Non-Native Invasive Species have become a large problem in the South and Mountain Island is no exception. In the southern piedmont four species of plant (Wisteria, Kudzu, Privet, and Eleagnus spp.) present some of the most difficult forest management problems for land managers. These species were introduced as ornamentals, erosion control solutions, or wildlife management enhancement materials. These exotic plants make management and regeneration of both hardwood and pine trees difficult when they are present. All four have the characteristic of outcompeting native species for light, water and nutrients. With the exception of Kudzu they are also tolerant to shading and are able to increase in the forest understory until the forest canopy is removed and they receive direct access to sunlight.

Kudzu

Through a grant from the USDA Forest Service, Mountain Island has begun eradication programs in different areas of the forest. These demonstrations involve a mixture of treatment methods from mechanically constructed barriers that are maintained with herbicides, to treatments with fire and herbicides, to herbicide treatment alone.

Kudzu Eradication

A large field of Kudzu had established itself within a young pine plantation. In the course of 7 to 10 years it had consumed 2 acres of the plantation resulting in a loss of production for timber and a loss of the streamside management zone that was being managed for wildlife mast production and the protection of the water quality.

Efforts were begun during the winter to create a mechanical buffer around the kudzu infested areas. Within the treated area the Kudzu and dead trees were piled and burned to prepare for spraying the following summer.

Efforts are continuing for the next 5 years to complete the Kudzu control and eradication on this site. It is important that Landowners and land managers not abandon these control efforts until complete eradication has been achieved. Most infestations require a minimum of 3 to 4 years to obtain complete eradication.

Wisteria in
bloom on a pine

Wisteria Eradication

Old homesites present a unique problem for many landowners in that they provide a source for many of the exotic

invasive plant materials that escape into the forest. Wisteria is a prime example of landscaping plants that often result in problems for land managers. Wisteria can often present a harder problem to address than Kudzu in that it is a woody vine that encircles and girdles crop trees while also having the characteristic of popping as far as 30 yards outside of the control area from underground runners.

Our current Wisteria eradication program, within our commercial stands of Loblolly pine consists of multiple treatments beginning with an understory burn to bring all of the target species back to ground level. The burn on this particular treatment area was conducted during the early growing season (April 2003) using strip head fires to produce enough intensity to kill the wisteria back to the ground level in preparation for a herbicide application during August/September.

A tractor mounted boomless sprayer was used to spray within the stand as the first herbicide application. It is anticipated that it will take subsequent spraying over the next 2 years to complete the eradication with spot treatments by back pack during the following years.