[NatureNS] Japanese Knotweed

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Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:19:38 -0300
From: "Randy Lauff" <randy.lauff@gmail.com>
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2008/8/9 David & Alison Webster dwebster@glinx.com

   "Xenophobia and poor biology can come up with strange ideas"
I couldn't agree more.


Dear All,            Aug 9, 2008
>   I see on the ATV news and in the Ch.Hrld. (08/08/08) that Japanese
> Knotweed (AKA Elephant Ears) is invasive, difficult to control and
> threatening the lives of native fish and insects.


Sounds reasonable.


> Now herbicide is being used in the highlands park (injecting each
> stem)... but mowing, whenever the shoots reach about 3 dm, would be more
> efficient and effective.


I fail to see how mowing could be either more efficient or effective. Mowing
has to be done several to many times a year (every year!) due to the
vigorous growth. A minimum effective dose of herbicide would solve the
problem in one bout.

David Webster continues to be carefree about introduced species, including
invasive ones. And now he's against the National Park trying to maintain
natural biodiversity? If we can't attempt to harbour fragments of natural
ecosystems in our NATIONAL PARKS, ecosystems as they appreared in
pre-European times, where then should we do it? Or should we even bother?
David...do natural ecosystems not matter to you at all? Is there a role in
our country, on our planet, for National Parks and similar protected areas?
Besides of course, for the Highland Links golf course and the ski hills in
Banff?


>    Xenophobia and poor biology can come up with strange ideas. There has
> been a patch on an adjacent lot for 30-40 years, and it reaches over onto
> our lot each year, but mowing has easily stopped it at the line.


And judicious use of a herbicide would end the problem once and for all.
Don't get me wrong folks...I'm an organic gardener and potential organic
market gardener. I'm not suggesting aerial spraying, but selective, targeted
use of a pesticide to get rid of a noxious pest is a good idea in my mind
(assuming less toxic things like simply yanking them have been tried...but
that particular non-toxic method is fruitless with knotweed).


> It feeds Honey Bees, Bumble Bees, an assortment of flies and no doubt a
> wide assortment of organisms that reduce the impressive vert space biomass
> to fine litter each year.


So what? So do a myriad of native species. There are several herbaceous
plants (wild lettuce, fireweed, some goldenrods) that are tall, and our
native species got along just fine without knotweed for millenia.


> How foolish to spread the notion that this is a menace that has no
> desirable features.
>
> Yt, Dave Webster, Kentville
>

How foolish to spread the notion that an introduced species can be
desireable compared with the native flora. Knotweed displaces native species
- and in large amounts. Native herbivores, native pollinators, will all do
better with a diversity of native plants, not banks of knotweed or wetlands
full of Purple Loosestrife, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc...

Look on the web...there are many RELIABLE sites dedicated to the destructive
nature of Knotweed. e.g. http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/pocu1.htm.
This is NOT a desirable plant! Please don't justify its existence here
because *something* or *somethings* may use it in some non-critical way.
Sincerely,
Randy
_________________________________
RF Lauff
Way in the boonies of
Antigonish County, NS.

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<div dir="ltr"><br><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">2008/8/9 David &amp; Alison Webster <span dir="ltr">dwebster@glinx.com</span></div>
<p><span dir="ltr">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&quot;Xenophobia and poor biology can come up with strange ideas&quot;</span></p>
<div>I couldn&#39;t agree more.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div class="gmail_quote"><br></div>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid">Dear All, &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Aug 9, 2008<br>&nbsp; I see on the ATV news and in the Ch.Hrld. (08/08/08) that Japanese Knotweed (AKA Elephant Ears) is invasive, difficult to control and threatening the lives of native fish and insects.</blockquote>

<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Sounds reasonable.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid"><span></span>Now herbicide is being used in the highlands park (injecting each stem)...&nbsp;but mowing, whenever the shoots reach about 3 dm, would be more efficient and effective.</blockquote>

<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>I fail to see how mowing could be either more efficient or effective. Mowing has to be done several to many times a&nbsp;year (every year!) due to the vigorous growth. A minimum effective dose of herbicide would solve the problem in one bout.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>David Webster continues to be carefree about introduced species, including invasive ones. And now he&#39;s against the National Park trying to maintain natural biodiversity? If we can&#39;t attempt to harbour fragments of natural ecosystems&nbsp;in our NATIONAL PARKS, ecosystems as they appreared&nbsp;in pre-European times, where then should we do it? Or should we even bother? David...do natural ecosystems not matter to you at all? Is there a role in our country, on our planet, for National Parks and similar protected areas? Besides of course, for the Highland Links golf course and the ski hills in Banff?</div>

<div>&nbsp;&nbsp;</div>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Xenophobia and poor biology can come up with strange ideas. There has been a patch on an adjacent lot for 30-40 years, and it reaches over onto our lot each year, but mowing has easily stopped it at the line.</blockquote>

<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>And judicious use of a herbicide would end the problem once and for all. Don&#39;t get me wrong folks...I&#39;m an organic gardener and potential organic market gardener. I&#39;m not suggesting aerial spraying, but selective, targeted use of a pesticide to get rid of a noxious pest is a good idea in my mind (assuming less toxic things like simply yanking them have been tried...but that particular non-toxic method is fruitless with knotweed).</div>

<