[email protected] m www.StraussEcoServices.com (541)842-0284

Specializing in habitat restoration, noxious weed control, naturalist and photography services

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Herbicide basics Kinds of herbicides  Kinds of surfactants  Safe use practices 

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Weeds    

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Reed canary grass Poison hemlock Garlic mustard Knotweed

Your Questions

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ALWAYS read the label! Handle with care Use proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)  Choose wise location to mix  Only mix as much as you need 

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More is not always better 

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Higher rates can be unnecessary, and ineffective

Apply with care Use the right tool for the job  Pay attention to the weather  Apply slowly when near desired vegetation or sensitive habitat 

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ALWAYS read the label! Know your target weed(s)  

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Know your habitat   

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Broadleaf, grass, woody vegetation, etc… Know what herbicides work on the target weed Are you near water Do you need an NPDES? Are there rare species in the area?

Choose the best surfactant for the job    

Research surfactants for the weed and habitat Only use aquatically labeled surfactants near water Mixing 0.5% is typically enough Add it last to your tank mix

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Trade Name / Common (chemical) name:  

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Mode of Action 

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How the herbicide works in the plant

Pre-emergent / Post-emergent  

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Trade name = Roundup, Common name = glyphosate Chemical/Common name also known as “Active Ingredient”

Pre-emergent applied to the soil Post-emergent applied to the leaves of the plant

Selective/Non-selective herbicides Selective herbicides target species of some plants while not affecting others  Non-selectives are toxic to all plants 

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Glyphosate:    

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Triclopyr:    

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Non-selective (kills broadleaves AND grasses) Inhibits amino acid production at growing points Trade names include Roundup, Rodeo, Aquamaster, Aquaneat, Accord, Gly-pro, Gly-Star, etc… Some of these have an aquatic label Selective – kills broadleaves without affecting grasses Mimics plant hormones (auxin) Trade names include Garlon 3A, Element 3A The “3A’s” have aquatic label

Imazapyr:   

Non-selective herbicide Amino-acid synthesis inhibitor Trade names include Habitat, Polaris (aquatic labels)

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Surfactants:   

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Kinds of Surfactants:   

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Assist the herbicide solution in sticking to the plant And entering the leaf tissue Act on the surface tension of the water Emulsifiers – for oil soluble products Stickers – assist in spray retention on leaves Wetting agents/ Penetrants – assist in herbicide entry to plant

Cationic, Anionic, Nonionic:  

Nonionic are the BEST to use near water Trade names of nonionic surfactants include:  Agri-Dex, Bronc, R-11, Li-700

Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea)

Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board

Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) Spreads by rhizomes and seed Each flower head can produce up to 600 seeds

Michael Shephard, USDA Forest Service

Treatment Recommendations Reed canary grass treatment recommendations Sprays: •Glyphosate products at 2% (Rodeo, Aquaneat or Aquamaster, etc…) •Imazapyr products at 1-2% (Habitat, Polaris)

Treatment timing: •spring is ideal for preventing seed production, summer-fall sprays can also effective at reducing populations

Near water: •Choose aquatic label surfactant •Will your timing change whether water is present at the site?

Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum)

Whatcom County, Washington Noxious Weed Board

Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum) Flowers

Leaf

seed head

stem

Photos: Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board

Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum) • TOXIC to humans and animals! • Use caution when handling – avoid contact with skin • Toxins remain in plant even when dried/sprayed Photo: Wildeherb.com

Treatment Recommendations Poison Hemlock treatment recommendations Sprays: •Glyphosate products at 2% (Rodeo, Aquaneat, etc…) •Imazapyr products at 1-2% (Habitat, Polaris) •Triclopyr products at 2% (Garlon 3A, Element 3A)

Treatment timing: •Early spring is ideal •Spray rosettes (leaves) before plant bolts • Tall plants can be treated but not ideal •Take note of surrounding vegetation

Near water: •Choose aquatic label surfactant

Garlic Mustard 12 to 48 inches in height Rosette’s have kidney-shaped leaves The leaves emit a garlicky odor when crushed. White flower with four petals

Garlic mustard can be found year-round in forest understory, forest edges, shaded roadside, urban areas, riparian areas, floodplains, and on agricultural lands.

Garlic Mustard in Rogue watershed = known garlic mustard locations

Know the look-alikes!

