Woody Invasive Plant Control in the Fall

Invasive plants are non-native and can reduce economic values, damage the environment, or cause harm to human health. Autumn is a great time to identify and manage invasive plants in your woodland. The yellow foliage, yellow capsules, and bright red berries of oriental bittersweet are easy to spot, and buckthorn trees and other invasive shrubs are easier to locate and identify because their leaves hang on late into the fall without changing color.

Some commonly seen invasive woody plants in Pennsylvania include: tree-of-heaven, buckthorn, Norway maple, callery pear, princess tree, white mulberry, Asian bush honeysuckles, multi-flora rose, Japanese barberry, autumn olive, and privet. For details on these invasive species and more, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) web site.

While mowing or cutting can be used as a management strategy, most deciduous trees and shrubs will re- sprout vigorously following cutting. Some woody invasive plants like tree-of-heaven can re-sprout from underground lateral roots several feet from the main plant. For effective control, these species must be controlled chemically.

Chemical Control Methods

1. Cut Stump Treatment - Cut the plant near the ground and treat the cut surface (inner bark and sapwood) immediately with a labeled herbicide.

2. Frill Applications (Hack and Squirt) - Use a hatchet or similar device to make frills, or cuts at a downward angle, at proper spacing around stem. Cuts must penetrate into the sapwood. Spray herbicide into cuts.

3. Low Volume Basal Spray - Using an oil carrier and herbicide, thoroughly wet the bark and any exposed roots from ground line up 12 to 18 inches.

4. Foliar Application - Mist the herbicide mixture onto the foliage of targeted plants. Do not spray to the point of runoff. Spray leaves to wet around the entire tree. Avoid spraying non-target plants.

For more detailed information on forest herbicide application methods see the publication entitled: Herbicides and Forest Vegetation Management form Penn State Extension. Always read and follow label directions, wear recommended protective clothing and avoid contact with non-target plants. The label directions will list plants controlled, areas where the herbicide can be used, and application methods. Before purchasing a brush control herbicide, read the label to verify the product is labeled for your site and will control the plants you want to eliminate.

Two of the most successful and commonly used active ingredients include glyphosate and triclopyr. Glyphosate (e.g. Roundup®) is a non-selective herbicide which can injure any green plant. Triclopyr is a selective herbicide active on broadleaf plants. Triclopyr has two formulations: amine, or water base, (e.g. Vastlan formally Garlon 3A) and ester, or oil base (e.g. Garlon 4 Ultra). Even after treatment with an herbicide, re-sprouting and seedling sprouts may continue for years. Monitor sites for re-growth annually and retreat as needed.

Non-Chemical Control Methods

Non-chemical treatment options may vary with species and age of the woody plant.

1. Pulling - Removing the root by pulling is effective when soil moisture is high and plants are small. Success is species specific. Asian bush honeysuckles are relatively shallow rooted and easily pulled. Hand pulling tools are also available (e.g. Weed Wrench and Puller Bear).

2. Cut and Grind Stumps - Stumps should be chipped to below ground level to minimize re-sprouting.

3.Cut and Cover Stumps - Covering stumps with plastic or material that excludes light for two years can reduce sprouting.(Methods 2 & 3 are effective on species that stump sprout. They are not effective on species that sucker or spread from lateral roots.

4. Frequent Mowing - Repeated mowing may control woody broadleaf plants. However, frequent mowing favors grasses which may not provide beneficial habitat for wildlife. Mowing on a 3 year rotation (1/3 of area each year) may be enough to control invasive shrubs and promote native forbs. If large stems exist initially they should be cut by hand and chemically stump treated to prevent re-sprouting.

Equipment

Equipment for controlling undesirable woody plants varies from inexpensive hand tools to large power equipment. Selection of tools will be determined by budgets, size of plants, number of plants, size of the site being managed and who will be doing the work.

