WOODLAND INVASIVE
SPECIES CONTROL
Developed by Kent Macy
and Ellen Starr
USDA-NRCS Biologists
Spring of 2008
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DEFINITIONS:




The focus of this presentation will be on
woodland invasive plant species.
Native species: a species that historically occurred
or currently occurs in a particular ecosystem
(other than as a result of an introduction). Native
species have adapted over thousands of years to
their surrounding plant and animal communities
and local climate and soil conditions.
Invasive species are defined as non-native to the
ecosystem under consideration and whose
introduction causes or is likely to cause economic
or environmental harm or harm to human health.
Most woodland invasives are introduced from Asia
or Europe.
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Invasive Species

IL Woodland Examples:
– Garlic mustard in forested, herbaceous understories.
– Honeysuckles in forested, shrub or vine understories.
– Buckthorn in N. IL forested & wetland, shrub
understories.
– Autumn and Russian olive in forested, shrub
understories.

Maples can be considered invasive depending on
the habitat type. Maples are usually referred to
as the “Climax Community” of a forest by
ecologists.
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Garlic Mustard
Photos courtesy of The Nature
Conservancy and U. of
Wisconsin
•Coarsely toothed, heart-shaped,
alternately arranged leaves.
•When crushed, smells like garlic.
•4-part, white flowers.
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Garlic Mustard

Edge habitat (doesn’t do well in deep shade – will
quickly invade openings). Max. growth is with
50% light.

Biennial herb.

Flowers in late April – May.

Seed bank takes 5 years to deplete. Production
varies by site and year. Seeds spread by
attaching to feet, tires, and by water, primarily.

Likes nitrogen.

Seedlings decline 30-50% from early to late
spring.

Stays green later in the fall, and greens up earlier
than most natives.

Not browsed by deer, or many other critters.
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Control of Garlic Mustard

Biological (in the future):
– a root rot (Fusarium solani) and turnip or
cucumber mosaic virus. 4 types of beetles.
– Eat the stuff! High in vitamin A. Tastes like
garlic.

Mechanical
– Pull before spring flowering (pulls easily if
ground is soft). Be sure to get upper half of
root.
– Cut flower stalks low (ground level best).
– Fires seem to have little effect positive or
negative.
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Control of Garlic Mustard
(continued)
 Chemical
– Glyphosate (apply ONLY during dormant
season). Apply in early spring.
– Basagran (NOT near trees)
– Garlon/Pathfinder (needs applicator
license)
 See
http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/esadocs
/documnts/allipet.rtf for more information
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Bush Honeysuckles
(Amur, Tatarian, and Morrow)
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Bush Honeysuckles


Shrubby, opposite leaf arrangement,
simple entire margins, pointed leaves, red
berries.
Leaf out 2 weeks earlier and retain leaves
longer in the fall than most other shrubs
(incl. native honeysuckles).

Prefers partial shade.

Berries spread by birds and rodents.
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Bush Honeysuckle Control

Biological Control:
– No effective ones known. An aphid causes
witches’ brooming, which decreases flowering

Mechanical Control:
– Pulling is effective when ground is soft and
plants are smaller. A weed wrench or root talon
can help. (www.misterhoneysuckle.com)
– Cutting or grubbing also effective if done
yearly for 3 or more years.
– Burning will knock them back, but must be
done several years in a row or every other
year for effective control. Fires need to be hot
and repeated.
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Bush Honeysuckle Control (cont.)
 Chemical:
– Best results have been from cutting
plants in the fall, then treating the
stumps with Glyphosate 50% soln. or
Garlon.
– A “flush” of seedlings come up the year
after treating the larger plants. Need to
follow-up with a foliar spray treatment
on the resprouts or seedlings. Foliar
spray in fall after other plants have
gone dormant.
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Japanese
Honeysuckle
A vine with opposite,
pointed leaves
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Japanese Honeysuckle

A vine - uppermost leaves are separate,
not joined (perfoliate) like native
honeysuckles. Berries are black, not red.

Flowers late April – July

Retains leaves throughout much of winter.

Forest openings and edges.

Spread by birds, primarily.
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Japanese Honeysuckle Control
 Biological:
Some potentials (aphids &
viruses) in China and the Southern U.S.
 Mechanical:
– Burning: Fall (October) burn had best
results. Followup burn with glyphosate
in spring.
– Pulling: only effective on very small
areas if roots AND shoots can be pulled
& removed.
– Mowing/Cutting: ineffective - cut
material can take root!!
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Japanese Honeysuckle Control
(cont.)
 Chemical:
– Best results appear to be glyphosate
applied just after the first frost (before
first hard frost). IDNR has had success
with a 2% mist application.
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Buckthorn (Common and Glossy)
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Buckthorn (Common and European)
 Prefers
woodland edges.
 Gets up to 20’ tall.
 European (glossy), prefers wetter
areas.
 Any texture soils; slightly acidic to
alkaline.
 Fruit spread by animals and water.
 Leafs out in late April, retains until
late October. Flowers late May –
June.
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Buckthorn Control
 Biological:
No known methods.
 Mechanical:
– Cutting/Mowing: Basically just knocks it back.
– Girdling: 3cm wide cut into phloem layer at
base of tree works. No resprouts!
– Pulling/Grubbing: shallow-rooted, may resprout, do follow-up chemical treatment.
– Burning: lack of burnable material below heavy
infestations limit use. If possible, burns in late
April reduce vigor of buckthorn. May
encourage resprouting/reseeding.
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Buckthorn Control (cont.)
 Chemical:
– Glyphosate:
 50% solution on fresh-cut stumps in fall or
winter
 3% solution foliar spray in May (after leafout).
– 2,4-D ester w/diesel fuel: lower basal-bark
application done first half of growing season
works well.
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Autumn and
Russian Olive
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Autumn and Russian Olive
 Simple,
Elliptical, Entire margins,
Alternate leaf arrangement.
 Fixes nitrogen – can grow on infertile
sites.
 Tolerates light shade
 Breaks dormancy early April in N. IL.
 Seeds spread by birds – can produce
seed within 3-5 years. Seeds can
remain viable for 3 years.
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Autumn and Russian Olive Control
 Biological:
None known
 Mechanical:
Not very effective –
Autumn and Russian olive resprout
readily after cutting (without
chemical spray on stump) or
burning. Even small plants are
difficult to pull out of the ground.
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Autumn and Russian Olive Control
(cont.)
 Chemical:
– Glyphosate applied on fresh cut stumps
or girdles, especially late August September.
– Garlon basal-applied with diesel oil.
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Multiflora Rose
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Multiflora Rose
 Alternate
leaf arrangement
 Compound leaves, odd pinnate
 Serrated margins
 Prominent stipules
 Thorns on stems
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Multiflora Rose Control

Mechanical Control:
– pulling, grubbingcompletely removing
roots- ok for light
infestations.
– Prescribed burning will
hinder invasion and
control spread.
– Mowing, 3-6 cuttings/
growing season for 2-4
years. Cutting
preferred over mowing
in high quality
communities.

Chemical Control
– Cutting and painting or
spraying herbicide on
stems
– Glyphosate 10-20% or
Triclopyr (Garlon 3A)
– Kills the roots and
Prevents re-sprouts
– Fall through winter
most effective
– Avoid Triclopyr if rain is
within 1-4 days
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Other IL Woodland Invasives:
Kudzu
 Oriental (Round-leafed) Bittersweet
 Reed Canarygrass
 Japanese Barberry
 European Privet
 Climbing Euonymus
 Burning Bush
See
http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/esadocs.html
for life histories and control methods.

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Cost – Share Programs for
Invasive Species Control
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 USDA-NRCS
Programs:
– EQIP
– WHIP
 IDNR
Programs:
– Forestry Development Act
– Conservation Stewardship Program
– Acres for Wildlife
– LIP
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EQIP and WHIP, Fiscal year 2008
(2002 Farm Bill Rules)

EQIP Forest Management Implementation:
– Forest Stand Improvement Practice
 Crop
Tree Release, thinning $50.89/acre
 Invasive
Species – herbaceous $93.75/acre
– Herbaceous invasive infestation >50%
 Invasive
Species – woody $187.50/acre
– Woody invasive infestation > 50%
– Prescribed Burning Practice
 Conducting
 WHIP
the burn, $25.00/acre
General Rates same as EQIP
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2008 EQIP and WHIP (cont.)

WHIP Essential Habitat rates (must benefit
Endangered or Threatened Species)
– Forest Stand Improvement practice:
 Crop
tree release, thinning $67.85/acre
 Invasive
species – herbaceous $125.00/acre
– Herbaceous invasive infestation >50%
 Invasive
species – woody $250.00/acre
– Woody invasive infestation > 50%
– Prescribed Burn practice
 Conducting
as EQIP).
a prescribed burn $25/acre (same
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Forest, Woodland, Savanna
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Invasive Species Control in Savannas

643-Restoration and Management of Declining Habitats
– Light infestation: vegetation or heavy residues
which will cause some difficulty in normal
planting.
– Medium infestation: 60% or more of an area in
herbaceous plants, or up to 40% of an area in
light woody inv. Cover, stems 2” or less in
diameter.
– Heavy infestation: >40% of an area occupied by
woody inv. Veg. < 2” at ground line, but can
include up to 25 stems/acre > 2” in diameter at
ground line.
– Very heavy infestation: >40% of an area
occupied by woody invasive vegetation > 2” in
dia. at ground line.
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Remnant Savanna Restoration Scenario
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EcoCATs/E&T Reviews
 Need
to do these for EQIP and WHIP
practices, including Forest Stand
Improvements and Prescribed Burns.
 Even
if nothing shows up on the
EcoCAT, we have to complete an E&T
Review for Indiana bats, because
they can show up anywhere in IL
woodlands.
 Helps
us to avoid harming Indiana
bats or any other species that show
up on the EcoCAT report.
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IDNR Programs

FDA – Forestry
Development Act
– Focus of the FDA is
timber production
– Requires 300 stems
per acre

CSP Conservation
Stewardship
Program
– For non forest lands
 Wetlands
 Prairies
 savannas
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“Mad” Biologist ripping out an invasive species
with her bare hands!
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