Urban Weed Management - - Marion Soil and Water
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Transcript Urban Weed Management - - Marion Soil and Water
Urban Weed Management
Developed by Pringle Creek
Watershed Council
Salem, Oregon
Presentation overview
• Definition of “weeds”
• Weed impacts
• Ways to identify and control
common invasive plants
• How to tackle weeds in your yard
• Resources for additional help
What is considered a weed?
• Any plant growing where it is not
wanted.
• Invasive and noxious weeds are the
most troublesome.
– Rapidly dominate the site
– Very difficult to control
Noxious Weeds in Oregon
• Landowners are responsible for controlling
the spread of noxious weeds on their
property
• Class A – worst; Class B – not as bad
Class “A” Weeds
Class “B” Weeds
Weed impacts
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Out-compete other plants for water, nutrients, and sun
Costly and difficult to control
Loss of wildlife and fish habitat; yard space
Some are toxic to people
and animals
Decrease property value
Increase erosion
Can take over
recreational areas
Minimize land uses
Spread rapidly
How do weeds spread?
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Humans
Pets
Wildlife
Water
Wind
Vehicles
Machinery
“Wildflower” mixes
We plant them
Soil disturbance
Weed Management
Prevention is the most effective practice of all!
• Buy clean seed for wildflowers or
lawns; don’t plant weeds!
• Clean yard equipment before using it in
another area
• Control weeds along streams
• Use mulch materials
or weed mats
• Pull weeds early –
before they go to seed!
Control Methods
Mechanical
• Mowing, hand pulling, burning, solarizing
Cultural
• Shading, site preparation, plant
appropriate competitive vegetation
Biological
• Parasites, predators, and pathogens;
typically a slow process
Chemical
• Often requires repeated application; can
be sprayed, wiped or painted onto leaves
or stumps; usually most effective in fall;
USE ACCORDING TO LABEL
English Ivy (Hedera helix)
Perennial
Woody evergreen vine
Reproduces by seed and
roots
Can kill trees!
Berries are poisonous to most
wildlife. Starlings love them!
Control methods:
hand pull or roll up vines
cut stems on vines in trees &
pull away lower vines from trunk
apply herbicides (requires
repeated application due to waxy
leaves)
Himalayan Blackberry (Rubus discolor)
Perennial
Deciduous to partially
evergreen
Reproduces by seed and
roots
Doesn’t grow as well in
shade
Control:
mow (at ground level) repeatedly
dig or pull up root crowns
deep shade from larger trees
apply herbicides in the fall to leaves
or cut stumps
Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare)
Biennial
2-5 feet tall
Flowers purple JulySeptember
Reproduces by seed
Seed can be viable for
10 years
Control:
hand pull
cut or mow before going to seed
apply herbicides in late fall or
early spring
Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense)
Perennial
Flowers light pink-purple
Grows 1-4 feet tall
Has deep horizontal roots
Reproduces through
creeping roots, some seed
Control:
pull by hand (small plants)
apply herbicides; spot-spraying
young plants is very effective
Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum)
Perennial
Can grow up to 12 feet
tall
Hollow, bamboo-like
stems
Long creeping roots
Dies back in winter
Control:
Cut close to ground regularly (every
2 weeks during growing season)*
dig (small plants and surface roots)
apply herbicides to leaves & stems in
the summer or early fall
*be sure to properly dispose of all plant material
Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum)
Biennial
Grows to 10 feet tall
Tiny white flowers &
purple-mottled stems
All parts of plant are
highly poisonous (if
eaten)
Reproduces by seed
Control:
hand pull or dig* (small plants)
apply herbicides in early spring or late fall
*be sure to wear gloves & properly dispose of all plant
material
Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius)
Perennial
Woody shrub with dark green
branches, 3-10 feet tall
Reproduces by seed; seeds are
protected by a flat pod
Soil disturbance results in a new
crop of seedlings
Control:
pull with weed wrenching tool
mow or cut (prior to seed ripening)
apply herbicides to foliage while
actively growing or bark anytime
Reed Canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea)
Perennial grass
Leaves ¼ - ¾ inches wide
Stems 2-7 feet tall, covered
by waxy coating
Forms thick mat of roots
and rhizomes
Control:
hand pull or mow
solarize
shade out the plant
apply herbicides in early
spring or fall
Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
Perennial
Flowers purple on
spikes
Stems are square; plant
can be 6-8 feet in height
Reproduces by seed
and roots
Control:
cut, dig, or hand pull (small
plants)
cut and remove the flowering
spikes to prevent new seedlings
apply herbicides when actively
growing at full to late flowering
Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii)
Perennial
Grows up to 6 feet tall
White, pink, violet or blue
flowers
Brought to the U.S. as an
ornamental; widely planted
Control:
hand pull (seedlings)
apply herbicide to cut stumps
Note: cutting the plant encourages growth
and applying herbicides to leaves is
generally ineffective.
Weed treatment in riparian areas
• Select the most
effective treatment
methods for the site
• If herbicides are used,
be sure the label
allows application
adjacent to or in the
water
• Consider wipe
application or hand
removal
Now what?
• Inventory the plants on
your property
• Identify invasive plants
and weeds
• Do you have a weed
problem? Why?
• What can you
change about the
way you manage
your property to
decrease the weed
population?
ENGLISH IVY
Proper disposal of weeds
• Put fresh noxious and
perennial weed material
in your garbage
• Don’t add it to your
compost bin or yard
debris cart; especially
seeds or root material
• Don’t leave any root
parts or seeds in wet
areas; they will sprout!
Then...
• Determine appropriate
controls and your plans for
the site and start working
• Monitor for invasive plants
• Plant native plants in your
yard after the weeds are
under control
• Marion & Polk SWCDs have
annual native plant sales in
February
• Share this information with
others
Helpful Resources
Pringle Creek Watershed Council…………....503-566-4034
web: www.open.org/pcwc
Marion Soil & Water Conservation District….503-391-9927
web: www.open.org/mariswcd
Oregon Department of Agriculture…………...503-986-4621
web: www.oregon.gov/ODA
OSU Extension - Marion County Office……...503-588-5301
web: extension.oregonstate.edu/marion
Pacific NW Weed Control Handbook
web: weeds.ippc.orst.edu/pnw/weeds
Helpful Books
Weeds of the West
Western US Cooperative Extension Services
Tom Whitson, Editor; 2001
Northwest Weeds
Ronald J. Taylor; 2003
Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast
Jim Pojar and Andy Mackinnon; 1994
Handbook of Northwestern Plants
Helen Gilkey and LaRea J. Dennis; 2001
Gardening with Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest
Arthur Kruckeberg; 2003
Trees and Shrubs for Pacific Northwest Gardens
John Grant, et. al.; 2003