APRIL 24, 2020 The current weather pattern of intermittent rainfall (and therefore moist soil) has created ground conditions that are ideal for hand-pulling invasive plants.
The key to hand pulling is being sure that you remove all or most of the roots, such that there is so little of the root system left in the ground that it cannot support regrowth.
Suitable targets are small, young sprouts of the following plants.
Don’t jerk the plant to remove it. Instead, grab it close to the ground and gently pull with steady pressure and move it in a circular motion, or back and forth, to test whether it seems that it will release from the soil without breaking off from the roots.
If it feels like the plant will release from the ground without leaving the roots in place, continue pulling and remove it. With Japanese Honeysuckle and Oriental Bittersweet especially, they can have both extensive root systems that often go in different directions (and re-root), and above ground runners that “hide” underneath the leaf litter. All of these must be removed or the plant will re-root.
If the plant feels very firmly in place, leave it and use cut stump as your treatment technique (so go out armed with a cutting tool and herbicide, just in case.)
A note on prickly invasives (Wineberry, small Multiflora Rose and others). As you reach to grab the stem (wearing good gloves) at the base of the plant at ground level, keep your hand open. Then close your hand around the stem as you move your hand upward along the stem. This will fold the prickles upward against the stem so they’re less likely to penetrate your gloves. Or just wear thick gloves!
Good luck and stay safe!
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