Mechanical Control Practices
Hand pulling or using a tool such as a Weed Wrench can be effective when removing individual plants or small infestations. The invasive shrub honeysuckles are generally easy to pull. For complete root removal pull plants when soil moisture is high.
The following is a list of manual/mechanical practices used in the forest for controlling interfering plants.
- Hand pull or dig individual plants and small infestations when first discovered. For complete root removal pull plants when soil moisture is high.
- Pull trees and shrubs using a Weed Wrench. This tool uses a lever action to pull roots from the soil.
- Periodically cut woody interfering plants using loppers, power saws, and/or weed whackers. To reduce root reserves and remove the competitive advantage make first cutting in early summer immediately following full leaf out.
- Regular mowing of fields and meadows can prevent interfering plants from invading and becoming established.
- Repeated mowing throughout the growing season for several years may eventually deplete plant nutrient reserves.
- Tilling and discing a site can help to remove weeds from the soil by slicing roots and burying seeds. Late fall tilling can kill roots by exposing them to winter frosts. A word of caution: cultivation, unless done periodically, may provide a seed bed for new invasions and can spread infestations by transporting root segments on equipment.
