Appendix L
Maintenance Level Guidelines
animals, humans, or machines. This species prefers disturbed areas, but can easily move into native wetlands. Once established, reed canary grass dominates an area by building up a tremendous seed bank that can eventually erupt, germinate, and recolonize treated sites. CONTROLLING REED CANARY GRASS Mechanical Control Small, discrete patches may be covered by black plastic for at least one growing season; the bare spot can then be reseeded with native species. This method is not always effective and must be monitored because rhizomes can spread beyond the edge of the plastic. Prescribed burns Prescribed burns in late spring or late fall may help reduce the reed canary grass population if repeated annually for 5 to 6 years. However, these fires are difficult to conduct due to water levels and/or the greenness of the grass at the time of burning. The application of 1.5% active ingredient solution of glyphosate will "brown off" reed canary grass enough to conduct prescribed burns. Burning is also ineffective in dense stands of reed canary grass that lack competition from native, fire-adapted species in the seed bank. A late-spring burn followed by mowing or wick-applying glyphosate to the emerging flowering shoots will eliminate reed canary grass seed production for that year. Mowing Mowing twice yearly (early to mid-June and again in early October) may help control reed canary grass by removing seed heads before the seed matures and exposing the ground to light, which promotes the growth of native wetland species. Discing the soil in combination with a mowing or burning regime may help by opening the soil to other species. Hand-pulling or digging may work on small stands in the early stages of invasion. Grazing can enhance diversity, although it will not control reed canary grass. A bulldozer can be used to remove reed canary grass and rhizomes (12-18" deep), after which native species should be seeded. Discing or plowing can also be employed in this manner. Chemical Control Small, scattered clones (2 feet in diameter) can be controlled by tying the stems together just before flowering, cutting them, and applying glyphosate in a 33% active ingredient (a.i.) solution to cut stems. A formulation of glyphosate designed for use in wetlands will kill reed canary grass (especially young plants) when applied to foliage. Apply in early spring when most native plant species are dormant. Any herbicide application should be done only after removing dead leaves from the previous year in order to maximize growing shoot exposure and to minimize herbicide use.
18
468 Naperville Park District | 2023 MASTER PLAN
Made with FlippingBook - Share PDF online