Invasive Speices control

[Co-opski]

Aldo Leopold once wrote:

We shall never achieve harmony with land, any more than we shall achieve absolute justice or liberty for people. In these higher aspirations, the important thing is not to achieve but to strive.

and

A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it does otherwise.

 

[Tanto]

I'm sure you know about the Aisian Carp problem. CNN did a short story on them.

ASIAN CARP : ANDERSON COOPER

 

[007]

As for using Round Up on Buffel Grass, I see no way that it will work. I mowed this grass down level then poured Round Up full strength on it so it would soak the roots....to no avail. I sprayed this only a week ago.

When you spray roundup let the grass get tall first. The more leaf you have the better. Roundup translocates from the leaf down so the dose is determined by leaf size. Soaking past the point of run off won't help because the roots can't absorb it. Herbicides that absorb via root will be labeled systemic.

Another thing with roundup is that the plant must be actively growing, the faster its trying to grow the better. If a plant is drought stressed or fully mature it may not die from roundup because its not producing the enzyme that glyphosate blocks. During hot weather many plants seal up the leaf tissue to prevent evaporation so its best to apply when its cool and and a bit humid so that the herbicide is absorbed.

Buffel grass has to be sprayed at a certain time for roundup to work. It should be earlier in the spring when its a bit tall and just starting to form its seed head. Spray it about a week after a good rain and you'll get better control. It may still take a month for it too die and there will be about a 25% survival rate. Then spray it again after two weeks.

If you want a little larger window of opportunity and 100% control, spray it with Fusilade or verdict. mid to late spring after some good rain.

Don't waste your time or money trying to kill it now.

btw: my avatar IS Hebrew, good call! It spells Jehovah. The bible is one of my favorite books, (not because i'm looking for salvation or looking to preach some ideals.) I just like reading what people had to say before everything got so complicated, canned and correct. Anyone that gets upset about religion should get a hold of an old translation (it will say Jehovah instead of just God or Lord) and read through it a couple of times. If you think religion is wacked you'll be amazed at how different old scriptures are from modern day thumpers. Its talks of a completely different way of life.

 

[H2O_Doc]

Invasive species can cost over a hundred BILLION dollars a year to our economy and are a serious threat to native fauna:

http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/economic/main.shtml

I suspect that they will always be a problem, especially as globalized as the economy is becoming. When I worked for The Nature Conservancy, we had a number of conservation lands that had some pretty serious invasive species issues.

 

[Michael Slade]

I am very familiar with several invasive species. The first I heard of was the prolific Kudzu, this was back in '92.

Now I am learning about Phragmities, which is widespread in the western US, and is very aggresive...

Also do a Google for Zebra Mussel...it is a nasty little devil.

One thing about washing vehicles off to keep things where they originated...

At the Bonneville Salt Flats, there is usually one fire truck from Wendover that sells 'car washes' to keep the salt on the flats. This year there was a private individual doing it. many people take advantage of it. When they don't you see salt laying all over the roads in town. I have a small pile of it in my garage from out there.

 

[Streakerfreak]

Also do a Google for Zebra Mussel...it is a nasty little devil.

Yes they are. An old professor of mine and Jenn's Thesis advisor is basically the expert on them (Jim Carlton) We spent a lot of time learning about the Zebra Mussel's and other water based and land based invasive species. People don't realize how big of a deal this is.

An invasive species can destroy fishing grounds, ecosystems, farm land, etc.

 

[Fireman78]

My company is based almost entirely on dealing with invasive species. Noxious weeds are a huge problem here in the west, and it's only going to get worse. It is OUR responsibility to help prevent the spread of any new species that pop up and get noticed. We cannot scratch our heads when we seen an odd looking "new" plant on our property. hhhmmmmm, is that star thistle? I thought that only grew in California.. Most states, (probably all states), will eradicate a new crop of bad plants on someones private property for free. In some states, like Colorado, a property owner can actually be help criminaly and $$$ liable for allowing plants to fester unreported.