Silvicultural Practices and Silvicultural Practices and Invasive Exotic PantsInvasive Exotic Pants

Shep ZedakerShep Zedaker

Department of ForestryDepartment of Forestry

Virginia TechVirginia Tech

OUTLINEOUTLINE

Invasive/Exotic Weed BiologyInvasive/Exotic Weed Biology Silvicultural Practices for Silvicultural Practices for

Plantations and Naturally Plantations and Naturally Regenerated StandsRegenerated Stands

Invasive/Exotic AvoidanceInvasive/Exotic Avoidance Invasive/Exotic Control/ExamplesInvasive/Exotic Control/Examples

Invasive Weed BiologyInvasive Weed Biology

Pioneer Species - Intolerant of ShadePioneer Species - Intolerant of Shade Shade Tolerant SpeciesShade Tolerant Species HerbsHerbs VinesVines ShrubsShrubs TreesTrees

Shade Tolerant ExoticsShade Tolerant Exotics

Herbs: Nepalese Browntop, Garlic Herbs: Nepalese Browntop, Garlic MustardMustard

Vines: Periwinkles, Chocolate, Vines: Periwinkles, Chocolate, HoneysuckleHoneysuckle

Shrubs: Privets, Autumn Olive, Shrubs: Privets, Autumn Olive, Winged Burning BushWinged Burning Bush

Trees: Tallow/Popcorn, ChinaberryTrees: Tallow/Popcorn, Chinaberry

Intolerant ExoticsIntolerant Exotics

Herbs: Tall Fescue, Silvergrass, Herbs: Tall Fescue, Silvergrass, CogongrassCogongrass

Vines: Kudzu, WisteriasVines: Kudzu, Wisterias Shrubs: Multiflora RoseShrubs: Multiflora Rose Trees: Ailanthus, Paulownia, Russian Trees: Ailanthus, Paulownia, Russian

OliveOlive

Biological RealityBiological Reality

Annuals (herbs) – You must get them before they have sex!

Perennials (herbs, vines shrubs, trees) - Get them before they get big, numerous, and/or have sex!

Silvicultural Silvicultural Operations/OpportunitiesOperations/Opportunities

TSITSI ThinningsThinnings Regeneration CutRegeneration Cut

Site PreparationSite Preparation ReleaseRelease TSITSI ThinningsThinnings Regeneration CutRegeneration Cut

Naturally Regenerated Stands:

Plantations:

Bad Things To DoBad Things To Do

Partial Cutting Partial Cutting Clearcutting without Release/Site Clearcutting without Release/Site

PrepPrep Any Cutting before Invasive is Any Cutting before Invasive is

Controlled or You Have a PlanControlled or You Have a Plan

Exotic Species (#/plot)Exotic Species (#/plot)

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

Control Group-S Shelter High-G Clearcut

Pre-Woody

Post-Woody

Pre-Herb

Post-Herb

AvoidanceAvoidance

Thou Shalt Look Over Thy Neighbor’s FenceThou Shalt Look Over Thy Neighbor’s Fence

Thou Shalt Not Provide an Opening/HoleThou Shalt Not Provide an Opening/Hole

Thou Shalt Fill All Holes ImmediatelyThou Shalt Fill All Holes Immediately

ControlControl

Thou Shalt Use All Thou Shalt Use All Techniques, Resources, Techniques, Resources,

Tricks… Available (ACAP)Tricks… Available (ACAP)

Examples:Examples:

Ailanthus altissimaAilanthus altissima – Intolerant Tree – Intolerant Tree Akebia quinataAkebia quinata – Tolerant Vine – Tolerant Vine

Tree-of-HellTree-of-Hell If You Make a HoleIf You Make a Hole If You Have a Source of RegenerationIf You Have a Source of Regeneration Ailanthus Will Come!Ailanthus Will Come!

Tree-of-HellTree-of-Hell

If You Pull It, You WILL Get TiredIf You Pull It, You WILL Get Tired If You Cut It, It WILL ResproutIf You Cut It, It WILL Resprout If You Cut-and-Stump-Spray, It WILL If You Cut-and-Stump-Spray, It WILL

ResproutResprout If You Foliar Spray, Be Sure Not To Kill If You Foliar Spray, Be Sure Not To Kill

OthersOthers If You Basal Spray, You Have A ChanceIf You Basal Spray, You Have A Chance

Death By Basal

Ailanthus Mortality- 1YATAilanthus Mortality- 1YAT

0102030405060708090

100

Ailanthus Stems (#/ha) 2YATAilanthus Stems (#/ha) 2YAT

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

Chocolate Vine (Chocolate Vine (Akebia quinata)Akebia quinata)

Grows as a twining vine or vigorous ground cover.Grows so quickly that it can overtake ground-level vegetation, understory shrubs, and even canopy trees.Found in 16 states in the eastern U.S., from Michigan to Connecticut and south to Georgia.

Chocolate VineChocolate Vine

During the fall most of the desirable native plants are dormant while Akebia still retains much of its above-ground foliage.

Only the foliage that is partly protected by the litter layer is present during the dormant season.

Akebia Control 6 MATAkebia Control 6 MAT

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

triclopyr 1lb/ac

triclopyr 2lb/ac

glyphosate 1lb/ac

glyphosate 2lb/ac

Jan

Feb

May

Oct

Native Plant Species (#/plot)Native Plant Species (#/plot)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

triclopyr 1 lb/ac triclopyr 2 lb/ac glyphosate 1lb/ac

glyphosate 2lb/ac

Jan

Feb

May

Oct

Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllumArisaema triphyllum))

Chemicals to UseChemicals to Use(Must Get Tough)(Must Get Tough)

Glyphosate fine for most herbs, Imazapyr, Glyphosate fine for most herbs, Imazapyr, Metsulfuron, or Triclopyr necessary for Metsulfuron, or Triclopyr necessary for some.some.

Most shrubs and vines require Imazapyr or Most shrubs and vines require Imazapyr or Triclopyr, some even PicloramTriclopyr, some even Picloram

Trees require Triclopyr, Imazapyr and/or Trees require Triclopyr, Imazapyr and/or PicloramPicloram

Silvicultural OperationsSilvicultural Operations

Minimize Soil DisturbanceMinimize Soil Disturbance Maximize/Optimize Chemical UseMaximize/Optimize Chemical Use Look Around for Biologicals (Any Look Around for Biologicals (Any

Success Stories?)Success Stories?)

Silvicultural Practices and Silvicultural Practices and Invasive Exotic PantsInvasive Exotic Pants

Shep ZedakerShep Zedaker

Department of ForestryDepartment of Forestry

Virginia TechVirginia Tech