Garden Invaders - Recognizing and Removing Invasive Plants

Garden Invaders

Independence GardensPortland, OR

January 2012© Independence Gardens LLC

Download the handout that goes along with this slideshow!

h!p://bit.ly/AgInWs

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

http://bit.ly/AgInWs

http://bit.ly/AgInWs

What We’ll Cover TodayIntro

we are Independence Gardens• We build raised beds, chicken coops,

terraces, trellises, & other garden infrastructure

• Help with garden design & planning, cleanup, prep, and installation

• Teach edible gardening classes

• & make Doo Tees!


Topics We’ll Cover• Top four baddie invaders• Weeds: invasive, noxious, or

just annoying?• Other garden invaders• Recommended prevention.

control, & disposal methods• Resources• Take-home message

What We’ll Cover TodayPreview

Got Questions? Please ask as we go along.


And Some Other OptionsOur “favorite” garden invaders

Himalayan blackberry English ivy

Field bindweed

Bu!er"y bush

Why are these “favorites”?Because we don’t feel particularly con!icted about removing them...


And Some Other OptionsControl for blackberry

• Manual removal of canes

• Manual removal of rootballs

• Mow (or use goats)to prevent foliage regrowth


And Some Other OptionsControl for ivy

• Remove foliage, vines, and roots manually

• Cut all vines that run up trees at base of tree- Ivy !owers and fruits on vertical

growth, so focus on ge"ing rid of it

• Use goats to help keep foliage from growing back


And Some Other OptionsControl for bu!er"y bush

• Intervene before it goes to seed...

• “One-cut pruning”

• Remove stumps manually (or get help...)


And Some Other OptionsControl for bindweed

• Remove vines• Reproduction

occurs by rhizome, so try not to leave pieces

• Solarize• Apply thick

sheet mulch• Monitor (esp.

edges)


And Some Other OptionsWeeds that aren’t so bad

Li!le western bi!ercress Cardamine oligosperma

PlantainPlantago major

ChickweedStellaria media

White cloverTrifolium repens

DandelionTaraxacum officinale

Red deadne!leLamium purpureum


Why Compost?What’s the difference?

• Good weeds a"ract bene#cial insects, give clues about our soil quality, add nutrients to our gardens, and feed us

• By de#nition, invasive weeds are non-native & were introduced here; they tend to be aggressive competitors for space & resources

• Noxious weeds have a negative economic impact and are regulated by federal & state governments

• We focus on removing invasives and noxious weeds, and tend not to worry as much about the others...


Why Compost?Parallel invaders: Pests

• Similar to weeds, pest invaders require:- Positive identi#cation- Familiarity with method

of reproduction/spread- Properly timed

intervention- Effective use of

deterrents- Responsible use of -cides


Why Compost?Parallel invaders: “Oopsies”

• Oopsies = plants that have reproduced without your permission

• Similar to other weeds, “oopsies” require you to- Notice early- Observe functions/let them

serve those f ’ns if appropriate (e.g. pollinator a"ractors)

- Remove ASAP


Why Compost?An ounce of prevention...

• “Being there”- Observation, then

intervention

• Focusing on maintaining soil health and encouraging desired plants’ growth

• Watering YOUR plants, not the whole garden area


Why Compost?Prevention: Raised beds

• Effective barrier to weeds that spread by rhizome

• Loose soil makes weeds easy to pull out

• Still have to monitor for oopsies and bird-dropped/wind-blown seeds


Why Compost?Prevention: Cover crops & mulch

• Nature abhors a vacuum (and bare soil, too)

• Cover crops are noninvasive/non-irritating competitors

• Mulches smother weeds/prevent photosynthesis


Why Compost?Removal: Hoes!

• Plants can’t make food if foliage is disconnected from roots

• Use the hoe to cut the plant just below the soil surface

• Adjust blade angle so you don’t have to bend to use it


Why Compost?Removal: Other tools

• Hand pruners• Loppers• Saws• Machetes• Hori-horis• Lawnmowers• Fire: don’t (just) play with

it!


Why Compost?Disposal

• Commercial composting (pu"ing it out in your yard debris roll-cart) is the best bet

• Non-noxious weeds that have not gone to seed can be composted in a backyard system

• If you do use chemicals, don’t assume safety


A note on herbicides

• Please...avoid weed & feed & other non-speci#c products

• Follow IPM hierarchy (chemical control comes in dead last)

• Look for pre- and post-emergent control products that are OMRI-listed, if possible

• ALWAYS read the label and ALWAYS follow instructions

• Wear your PPE!


Common pitfalls

• Time constraints• Lack of consistency• Discomfort with

eliminating living things

• Improper technique• Trying to eliminate

ALL weeds


Take-home message

• Some weeds are way worse than others

• Your involvement is key• Include others in your

garden routine if at all possible

• Don’t let a problem become a Problem

• It’s OK to ask for help


Resources

• Oregon noxious weeds lists: h"p://www.oregon.gov/ODA/PLANT/WEEDS/statelist2.shtml

• Weed identi#cation: h"p://mint.ippc.orst.edu/weedidenti#cation.htm

• Paci#c Northwest’s Least Wanted List: extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pdf/ec/ec1563.pdf

Do this!

Not this.


http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/PLANT/WEEDS/statelist2.shtml






http://mint.ippc.orst.edu/weedidentification.htm






Got Questions?


Date post:	24-Dec-2014
Category:	Self Improvement
Upload:	independencegardenspdx
View:	732 times
Download:	0 times

Garden Invaders - Recognizing and Removing Invasive Plants

Self Improvement