Method for Controlling Buckthorn - Society for Ecological Restoration 2011

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The Tall Stump Control Method for Buckthorn

John LampeGreen Shoots, LLC

Saint Paul, MinnesotaApril 2, 2011

THIRD MIDWEST-GREAT LAKES SER CHAPTER MEETINGApril 1 to 3, 2011

University of Illinois Springfield

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Biggest Problems for AverageSmall Woodland Owner

Daunted by the task

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Daunted by Control Methods

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Images from Buckthorn Control Guide Printed with Permission

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Tall Stump MethodCan Help Average Woodland

Owner

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Talk Outline

• Background on family-owned woodland

• Tall stump control method

• Potential advantages– Efficient– Effective – Environmentally sound

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Family Property

• Washington County, Minnesota

• 12.5 acres

• Rolling hills and lakes

• Typical of woodlands in area

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Family Property (con.)

Native Oak savanna

1900s Pasture; heavily eroded

1960s Red and scotch pine planted

1980s Overgrown pine & buckthorn

1990s Early buckthorn control

2000 to today Beginnings of management

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Our Woodland still has lots of “warts.”

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But we are making progress.

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Girdled Aspen

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Creates Nice Snag!

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Three Phases of Tall Stump Control Method

• Preparation

• Cutting the tall stumps

• Treatment

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First Phase - Preparation

Not out-of-the-ordinary:

• Our Forest Management Objectives:– Convert to oak savanna and woodlands– Enhance ecological diversity– Safety – prevent fire, etc.

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Only go after the worst buckthorn.

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Worst Buckthorn – Berries

• mature female– 4 seeds per berry– 400 to 1800 fruits– 1600 to 7200 seeds– Over 5 year period =

• 8,000 to 36,000 seeds

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Ignore the Small Buckthorn!

• Too time consuming

• It’s not just about the buckthorn

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2nd Phase

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Traditional – 2nd Phase

• Pulling

• Girdling

• Foliar

• Basal Bark

• Cut Stump

• Frill (“cut and squirt”)

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2nd phase of the tall stump method only involves

stump cutting

No Treatment Yet

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2nd Phase of Tall Stump: Cutting

• Tools: lopper or hand saw

• Cut trunk high

• Cut big branches

• Leave tall stumps

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Tall Stump

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Tall Stumps Can be

Quite Tall!

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3rd Phase of Tall Stump Method

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3rd Phase: Treatment

• Tools: – Scraping tool– Herbicide applicator

• Frill Method

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Scrape Bark

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Apply Herbicide

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3rd Phase: Treatment (con.)

• Winter – ideal time.

• Glyphosate (20% to 30% concentration).

• Control and treatment can be separated by months

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Advantages of Tall Stump Treatment

Method

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1st Advantage: Efficiency

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Efficient: FewerTools

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Efficient – Split Work Up

• Cutting Tall Stump – springtime

• Treatment – fall or winter

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Efficient because:

If you have a delayed treatment. . .

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• Growth will occur at the top

• And, it’s still easy to treat the tree

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• But at least you don’t have a bush to deal with

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2nd Advantage: Effectiveness

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Cutting Phase in Spring

• After leaf out and flowering

• Weakens the buckthorn

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Sap Flow - Spring

SINK

SINK

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Cutting Removes Sink

Sink

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Frill Mainlines Herbicide

• Frill “mainlines” herbicide into inner bark or phloem

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Sap Is Falling

Herbicide Goesto the Roots

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3rd Advantage: Better for Environment

• No soil disturbance

• Better target surface means less herbicide

• Uses glyphosate – relatively benign

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Green Shoots

• John Lampe

• [email protected]

• 651-245-4682 (cell)

• slide presentation on blog: http://invasiveplantnews.com

• Website: www.greenshootsonline.com