Phragmites
from Greek, fencing in
Agenda
• Background info
• Some considerations
• Suggested test plot
• Discussion
Phragmites
• The plant can tolerate standing water, low
oxygen levels and acidic sediments, which allow
it to thrive in disturbed habitats often unsuitable
for other plants (Marks et al. 1994; Bart and
Hartman 2000). http://www.mdsg.umd.edu/
• At the scale of the entire Rhode River
subestuary, P. australis coverage expanded from
7,294 m2 in 1971–72 to 183,369 m2 in 2007
Whigham et al, Wetlands (2010) 30:67–74
Phragmites con’t.
• Phragmites is often encouraged by, and a
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symptom of, underlying problems, such as
siltation, nutrient loading, and hydrological
alteration. Erik Kiviat
The most common means of spread is from
fragments of rhizomes that are carried on road
maintenance equipment.
http://www.invadingspecies.com
Pros
• Native species exist
– Less aggressive
– Rare on Western shore
– Can detect after spraying
• Green
– Some value in cover/erosion
– Used by some animal species
Cons
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Monoculture
Less diverse habitat
Invasive
Literally unsightly
Every area started as a patch
Prevents recovery, even as conditions improve
Climate change
Event- fire, spill on 97 or 50
Encourage by
• Soil disturbance
– Direct
– Indirect via storm water runoff
• Nutrients in water
Doing it
• Variety of approaches
• Reports
• Suggestions
Equipment
• Large tank sprayers
– Plants up to 12 foot height
– Road access. Possibly boat.
• Backpack sprayers
• Planes
– Aerial control is restricted
Spraying
• Still need to mow or cut or burn
• Must return the following year
Bind, Cut and Paint
• Twine, shears, brush
• Gloves
• Body suit?
www.ipaw.org/.../phragmites/.../
Phragmites_workshop_meeting_
minutes.doc
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Bundle, cut and chemically treat – Ryan Magana, DNR
(handout)
Easy to do, cheap labor force, apply chemical to cut surface,
Tried Rodeo first but had to return for multi treatment then moved to Habitat which
works better with impressive results
Track what you treat due to bundles marking where treated
Tops let lay, cut in August before seeds.
Does not work for large areas, largest area is size of room (6 people, with thick
areas, 4 hours) can pre bundle and leave for days for cutting and herbicide later
As long as you can see green when you cut the herbicide will be effective, light frost
is not a bad thing, above 28 degrees, denser the stand the better since roots are
connected, seed viability is a concern
Regrowth of native species – depends on “mulch” and density of phramities
Shade provided aphides promoted wasps which can be an issue with humans
Add dye to the bottle to make where you have been, use an herbicide dye not a food
dye, use a water soluble dye for habitat or rodeo, tablets work well for land owners
but for large scale work use the liquid highlight blue
U. Of Wisconsin/ DNR
• What is the optimal timing for cut stem treatment of phragmites? – late summer to
early September (we focused our treatment work after Labor Day). For the bundle
and cut method, the phragmites need to be tall enough to be bundled by volunteers
at a comfortable height – usually around waist height. Other types of spraying can be
done in June prior to it the phragmites growing taller.
• • What is the average rate you paid per hour for spot treatment by a contractor? We
utilized around 30 hours of spot treatment by contractors, and depending on
contractor (and travel costs) the average costs was $40 per hour.
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MDA quoted $150/hr for 2 people and truck, no herbicide.
• • How short do you cut the bundles using the bundle/cut method? We use a
comfortable height for the person bundling and cutting or usually around waist high.
The tops are laid down on the grown. We are not concerned about removing the
seeds from the area.
Rodeo, Habitat, Clear cast
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Ridges Sanctuary - Work on the Native phragmites was started due to increase in spread of
native variety since 1960’s. Observations show that native phragmites is spreading and affecting
endangered species. Work also focused on controlling the non-native variety as it spread.
Majority of the treatment was done by the cut and bundle treatment. The bundling was done by
volunteers and herbicide applied by DNR crews. Used all three types of herbicide, Rodeo
and Habitat but currently using Clear cast. Clear cast is a new herbicide being
developed for aquatic work. First year treatment bundled 2000 stems, following year
30 stems were needed to be treated. Large number of volunteers were needed to
bundle the stems. Follow up treatment is required after first major treatment. If not retreated
can re-infest the area and spread rapidly. Herbicide damage seen the second year to native
vegetation but can rebound with lack of Phragmites.
Issue: Aphids were thick on the canes and volunteers’ hands turned green. Wasps were attracted
to the aphids and stinging caused an allergic reaction in a volunteer.
Moonlight Bay - Shoreline habitat work due to spread of phragmites in exposed lake bed. Seeds
washed in along shoreline increasing the spread of phragmites. Used backpack sprayers to treat
1st and 2nd year clones which is more manageable than cut and bundle. 3rd year the clone will
be thicker and more difficult to treat.
North Bay
Clear Cast- from Univ. of Wisconsin
Workshop 2008
• Aquatic invasive Herbicide concentrations: 32 oz per acre – mentioned in early
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presentation
48 and 64 oz per acre historically control treatment
Need to factor in northern climate, residual effect, longer native rebound time
Clear Cast – new herbicide in development, well suited for aquatic use, hoping to
hear in spring 2008. Wisconsin has assisted with testing sites. Activity on submerged
weeds and surface weeds. Less broad spectrum and shorter soil half life. Can go over
top of hardwoods with little effect. Use rates 32 – 64 oz, Hope to have product
available by fall to customers.
Herbicide is affected by weather, habitat, temperature, species types, species age,
density,
Surfactants – never skimp on them, MSO is recommended.
Hardwater – habitat is not affected by hardwater, glysophas does have issues with
hard water, talk with agricultural agent.
Cost of clear cast - $175 per gallon with use rates at 2 quart per acre.
Note – price movement on glysophas prices increasing
Suggested guidelines
• Accessibility
• Small patches, get it early in the process
• Healthy surrounding habitat
– Replacement
– Less likely to reoccur
– Edges of large patches?
• In conjunction with SW restoration
Discussion:
• Consolidate info to add to web site.
– Enable communities to access info, resources,
permits, etc.
• Determine the number and size of direct
activities to remove phragmites
– Number of SW restorations
– Other considerations (patch size, stage, ?)
• Encourage communities/scouts to control
A few links:
• Phragmites - Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia
• Invasive Species In The Chesapeake Bay
Watershed Workshop - Phragmites
• issg Database: Ecology of Phragmites
australis