Last week I outlined three invasive terrestrial plants/shrubs that are growing wild here in our area. Plants that I am familiar with and have had to deal with on my property. This week, I present three more nasty buggers that seem to grow like mad even in the current drought conditions. Gosh, I wished my tomatoes and corn would grow like some of these invasive weeds. This week we will look at giant hog weed, buckthorn, and japanese knotweed.
It can tolerate a variety of adverse conditions including full shade, high temperatures, high salinity, and drought. It is found near water sources, such as along streams and rivers, in low-lying areas, waste places, utility rights-of-way, and around old home sites. It can quickly become an invasive pest in natural areas after escaping from cultivated gardens. What am I? Japanese knotweed, of course. Also locally known as japanese bamboo. This is one difficult plant to get rid of, for sure.
Brought here in the 1800's as an ornamental, the knotweed's minute greenish-white flowers occur in summer and are followed soon after by small winged fruits. Seeds are very small. It reproduces primarily by seed and vegetative means with the help of long, stout roots. It can be transported to new sites by water, wind, as a contaminant in fill-dirt, or on the soles of muddy boots, waders or shoes.
There was a study done by a group at Cornell a few years ago where they set box traps in amongst the knotweed. The results after a few months of trapping: Nothing! Seems that nothing lives in amongst the knotweed. At least no small mammals, reptiles or amphibians or anything else that could be caught in a box trap. So, if the small critters don't live there, it must stand to reason that there is nothing to eat in the "forest" of knotweed. I know from brush hogging it down that there are no other plants that grow in the amongst the denseness of a knotweed stand. And if you chop it down, it seems like it comes back with a vengeance.
Cutting by mechanical means only seems to control the knotweed. I know a fellow from Endicott that had success eliminating it by spraying glyphosate in EACH hollow stem that he cut. Another fellow here in Norwich had me cut it, rototill it under and then cover it with black plastic. He then added topsoil over the top of the plastic and had a knotweed-free garden. But this was on a small (50'x100') scale. Knotweed is a terribly persistent invasive with no real value.
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From my research, the giant hogweed plant has infiltrated Chenango County, but on a very small scale. The DEC information I was provided says that the plant has been eradicated here. But I am including it on my invasives list so that everyone can become educated about this terrible plant, and report it to DEC or the local health department if you spot it growing.
Giant hogweed is a perennial herb in the carrot family which can grow to 14 feet or more. Its hollow, ridged stems grow 2-4 inches in diameter, and have dark reddish-purple blotches, and its large compound leaves can grow up to five feet wide. Its white flower heads can grow up to 2 1/2 feet in diameter. To me it looks like Queen Anne's Lace on steroids, something you would see in a Jurrasic Park movie.
A native of Russia, it was introduced to the United States in the early twentieth century as an ornamental plant, and it has become well established in the Northeast. Hogweed grows along streams and rivers and in fields, forests, yards and roadsides. While it prefers open sites with abundant light and moist soil, it will grow in partially shaded habitats also.
While I have spoke of the non-beneficial elements to wildlife of the other invasive plants, the hogweed is more of a a health and safety hazard to humans, while it appears to have no benefit to wildlife. Its sap, in combination with moisture and sunlight, can cause severe skin and eye irritation, painful blistering, permanent scarring and even blindness. Contact between the skin and the sap of this plant occurs either through brushing against the bristles on the stem or breaking the stem or leaves.
Accordingly, if you find hogweed growing, it is recommended you report it by calling the Giant Hogweed Hotline: 1-845-256-3111. Providing photos, detailed directions to the plant infestation, and estimate the number of plants would be a big help. A site visit from DEC is likely. Because of its toxicity, there is a lot more to the eradication of hogweed than just knocking down the plant. Professional help is certainly recommended in eradicating this beast. Don't go it alone!
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I first came across common buckthorn on a friends property in Cattaragus County, out on the western end of New York State. This deciduous shrub grows to about 20 feet and spreads all over the place. The egg shaped leaves and thorns on the end of branches make it easily identifiable. The buckthorn grows small berries that are a dark purple, and the berries ripen during summer and can cling on to the plant well into winter.
Buckthorn is native to most of Europe. It was brought to North America some time in the 1800s for use as an ornamental shrub and wind break. It is currently found in hedgerows, along roadsides and on steep slopes. It is found in lightly shaded areas and is tolerant of many soil types from well-drained sand to clay.
Buckthorn is considered an invasive species throughout most of the Northeast because of the dense thickets it forms, shading out many young native trees and shrubs in its understory, thus preventing new growth. Also, buckthorn is a host for crown rust fungus, an agricultural pest that lowers the yield and quality of oats. It may also serve as a overwintering host for the Asian soybean aphid, a pest known to damage soybeans.
Several methods are used to control buckthorn. These include mowing, excavating, cutting and burning. Repeated mowing and cutting has been shown to reduce the vigor of the plants. The plants may be removed by hand or with heavy equipment depending on their size. Prescribed burns are another way to control buckthorn. Fires will top-kill mature plants; however, sprouting can occur from the roots and trunks. Spraying cut stumps with glyphosate will prevent re-sprouting of new growth.

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Next week, three bad bugs and the billions of dollars in damage they do.


On the calendar:

• Saturday, July 2 - The Finger Lakes Trail Conference is holding the annual Sidote Hike at Bowman Lake State Park. Meeting time will be 8 a.m. at Ho-Jo’s Mote,l and from there a car pool will travel to the Kopac Trailhead on Sherman-Bliven Rd. Going into Bowman Lake, Sherman-Bliven Rd. is just before the ticket booth and office on the left side of the road. Follow this road past the intersection to the marked Kopac Trailhead on the left side of the road. Hike will depart at 9 a.m. from the Kopac Trailhead. There will be a long, six-mile hike and a short three-mile hike from the Kopac Trailhead. Bring plenty of water, bug repellent, snacks, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to avoid deer ticks.
• Tuesday, July 24 - Trout Unlimited will be sponsoring Doug’s Fish Fry To Go at the Norwich Walmart parking lot from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Proceeds will benefit the the Children's Miracle Network, TU's Kids to Camp program, and other ecologically beneficial programs that the Chenango Valley Trout Unlimited club is involved with. Join the guys and gals from the club for lunch or dinner and support their good causes.
• Monday, Oct. 1 - Opening day of southern zone archery season for deer. In case you haven't heard, the DEC has adopted its nine-point deer management plan that I have discussed here in the past. The biggest change affecting hunters in the southern zone is the new date for the opening of the regular archery season - October 1 this year. More on this as we get closer to opening day.

For more information or to comment on this article, contact Franke at george_franke@yahoo.com