Invasive Plant Management
We manually remove invasive weeds based upon seasonal expectations, rather than just adding you to a schedule. There is no eradicating invasive plants. The goal is to manage invasive plant species to allow our native species an opportunity to prosper.
Why manual removal?
Glyphosate
Glyphosate is non-selective, so it will kill most plants. Products containing glyphosate may cause eye or skin irritation. Glyphosate binds tightly to soil and can persist in soil for up to 6 months, and can inhibit the growth of ectomycorrhizal fungi.
Triclopyr
The ester in Triclopyr isn't water-soluble and can be transported to the sediments. In areas experiencing erosion, this is a risk for fish and aquatic invertebrates. The residues can persist in fruit, so there's a potential for long-term exposure to animal species that eat wild fruit. Triclopyr soil residues can cause damage via root uptake to non-targeted vegetation. It also can inhibit the growth of ectomycorrhizal fungi. Studies have produced conflicting results on the toxicity of triclopyr in humans.
Garlon 3A® can cause severe eye damage to both humans and wildlife.
Frequent Invasive Removals:
English Ivy (winter removal) (click to schedule maintenance visit)
Vinca Minor (winter removal)
Bamboo (spring & summer)
Japanese Honeysuckle (ALL YEAR OH MY GOODNESS!!!!)
Shrub Honeysuckle (All year)
Oriental Bittersweet (spring & summer)
Lespedeza (Uggg whenever we see it!)
Bermuda Grass (Spring)
Porcelain Berry Vine (spring & summer)
Stilt Grass (spring & autumn before seed set)
Tree of Heaven (September. Triclopyr needed in some cases)
Mimosa (spring)
Autumn Olive (spring & summer)
and MANY MORE!
Clean-up Vs Maintenance Visit:
A maintenance visit takes 3 hours while a clean-up typically requires more time
Click here to schedule a maintenance visit
References:
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation