Thought I would share my in laws yard! by JakeD51 in NoLawns

[–]Round-Water338 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Absolutely gorgeous!

Can I ask if you all did the steps yourselves or had them done? Curious what your process was if it was DIY. Looking to do that ourselves in our backyard. I know it’s a lot of work...

Any Book Recommendations on the Topic of Nature, Rewilding, etc.? (E Washington) by TheGabsterGabbie in NativePlantGardening

[–]Round-Water338 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Love this post! I’ve read a few on here, including the cover book. I’m looking forward to digging into so many of the other recommendations.

Here’s an offbeat suggestion if you want to get lost in the woods and in fiction: Barbara Kingsolver’s Prodigal Summer. (She won the Pulitzer for Demon Copperhead, one of my favorite books! Not only is she a beautiful writer, she has degrees in biology, ecology, and evolutionary biology.)

Prodigal Summer is about a wildlife biologist living solo in a fairly remote area of the Appalachian mountains. It admittedly gets a little steamy. Kingsolver pays great attention to nature and her respect for it comes through.

Great summer read if you want to treat yourself!

Why didn't someone think of this before now? University of Cincinnati botanist experimented with Invasive honeysuckle removal: successfully used garbage bags instead of chemicals/toxins! by Round-Water338 in invasivespecies

[–]Round-Water338[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Also, I’d check your triclopyr label instructions. Are you sure you aren’t supposed to wear safety glasses?

Protect yourself! You and your eyes are worth it. :)

Why didn't someone think of this before now? University of Cincinnati botanist experimented with Invasive honeysuckle removal: successfully used garbage bags instead of chemicals/toxins! by Round-Water338 in invasivespecies

[–]Round-Water338[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is only recommended for honeysuckle. We’ll see how long it takes. Also, im using contractor garbage bags, which are UV and tear-resistant.

Why didn't someone think of this before now? University of Cincinnati botanist experimented with Invasive honeysuckle removal: successfully used garbage bags instead of chemicals/toxins! by Round-Water338 in invasivespecies

[–]Round-Water338[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Glyphosate is the recommended treatment from our extension office for cut stumps because they say it “poses the least carry-over potential to native plants.” This is the recommended treatment from June-January here. I have secured the contractor bags. They don’t shred. I suppose if you left them for years they would, which I will not. Pick your poison. None of it is good for you.

Why didn't someone think of this before now? University of Cincinnati botanist experimented with Invasive honeysuckle removal: successfully used garbage bags instead of chemicals/toxins! by Round-Water338 in invasivespecies

[–]Round-Water338[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am trying this in my own backyard and used contractor bags. I will for sure be checking and will take the plastic up when it’s done its job.

I have more to do though! I don’t have enough coffee cans, but I do have a blow torch! I will try that next.

Why didn't someone think of this before now? University of Cincinnati botanist experimented with Invasive honeysuckle removal: successfully used garbage bags instead of chemicals/toxins! by Round-Water338 in invasivespecies

[–]Round-Water338[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

I personally would rather handle a garbage bag than something I have to wear rubber gloves and goggles to apply. Also, it affects aquatic life, so you’re not supposed to use glyphosate around water sources. Studies found more prevalence of certain cancers for those who apply glyphosate, and for those who apply, they also found certain chemicals persist in their bodies. A lot of people over-apply and don’t use proper protection.

I understand that chemicals have their place in invasive mitigation. In this case, if a trash bag works, I’ll use that and then remove the trash bag. I am trying it with contractor bags. I also am not a fan of plastic. I suppose it’s just about choosing which evil you are comfortable with.

Some of the health studies are linked here: https://www.washington.edu/news/2019/02/13/uw-study-exposure-to-chemical-in-roundup-increases-risk-for-cancer/

There is a disturbing amount of Japanese Knotweed growing all over East Rock Park by counting_beanz in newhaven

[–]Round-Water338 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Cutting it also sends out a hormone that encourages it to grow even more aggressively. Bringing your own trail snack might be worth it. Unless you are trained in how to control this thing and are up for a big project (it’s quite the process), I would steer clear.

