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From: nat
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RE: [NatureNS] Glossy BuckthornHi Again,
The Acadian origin applies to NS. In general it likely would have =
been earliest settlers. The first Flora of NS (Roland, 1944) Says; =
"Scattered shrubs are found about some of the towns, as Wolfville & =
Truro. South of Amherst it occurs along the roadside and has spread into =
a pasture where it grows like alder bushes." The second (Roland & Smith, =
1964) says the same;verbatim. John Erskine (1975) recognized the Acadian =
connection. He was not always correct (Who is ? He said that Rhamnus sp. =
were used as hedges; not so because cattle graze them bald. And the =
widespread rural practice pre 1960 of nearly everyone having one or two =
cows I suspect kept it from spreading.) but it is surely no coincidence =
that all known stations in his time had Acadian associations.
Rhamnus these days is just another mine canary. NS sits in the =
exhaust pipe of Eastern North America and this air pollution coupled =
with erratic weather is tough on trees and probably other vegetation. It =
is just hard not to notice when a White Pine or Red Spruce goes into =
decline when it should have the vigor of youth. And especially difficult =
when large areas are affected, e.g. Annapolis Valley. When a sun-loving =
plant invades the 'shade' of coniferous woodland you will likely see a =
sparse canopy if you look up and dead trees if you look ahead.
There is a world of difference between fall and August. Cutting in =
the fall is sure to be followed by vigorous suckering. Cutting woody =
perennials in August if you wish to killl or discourage them is not my =
recipe. I learned this at least 70 years ago as common knowledge in this =
neck of the woods. To kill Speckled Alder this way takes patience but =
eventually even it will succomb.
But don't take my word for it. Just try cutting in August or if so =
inclined then lay out a bare bones replicated trial; e.g. 3 blocks, 4 =
plots in each assigned at random to a) cut mid-August, b) cut =
mid-September, c) cut mid-October and d) control. In each plot count =
seedlings, whips (<5 mm diam.) and stems. Cut as low to ground level as =
possible. Count suckers a year later.=20
When a have a few spare minutes in North Alton I will take some =
digitals..
Yt, Dave Webster, Kentville
=20
=20
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Donna Crossland=20
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca=20
Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2014 5:36 PM
Subject: RE: [NatureNS] Glossy Buckthorn
Glossy buckthorn spread has been attributed mainly to the =
(unregulated) nursery industry, sold as a rather showy ('glossy') shrub =
that was planted near homes. In all of the scientific publications I =
have read, I have not seen any reference to the Acadians. Perhaps they =
brought some, but most of the buckthorn arrived far more recently. The =
more recent horticultural plantings, followed by recent disturbances =
from accelerated forest harvesting and land clearing are helping it =
spread much more rapidly now. Some of the oldest buckthorn around the =
Caledonia area are ~30-40 years of age.
=20
I have cut it in the fall and had it spring back up. There are =
countless research papers on the topic of glossy buckthorn control =
because of its incredible resilience. No one has yet found an easy fix. =
Cutting has been tried repeatedly in both Canada and US without =
success. Autumn is precisely the time when I do cut stump treatments. =
Unfortunately waiting until fall allows it to produce an entire season =
of fruit if it is a mature plant. I have now revised my strategy to lop =
off the tops (with flowers and fruit) early, then returning to make a =
fresh stump cut in the fall to follow up with a small chemical treatment =
on the cut stem. While small plants can be pulled out easily, mature =
plants are nearly impossible to pull, even with a fancy weed wrench. =20
=20
Unfortunately, I have also seen it grow in great multitudes in the =
understory of intact white pine forest, deep in the shade. All it =
needs is an uprooting event, or some form of canopy gap to spring forth =
and occupy a newly opened space. One scientific paper describes how it =
'may' eventually be outcompeted in the shaded growth of hemlock forest. =
That gives some hope, but our current forest practices no longer seem to =
allow forests to mature and attain canopy closure. Fens and riversides =
offer plenty of light for buckthorn growth, eventually pushing out =
important and sometimes rare native species. =20
=20
Conclusion: Aggressively eradicate this plant wherever found. =
Perhaps one day in the future we will have better long-term solutions =
that do not involve chemical use. Meanwhile we need to control it as =
best possible in order to protect native biodiversity. If control is =
successfully achieved over its propensity to stump-sucker by simply =
cutting the plant at precisely the correct time, we should herald the =
method and carefully document success so that others may follow suit. =
Protected area managers and many others will want your 'recipe'.=20
=20
We were the cause of this plant's introduction, so we should at least =
try to undo our own damage. =20
=20
Donna Crossland
=20
From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca =
[mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] On Behalf Of David & Alison =
Webster
Sent: June-09-14 2:12 PM
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Glossy Buckthorn
=20
Hi Donna & All,
I am talking about Rhamnus frangula AKA, Frangula alnus & Glossy =
Buckthorn.
=20
Cutting most woody perennials, including Glossy Buckthorn, off at =
the wrong time is quite ineffective as you say.=20
=20
But for cutting to have maximum effect they should be cut off at =
the right time; just after current photosynthates have been spent =
growing shoots, roots and fruit but before downward flow into roots for =
storage commences. For most woody plants here August is safe.
=20
And they do flop over when stands become dense especially if there =
are full scale trees nearby. They expend too much energy keep leaves in =
sunlight and not enough in stem diameter. If by chance a bunch become =
bent over by snow or ice it is game over. =20
=20
This plant was brought over by the Acadians probably as a source =
of good porous charcoal for gunpowder. Do you not find it curious that =
it has become a 'pest' only in recent decades ? Why did it just sit =
around hatching evil plans for nearly 400 years ?
=20
Yt, Dave Webster, Kentville
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Donna Crossland=20
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca=20
Sent: Monday, June 09, 2014 12:13 PM
Subject: RE: [NatureNS] Glossy Buckthorn
=20
I've worked with glossy buckthorn for several years now. Glossy =
buckthorn that is merely cut down will absolutely regro