Appendix L
Maintenance Level Guidelines
Control Recommendations Recommended practices in natural communities of high quality
For small populations, or if cheap labor pools (volunteers) are available, mechanical methods work quite well. Young rosettes can be dug up using a dandelion digger. Just as in digging up dandelions, as much of the teasel root needs to be dug up as possible. Once the rosettes get large, it is difficult to dig the roots up without doing damage to the natural area around the plant. Very small seedlings can be pulled up by hand when the soil is moist. Flowering plants can be cut before seed set. At the initiation of flowering, the flowering heads should be cut off and removed from the natural area. Removed immature seed heads left in place can still develop some viable seeds. Once the flowering heads have been removed, the flowering stalk should be cut off at or slightly below ground level. A machete is useful in cutting off the flowering stalks. Cutting off the flowering stalks just at flowering time will usually prevent resprouting from the root crown. Cutting flowering stalks prior to flowering should be avoided since the plants will resprout and flower again. A later inspection should be performed to catch any root crowns that do resprout. Probably the most cost effective method of control is the use of foliar applied herbicides. Any of the herbicides recommended below for buffer or disturbed sites can be used, but with greater care to prevent damaging native plants. Spot treatment with backpack sprayers is probably the preferred method in high quality areas as opposed to high volume units. Triclopyr is a good choice during the growing season since it usually does not harm the monocots. Some grass species will be burned back by Triclopyr, but will usually come back. During the dormant season Glyphosate has worked in controlling teasel in some situations. Triclopyr may also work during the dormant season, but has yet to be tested. Prescribed burning as suggested below in conjunction with herbicide treatment is probably the best strategy to insure complete coverage. Recommended Practices on lands other than high-quality natural areas The most cost effective control method for heavily infested sites is the use of foliar applied herbicides. Glyphosate (under trade name Roundup), 2,4-D amine (under various trade names), and Triclopyr (under trade name of Garlon 3A) have all been used successfully. Triclopyr and 2,4-D amine are dicot specific and should not harm monocots. Both herbicides should be applied during the growing season, preferably before the plant has bolted (sent up a flowering stalk). Triclopyr appears to be slightly better at controlling teasel than 2,4-D amine. Application can be made after bolting, but there is a risk of the seeds still developing, depending upon the date of application. Neither of these herbicides has been tried during the dormant season, but they may be effective. The rosettes of teasel stay green late into fall or even into winter when most other plants have died back. Application at this time would allow treatment without harming other dicots. Glyphosate will kill any green plant. To avoid killing monocots, Glyphosate should be used sparingly during the growing season. If harming other plants in the immediate vicinity is not a problem,
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Naperville Park District | 2023 MASTER PLAN
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