Re-Establishing Native Vegetation

Many native tree species can re-establish once undesirable invasive plants are controlled. Desirable plants can also be seeded or transplanted. There are a number of native small trees and shrubs that could be considered to improve wildlife habitat such as; high-bush blueberry, winterberry holly, spicebush, buttonbush, nannyberry viburnum, arrowwood viburnum, crabapple, hawthorn, elderberry, American plum, serviceberry, chokecherry, gray dogwood, American hazelnut, and black chokeberry. In many cases, for plantings and the re-establishment of native vegetation to be successful it will be necessary to reduce the impact of deer through controlled hunting and the use of the DMAP program.

Revised from Woody Vegetation Control, University of Minnesota Extension.

Defend the PSU College of Ag Sciences Budget

There was a serious change for the worse yesterday afternoon in the state budget.  It means that PSU might not receive $230.4 million in state funds,  about 10% of their budget, and in addition, the College of Ag Sciences will uniquely lose more, another $52.3 million in funding for Research and Extension, which in turn would directly cause the loss of  more than $20 million in federal funds.  The state legislature is not scheduled to meet again until October 16. 

- Please use and distribute President Barron’s call to action.
- In addition, use this link to make contact with legislators. It should literally take three clicks and less than a minute for stakeholders to make their voices heard!  Thank you.

October 4, 2017

University officials have received news out of Harrisburg today (Oct. 4) that the Commonwealth’s protracted budget impasse continues, as elected leaders continue to fail to come to an agreement on the fiscal plan – holding up passage of funding for state-related universities, including Penn State.

Penn State officials are urging members of the state House of Representatives to pass the University’s funding bill and send it on to Gov. Tom Wolf to “at least provide us with some assurance that we will be funded this year.”

Failure to enact Penn State’s appropriation bill means that not only will the University not receive $230.4 million in state funds, most of which goes toward keeping in-state tuition lower, but Penn College in Williamsport would not receive $22 million, and Agricultural Research and Extension would not receive $52.3 million. All of the funds are vital to ongoing operations.

“The absence of an appropriation would result in a direct impact on our students and their families, since these funds are used to keep tuition lower for Pennsylvania students,” said Penn State President Eric J. Barron. “Without this critical funding from the Commonwealth, we will be unable to run our extension programs that impact Pennsylvanians in all 67 counties. This would be a devastating outcome, but we remain hopeful that our state legislators can come together in support of Penn State, which creates more than $17 billion in economic impact for the state and educates tens of thousands of students annually.”

As proposed by Gov. Wolf in February, the budget includes level funding of $230.4 million for Penn State’s general support appropriation. Including the additional funds listed above for Agricultural Research and Extension and Penn College, a total appropriation of $318.2 million is in jeopardy.

Penn State has been operating without state funds since July 1, the beginning of the new fiscal year.

Walk in Penn’s Woods

On Sunday, October 1, bring your friends and family to the woods. As part of a statewide day of woods walks, Walk in Penn’s Woods aims to get people out to enjoy the woods, and to learn about how these woods work for us – from recreation and wildlife habitat to seeing the outcomes of timber harvests and learning about the history of lumbering in Pennsylvania.

As of September 19, there are 60 walks scheduled across the state, with many more still in the planning stages.

The October 1 walks are happening on state forests, gamelands, and parks, in the Allegheny National Forest, on municipality-owned watersheds, in city parks, and on the properties of private woodland owners.

Each walk will highlight different values we hold for the woods, and provide opportunities for visitors to interact with knowledgeable landowners and natural resources professionals. Some walks are guided walks; others will have stations set up to inform visitors about just what’s going on in the woods. The walks will happen rain or shine.

If you’ve ever had questions, or want to increase your understanding of the woods, come out for this statewide day celebrating Penn’s Woods.

Walk in Penn’s Woods is organized by a partnership among the Pennsylvania Forestry Association, Pennsylvania Sustainable Forestry Initiative Implementation Committee, Pennsylvania DCNR Bureau of Forestry, the Pennsylvania Forest Stewards volunteer program, Penn State Extension, and the Center for Private Forests at Penn State, along with our myriad partners around the state offering their time and resources to make the walks happen.

