Japanese Barberry

Japanese Barberry is quite prevalent in Eastern New England. It dominates over native flora taking away all areas possible for it’s own use. 
Where found: Field, farms, second generation forests, along roadsides and waterways, sandy and gravel areas.

Recognizable Description: Shrub - Dense, small green leaves till Fall when they get a red tinge, small oblong red berries, many thorns, and multiples stems per plant.

Distribution: Birds love the fruit and disperse seeds. Fruit can be transported by streams or rivers and deposited a distance away. Some areas are densely packed with these shrubs.

Warning: If you use a herbicide to try and kill off Japanese Barberry, you risk killing any bird or other creature that eats the fruit. Birds also nest in these shrubs which increases their risk of any chemical harming them.

Suggested removal method: Cut shrubs but leave about six inches of stems above ground. Use shovel and dig out root system. If shrub has fruit, contain it so fruit don’t disperse. Place fruit in garbage for the incinerator to dispose of. There will be a seed supply in the ground so yearly inspection will need to be done.

Use: I don’t use.

How do you utilize Japanese Barberry?

These statements are from personal experience. If you want more information on Japanese Barberry, refer too:

NRCS: Japanese Barberry
http://www.ct.nrcs.usda.gov/japanese-barberry.html

University of Maine Cooperative Extension Publications
http://umaine.edu/publications/2504e/

Japanese Barberry and Ticks
http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/gtr/gtr-p-78papers/68wardp78.pdf

Woodstock Conservation Commission
http://www.woodstockconservation.org/Invasive_plants.htm

Hand Tools

What hand tools are good for removing non-native invasive plants?
Consider the mission, eradication. Eradication means to completely get rid of something so as to not have it return. It may seem impossible but it is possible if proper methods are used.

Chemicals such as herbicide or more commonly known as weed killer are not anything I support. Reason being, what chemical is truly safe for you to be in contact with, unknown long term effects, and what non-targeted species will be harmed or killed. Also ask yourself: Will my pet or child come in contact with the chemical? How would I feel if my loved one got health issues or died from my use of the chemical? What if someone else’s pet or kid died due to me using the chemical?

Non-powered hand tools are what I prefer. Less risk of injury to self and others. What you cut with loppers will be selected unlike a chainsaw or power trimmer when cutting brush. Loppers and other non-powered equipment wont create debris similar to woodchips nor will it widely spread the fruit (seeds) of the plant being cut. By eliminating or decreasing spread of invasive plant debris and fruit, you are reducing the future of that plant species existence. That’s your goal, right?

Please wisely choose chemical or physical labor with hand tools.

Following are examples of useful hand tools and places to buy them as found in Google search. These sources are only examples, not an advertisement as I am not being compensated for listing them.

Gloves
ULINE: http://www.uline.com/Grp_375/Leather-Gloves?pricode=WO200&gclid=CIDIw-vLu6wCFcFw4AodBSUUpg

Safety Glasses
Optics Planet.com:
http://www.opticsplanet.com/reviews/reviews-safety-glasses.html

Safety Boots
Cabela’s:
http://www.cabelas.com/safety-toe-boots.shtml

Loppers
Hickok:
http://www.hickokloppers.com/

Craftsman:
http://www.craftsman.com/

LARGE: Land Fork Cultivator Hoe
Easy Digging:
http://www.easydigging.com/hand_mattock/fork_cultivator.html

Folding Shovel Pick
BrilliantStore.com:
http://www.brilliantstore.com/hand-tools-os-ht0108.html

Multi-Tool
Leatherman:
http://www.leatherman.com/product/Charge_ALX

These tools can be found in stores too. Some stores are: Walmart, Sears, Ace Hardware, Cabela’s, Lowe’s, Home Depot

Might want to take before and after pictures to see the difference. It is a rewarding feeling to see native flora (plant) and fauna (animal) return.

Multiflora rose

Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora Thunb.) is a non-native invasive plant thriving in Eastern New England.

Where found: Second generation forest, field edge, along roadsides and waterways, and yards.

Recognizable Description: Stem base is woody brown, stem above base can be tanish-brown to dark green, top last few inches ate typically bright green depicting the newest growth. Stem has many thorns and leaves have fine hair-like structures that will feel as if your being pricked if you touch the leaves. Flowers I’ve seen be white or pink and the berry-like fruit is generally a dark red. While working on the removal of the plant, I’ve measured some plant lengths to average heights of twenty feet or more.

Use: I don’t use it. It’s a plant I try to eradicate as it’s not originally from here. Best method I found to eradicate it is to cut and remove stems then use a shovel or pick ax to dig out the plant’s base and root system. I do not recommend using chemicals as they can harm native plants, wildlife, and humans. Always take extreme caution when handling any plant for any purpose. Mind you, over the time it, it produced countless fruits which seeded the area and fed many birds that dispersed the seeds elsewhere. It’ll take time and effort to completely rid the area of the plant species.

How do you utilize multiflora rose?

I am speaking from personal experience so don’t quote me on anything. One of many great resources for information is: Invasive Plant Atlas of New England:
http://nbii-nin.ciesin.columbia.edu/ipane/icat/browse.do?specieId=29

If you are planning on working with Multiflora rose, refer to sources such as the general state statutes
http://www.hort.uconn.edu/cipwg/list.html for more information as you may need a permit.

Oriental Bittersweet

Tan vine mass is Bittersweet vine

Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus articulates Thunb.) is a non-native invasive plant thriving in Eastern New England.

Where found: Along roadsides and waterways, field edges, and coniferous and deciduous forests.

Recognizable Description: Berry clusters change color from yellow to orange then a bright orangish-red. Root system is elaborate and orange in color. Woody vine grows roughly up to sixty feet in height.

Use: Vine can be used as a rope. Example: I wrapped the vine at least twice around a bundle of herbaceous plants then used a double overhand knot securing the bundle. Leaving about a ten foot span of vine leading from the bundle creates a pull rope for the bundle to be dragged.

Removal: Cut vine and pull up by roots.  If vine is in the tree canopy, cut vine and leave in place to rot and fall out naturaly to prevent risk of injuring yourself. 

If you are planning on working with or removing Oriental Bittersweet, refer to sources such as the general state statutes http://www.hort.uconn.edu/cipwg/list.html for more information as you may need a permit.

What have you used bittersweet for?