Garlic mustard rosette Money plant Lunaria annua

Money plant Lunaria annua

stream violet Viola glabella

Garlic mustard Stem leaf

Stinging nettle Uritca dioica

Look for two leaf types and garlic smell

Garlic mustard

Wild grape start

Look for two leaf types and garlic smell

green seed pods smell Look for two leaf types and garlic

Treatment Garlic mustard treatmentRecommendations recommendations Hand pulling: • Must happen before seeds set • Dispose of plants with seeds

Sprays: •Glyphosate products at 1-3% (Rodeo, Aquaneat, etc…) •Triclopyr products at 1-3% (Garlon 3A, Element 3A) for sites with grasses you wish to keep

Treatment timing: •spring is ideal for preventing seed production, fall sprays of rosettes are also effective at reducing populations

Trout Creek Shoreline - Before Control Efforts

Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica)

Knotweed •Giant, Japanese, and Himalayan varieties •Grows 15’ tall in 2 months time •Spreads by rhizomes •Incredibly difficult to control

We know knotweed is established in the Rogue Basin

©Kyle Strauss

Knotweed sprouting from small root fragment

Root fragment is approximately 1” in length (2 nodes)

Branches that land in wet mud/sand will start to generate roots and form a new plant…

Nehalem River, OR Knotweed has infested both sides of the river for a 15 mile stretch.

Knotweed in Nehalem watershed Knotweed nightmare on Nehalem River

©Doug Kreuzer/TNC

Interior of large knotweed patch Welches, OR

Note lack of vegetation in understory

So knotweed is bad… …How do you stop it ???

Sidewalks & asphalt don’t stop it

Brick walls don’t stop it!

Plastic surely doesn’t stop it!

Even houses can’t stop it

Clark County, WA

South Wales, UK

Knotweed Control Experiment 2000-2003

• test group - 51 small knotweed patches • measure of control - number of stems • 17 treatment combinations: • 2 Herbicides (Triclopyr vs. Glyphosate) • foliar vs. stem-cut applications

• number & timing of treatments • integrated vs. manual cut

Early Experiment: Summarized Control Results Knotweed response to 17 Treatments: May 2000 - June 2002 % reduction in stem number

100

50

0

Foliar Garlon

Rodeo

-50

Manual 2001

2001

2002

2002

-100

Treatment groups

July 2013: Knotweed size significantly reduced. Treated with triclopyr spray.

©Suzanne Vautier CEEN /ODA

©Suzanne Vautier CEEN /ODA

July 2013: Dead knotweed patches killed with glyphosate spray in August 2012. Depending on size and location of patches, about ½ are completely dead and the other ½ are significantly reduced in size.

©Tim Leyba CEEN /ODA

Knotweed treated with foliar triclopyr spray one week earlier..

Monkeyflower

©Suzanne Vautier CEEN / ODA

Direct stem injection of herbicide

• Developed in 2003 in Washington • Pros: No herbicide drift

• : Need to inject every stem •Cons

Knotweed has a hollow stem

Stem injection experiments (2003-2005)

Controlled experiment: • tested 1.5ml, 3ml, 5ml, 5ml + spray and control • 6 patches per treatment • tested July & Sept. application dates

Before Treatment: July 2003

Fall 2003 After injecting 1.5mls glyphosate into 70 out of 72 stems

July 2004

Stem reduction 1 year after treatment

% Stem reduction (total)

0 ml

1.5 ml

3 ml

5 ml

100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% -20% -40% -60% -80%

Glyphosate treatment

5 ml + F

Knotweed Before Treatment

Knotweed After Treatment

Note large root area and small shoot surface. Very difficult to effectively apply herbicide to finish the job.

Epinastic Growth

Epinastic Growth on an Old Knotweed Crown

Healthy roots, but very few shoots…

Excavation of Knotweed Rhizome at Site 18-27

You have to inject every stem! 7 months after injection. Note healthy patch of knotweed in the background that was missed during treatment.

Native plants can recover Site injected Oct. 2004 May 2005: Sword Fern and Bleeding Heart return to an area formerly occupied by knotweed.

imazapyr field trial- sprayed with 1.5% “Habitat” herbicide June 2006 Day of treatment

800 stems of knotweed

imazapyr field trails

October 2006 Follow up treatment

Spot-sprayed a few green stems

imazapyr field trials May 2007 1 year after treatment

11 stems were sprayed once again with 1.5% Habitat

imazapyr field trials

September 2008

7stems of knotweed still alive (down from 800 two years prior)

Recommendations Knotweed Treatment Treatment recommendations Stem injection: • Must be glyphosate • Aquamaster and Rodeo are label approved for this method

Sprays: •Glyphosate products at 2-5% (Rodeo, Aquamaster, etc…) •Triclopyr products at 2-5% (Garlon 3A, Element 3A) •Imazapyr at 1%- “Habitat” or “Polaris” only imazapyr products labeled for use near water

Treatment timing: •Mid to late summer is ideal (July-August)

Questions?? [email protected] m www.StraussEcoServices.com (541)842-0284

Specializing in habitat restoration, noxious weed control, naturalist and photography services