See list below for a walk being provided in your county.  Up-to-date listings of the walks can be found at: www.walkinpennswoods.org.

      Bedford: Jackson Stewardship Forest, 2 – 5 p.m. Enjoy a nature walk on a private woodland near Everett

·        Bedford: Allegheny Front Experience, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Outstanding views, tree identification, and children’s activities. Cairnbrook.

·        Berks/Schuylkill: State Gamelands 110, 1 – 4 p.m. Restoring oak forests – past, present, and future. Bethel.

·        Bradford: The Haft, time TBD. Woodland and golden-winged warbler habitat management. Albany

·        Bucks: Durham-Springfield Fuller Preserve Walk, 1 p.m. This 1.8 mile guided walk will take you through the woods, passing streams, a lovely gorge, overlooks, and through an old growth forest site.

·        Cambria: Beaverdale Sportsmen’s Association, 9:30 a.m.. Woodland restoration from past degradation. Beaverdale.

·        Carbon: Bethlehem Water Authority, time TBD. Management of the 23,000 acre municipal watershed – including controlled burns, managing invasive plants, and forest diversity.

·        Centre: Musser Gap, Rothrock Forest, 1 – 4 p.m. Woods restoration from invasive plants and insects and new recreational opportunities. Route 45 between Boalsburg and Pine Grove Mills.

·        Centre: Ott Woods. 10 a.m. – Noon. Golden-winged warbler habitat management. Howard

·        Centre: Hartley Woods, Penn State Arboretum, Meet at the Overlook Pavilion at 11 a.m. Join the Penn State student chapter of the Society of American Forests for a walk through Penn State’s old growth forest. University Park.

·        Chester: Greens Valley Watershed Association, 9 – 11:30 a.m. Tree identification workshop and walk – includes a registration fee of $10 to cover workshop materials. Pottstown.

·        Clarion: Cook Forest Log Cabin Environmental Learning Cabin, 9 a.m. Guided walk with great birding opportunities. Cooksburg.

·        Columbia: Endless Mountains Zendo and the Nature and You Club, 1 – 4 p.m. Explore the diversity of trees on the Zendo property and discover the benefits trees provide, including health benefits. Registration fee of $10. Stillwater.

·        Crawford: Katz Natural Area, 2 – 4 p.m. Explore mature floodplain forest along the meandering Cussewago Creek, meadows, and beaver ponds. Tall hiking boots or knee boots are recommended. Rogers Ferry Road. GPS Coordinates available.

·        Crawford: Woodland Lodge, 1 – 4 p.m. Join the Foundation for Sustainable Forests for a Sunday afternoon stroll in a forest managed for forest health and habitat, commercial syrup production, and timber. Grand Valley.

·        Cumberland: Twining Tree Farm, time TBD. Learn about conservation easements as a land protection program and the Tree Farm program. Carlisle.

·        Dauphin: Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art, 1 – 4 p.m. Walk the Ned Smith Center lands and learn about forest management, wildlife, mushrooms, and insects. Millersburg.

·        Dauphin: Detweiler Park, 9 a.m. Join the Manada Conservancy for a three-mile guided walk that will include birding highlights (bring your binoculars). Dauphin.

·        Elk: Finley Tree Farm, 2 p.m. Learn about oak regeneration and beech control. Ridgway.

·        Erie: Kirik Tree Farm, 2 – 6 p.m. Take a walk on private land to learn about American chestnut and managed forests. Corry.

·        Erie: Headwaters Park, 9:30 a.m. A 1.5 hour walk exploring unique species of frogs, reptiles, and salamanders. Erie.

·        Fayette: Fallingwater grounds hike. 9:30 – 11 a.m. Experience the nature reserve surrounding the famous house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. This hike is approximately 1.5 miles over moderate terrain. Tickets are required and must be purchased in advance. Mill Run.