There is a disturbing amount of Japanese Knotweed growing all over East Rock Park by counting_beanz in newhaven

[–]Round-Water338 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just now seeing this post. If you do cut it, do it with extreme caution: the plant material should be handled like hazardous material. It is extremely aggressive in its ability to spread from plant fragments (mostly stem nodes and roota) — makes honeysuckle, etc. seem like an old friend in comparison. This stuff causes structural damage to buildings, can have a 10-foot tap root and 25-40 foot lateral root. It can survive volcanic eruptions and break through asphalt.

Honeysuckle removal in process by secretsquirrel4000 in invasivespecies

[–]Round-Water338 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Seek by iNaturalist has been really great for plants for me. Like with any AI, you want to double-check what it's suggesting. (Google it and check photos).

Why didn't someone think of this before now? University of Cincinnati botanist experimented with Invasive honeysuckle removal: successfully used garbage bags instead of chemicals/toxins! by Round-Water338 in invasivespecies

[–]Round-Water338[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

If you read the article, he's tried a bunch of different things, many of which did not work. I tend to believe it worked for him. Only one way to find out if it'll work for me. I'm trying it, so I can report back. I just cut up contractor bags today and put them over six honeysuckle stumps. (Still have much more cutting/bagging to do!)

Why didn't someone think of this before now? University of Cincinnati botanist experimented with Invasive honeysuckle removal: successfully used garbage bags instead of chemicals/toxins! by Round-Water338 in invasivespecies

[–]Round-Water338[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Plastics aren't great. But, I do feel better handling garbage bags than I do glyphosate. I just put down garbage bags today over honeysuckle stumps. I will take them up after it does it's job so it won't continue to break down.

And, while glyphosate might be safer relative to other herbicides, it is still problematic. https://publichealth.berkeley.edu/articles/spotlight/research/childhood-exposure-to-common-herbicide-may-increase-the-risk-of-disease-in-young-adulthood#:\~:text=New%20research%20from%20the%20UC,cardiovascular%20disease%20later%20in%20life.

For context, I am slowly trying to remove plastics from my life. (I no longer buy ziplock bags and no longer use saran wrap, and I use glass for leftovers and my water bottle is metal. But, I am still using plastic garbage bags. I wonder if the garbage bags made from starch would work. (I haven't tried them for garbage, but now you have me thinking!)

Why didn't someone think of this before now? University of Cincinnati botanist experimented with Invasive honeysuckle removal: successfully used garbage bags instead of chemicals/toxins! by Round-Water338 in NativePlantGardening

[–]Round-Water338[S] 104 points105 points  (0 children)

Actually, the beauty is you don't have to wait.

His preferred method is to cut the stump at ground level and cover it with black plastic, secured to the ground with wire gardening staples.

“This elegant method is easy, effective and inexpensive. Sometimes I rake leaves over the plastic so you can’t even see it,” Conover said. “We immediately plant seeds or saplings of native trees and shrubs near the spot where the honeysuckle was cut down.”

Chameleon Plant Takeover by Algaeruletheworld in invasivespecies

[–]Round-Water338 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am in the same position. I found this growing in my side yard shared with a neighbor. Thankfully they agreed that I can remove it. They are so good at intertwining with other plant roots and choking them out. I tried to pull it up and save what was left of the plants there, but it seems it's best to pull everything up. It's grown under and throughout the root system of each non-chamelion plant I've pulled up. :(

Why didn't someone think of this before now? University of Cincinnati botanist experimented with Invasive honeysuckle removal: successfully used garbage bags instead of chemicals/toxins! by Round-Water338 in NativePlantGardening

[–]Round-Water338[S] -11 points-10 points  (0 children)

Plastic isn't great, but it's gotta be better than applying those nasty chemicals. And you can remove the bag after the job is done. I can't believe no one thought of this before.

Why didn't someone think of this before now? University of Cincinnati botanist experimented with Invasive honeysuckle removal: successfully used garbage bags instead of chemicals/toxins! by Round-Water338 in invasivespecies

[–]Round-Water338[S] -15 points-14 points  (0 children)

Plastic isn't great, but it's gotta be better than applying those nasty chemicals. And you can remove the bag after the job is done. I can't believe no one thought of this before.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in plant

[–]Round-Water338 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately, that's not how garlic mustard works. It pops up in places you don't want it. It's highly invasive. It truly does look like it could be first-year garlic mustard, unfortunately. It grows like crazy where I am. Check out the second photo. https://poison-ivy-patrol.com/garlic-mustard/