Summary Ideas for next year

DSV control by Sunday volunteers 2007 and goals for 2008 In addition to the work summarized below, the Sunday group also removed all Garlic Mustard from the Ash Woodlot, helped with Buckthorn removal, and planted the following (for a total of 282 person-hours this year): In the Ash Woodlot: 2 brambles 3 sedges on east side of centre path 10 Pagoda Dogwoods Heart-leaved Asters Bettony On the north slope of the Amphibian Pond: 25 wild raisin shrubs 12 chokeberry shrubs Thanks to all the volunteers who came out on Sunday mornings from 22 April to 28 October 2007: Andrew S., Rob, Martine, Andrew K., Isabelle, Gretchen, Tony, Chris, Gillian, Diane, Maria, Lindsey, Kelvin, Felix, Aletta, Mike, David, Brian. Some people only came one day; others were there every week. We thank all of them for taking the time to help!! We also thank the Wednesday evening volunteer group and the Friday morning Backyard Garden crew and Carolyn for weeding DSV out of the Butterfly Meadow, around the Backyard Garden, and in the New Woodlot, respectively, as well as the many dog walkers who took a few minutes to pull out invasive species.

Summary Again, our scythes were used effectively to cut DSV in large open areas. None of these areas was so big that it couldn't be cut by two people in one morning. A recent research paper by McKague and Cappuccino (see abstract) led us to believe that we should cut DSV on or before 26 June. We managed to do that in most areas. Repeat cutting was required in sunny areas. Because scything was so quick, this year we were able to get into areas where we had never previously tried to control DSV; for example, along the access road west of the Butterfly Meadow. A discouraging discovery was that in sunny areas, even cutting DSV three times did not prevent it from forming pods and producing seeds. On the other hand, cutting DSV that often in the field south of the ravine seemed to result in thicker grass growth. We carefully avoided cutting stands of grass and goldenrods where little or no DSV was growing. Our idea of having people pull DSV around the edges of fields that were being cut with scythes was not practical (except maybe in the largest field). Volunteers were, sensibly, reluctant to use scythes near where others were working. However, we did manage to cut around edges more efficiently than last year so as not to leave a "fringe" of DSV around a cut area. In the 2 sections of the Butterfly Meadow that were rototilled in 2006, very little DSV grew back. The tillers did far more damage to DSV than expected. Covering DSV with newspapers and landscape cloth did NOT kill all DSV plants. Both Sunday and Wednesday volunteer groups decreased over the summer. Spending so much time cutting or pulling DSV can be discouraging and boring. We need to rethink how we use our volunteers' time. Or attract more volunteers to spread the "bad" jobs out among more people in hopes of reducing the time each person has to devote to them. In 2007, several Friday volunteers made a concentrated effort to remove DSV on the north slope of the ravine below the BYG and our interpretive centre. They dug plants out in some areas, covered one area with a large black tarpaulin, and covered other areas with newspapers and leaves. In fall 2005, we covered the north slope of the Amphibian Pond with a large black tarpaulin. In spring 2007, the Sunday volunteers removed the tarp, dug out the remaining DSV plants, and planted several dozen shrubs. We moved the tarp over onto an adjacent area of DSV and weeded all DSV in the immediate surroundings. Ideas for next year Rototill another section of the Butterfly Meadow. Dig the remaining DSV plants out of previously rototilled areas. Try to make some sort of estimate of DSV density in various areas so that we can tell if any of our work is having an effect. We don't expect cutting DSV to reduce the population, but it would be nice if it wasn't increasing. Assess the effects of the control methods used on the north slope of the ravine. We hope to be able to plant at least part of this area with native wildflowers in 2008. Follow up on newspaper mulch experiments. This is a carry-over from last year. Need to ensure that more people can use the scythes effectively and safely. This is also carried over from last year. In 2007, some of the BYG volunteers learned to use the scythes and did a great job in areas around the BYG. Ensure that the shrubs above the pond are healthy. Dig out any DSV plants that reappear there. Keep the tarpaulin tightly fastened over the west section of the slope. This page was revised on 4 December 2007 © Fletcher Wildlife Garden Our e-mail address