·        Fayette: Bear Run Nature Reserve. 9 – 11 a.m. Explore Bear Run Nature Reserve featuring mature forests and clear mountain streams. This moderate 4 mile hike will include some rough and steep sections. Mill Run.

·        Forest: Hunter Run Tract, Cornplanter State Forest. 12 p.m. Take a leisurely walk on the Lashure Hiking Trail. Interpretation will be provided at various stops. Tionesta.

·        Forest: Tionesta Lake, 3 p.m. A tree ID walk along the Summit Trail. We’ll note key ID features, learn about emerald ash borer damage, and what the Army Corps of Engineers is doing to deal with the problem. Tionesta.

·        Franklin: Mont Alto State Park, 1 – 4 p.m. Join the Friends of Mont Alto State Park and the students of the Penn State Mont Alto Forestry Club in exploring the forest trails of Pennsylvania’s first state park. Mont Alto.

·        Fulton: State Gamelands 149 and Buchanan State Forest, 1 – 4 p.m. Walk to see a timber sale on Buchanan State Forest, road building, and invasive control methods, including hack-n-squirt treatments of tree-of-heaven and Pawlownia. Warfordsburg.

·        Greene: Thistle Tree Farm, 1 p.m. Tour a young red oak plantation, crop tree management, and a butternut, walnut, and red oak plantation. Waynesburg.

·        Huntingdon: Flicker Farm, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. This self-guided walk follows marked trails through varied habitat with streams, vernal pools, and regenerating mixed hardwoods. Alexandria.

·        Jefferson: Miller Stewardship Property, 2 p.m. A guided 2 mile walk through woods, orchards, and along streams. Brookville.

·        Juniata: Karl Guss Picnic Area, 1 -4 p.m. Scenic walk on the Tuscarora State Forest trails highlighting tree identification and timber management. Picnic area across Licking Creek.

·        Lancaster: Camp Oak Hill, 1 p.m. Tour beautiful landscape of hardwood forests, mature pines, meadows, riparian habitat, gardens, and new orchard (including pawpaw). Nottingham.

·        Lancaster: Hands Woods Restoration, 1 p.m. Hosted by a community partnership around restoring the ecological integrity of Lancaster's largest urban forest, Hands Woods, and improving it as an amenity to the community. The Partnership will reveal its newly created master plan while taking you on a walking tour of the woods. A trail maintenance activity will also be coordinated. Lancaster.

·        Lancaster/Lebanon: Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, 1 p.m. Learn about wildlife habitat creation and land conservation on this PA Game Commission property. Stevens.

·        Lehigh: Flint Hill Farms, 1 – 4 p.m. Tour a working farmland from the 1900s. Take self-guided walk through the woods, visit the farm market, see the animals. Coopersburg.

·        Lycoming: Williamsport Municipal Water Authority, 12:30 – 4 p.m. At 2 p.m., a guided hike on the Bluebird Trail; open house at the Waterdale Environmental Education Center. Duboistown.

·        McKean: Donald J. Comes Natura Resources Learning Center, 1 p.m. Guided tour of upland hardwood forests will cover ID, wildlife sign, BMPs, and basic forest inventory measurements. Learn how to use this information to develop a forest management plan for your woods. Smethport.

·        Mercer: Lawyer Stewardship Forest, 2 p.m. Walk through the woods with DCNR forester Dave Cole, Learn tree identification and valuable information about western Pennsylvania forests. Mercer.

·        Monroe: Wildlands Conservancy, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Learn about creating golden-winged warbler habitat and forest restoration. Lunch provided, but registration required. Blakeslee.

·        Montgomery: Fisher Woods, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Walk logging trails through woods on a working livestock farm; see a wood processing demonstration. Green Lane.

·        Montgomery: Ardsley Wildlife Sanctuary, 9 a.m. Get to know this unique open space and see wetlands, water bodies, and steep slopes. Bring your binoculars for great birdwatching. Abington Township.

