg, WV 25234
 
 
 
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