·        Montour: Montour Preserve, 1:30 p.m. Trail walk to demonstration forest management practices that woodland owners could implement. Tour will visit white oak woods, a chestnut planting, deer exclosure, and more. Danville.

·        Northumberland: Carbaugh Stewardship Property. 1:30 p.m. Take a walk on a stewardship property with an American Chestnut Foundation breeding orchard. Danville.

·        Perry: Hunkey Hollow. 9 a.m. Learn about animal signs and how landowners use hunter management programs. Duncannon.

·        Philadelphia: Pennypack on the Delaware. 10 a.m. – Noon. Hosted by the Delaware River Corporation and co-sponsored by the Philadelphia Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion, this guided walk of the Pennypack on the Delaware trail will include a visit to a small tidal wetland preserve and discussions about native plants, wildlife, and insects. Philadelphia.

·        Philadelphia: Papa Playground, Cobbs Creek Park. 5:30 p.m. This walk in the Morris Park section of Cobbs Creek will watch for evening songbird activity, as well as watching bats and owls as they begin to stir. Philadelphia.

·        Philadelphia: Wissahickon Valley Park. 10 a.m. Walk through time exploring the multiple layers of human and natural history. Philadelphia.

·        Pike: Delaware State Forest, 9 a.m. Land management activities along with the area’s natural features – including timber harvest, emerald ash borer treatment, and recreational opportunities. Greentown.

·        Potter: Pennsylvania Lumber Museum, 1 p.m. Guided walk on the interpretive trail; free admission to the Lumber Museum after the walk. Ulysses.

·        Schuylkill: Locust Lake State Park, 1 p.m. Identify trees and shrubs, learn about forest benefits, and experience the solace and peacefulness of the forest. Barnesville.

·        Snyder: Selinsgrove Center Trail of Trees, 1:30 p.m. Tour a half mile tree ID trail complete with full color plaques identifying leaf, twig, bark, and fruit for 25 trees. Selinsgrove.

·        Somerset: Thomas Stewardship Forest, time and tour highlights TBD. Johnstown.

·        Sullivan: Dwight Lewis Lumber Company, Inc., 2 p.m. See ash tree salvage, timber management and the use of deer fences. Laporte.

·        Tioga: Irion Lumber Company, 2:30 p.m. Take a short walk with us and discuss natural resource diversity on this working forest/farm/sawmill operation in central Tioga County. Wellsboro.

·        Union: Wild Goose Farm, 3 p.m. Gerald Hoy, DCNR Service Forester, will lead a walk through a 20-acre woodland to discuss invasive species and the cultivation of non-timber forest products. The walk will be followed by a mushroom inoculation workshop. Lewisburg.

·        Venango: Stanton’s Tree Farm, 2 p.m. Take a guided walk and talk across the Stanton’s Tree Farm to showcase their hard work to manage the property to its fullest potential for wildlife habitat and timber development. Titusville.

·        Warren: Heart’s Content National Scenic Area, 2 p.m. A walk through Heart's Content among the 500 year old hemlock and white pine. Trail winds around 1 mile through the timber stand before returning to the picnic area. GPS coordinates available.

·        Warren: Woodland Lodge, 1 p.m. Learn about a forest managed for health and habitat, commercial syrup production, and timber. We’ll talk sap, tree ID, wildlife habitat, and more. Green Valley.

·        Washington: Burnham Tree Farm, 2 p.m. Observe wildlife habitats, including ponds, wetlands, and pollinator fields. See forest regeneration in our black walnut plantation, and riparian buffers. West Finley.

·        Washington: Knaus Farm, 1 p.m. An exploratory guided tour of young and mature woods, fields, and an American chestnut planting. Bethel Park.

·        Wayne: Olver Tree Farm, 1:30 – 5 p.m. Learn about the value of wetlands, directional tree felling, the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s DMAP program, and pond management. Honesdale.

 

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