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This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_003F_01CD57C4.349B1E40 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hi Lance & All, July 1, 2012 My experience with containment of Phragmites by mowing differs from = eradication of a stand by routine mowing in several respects.=20 The perimeter of the two stands includes healthy dense lawn grass, = spotty plant cover & formerly cultivated and thus largely bare soil. = Even one mowing whenever convenient is overkill where grass is healthy = and dense. The shoots that do come up are thin with few narrow leaves = and rarely exceed 2' if left unmowed Where competition is light, the = first crop of shoots to emerge are as vigorous as those in the = established colony and I try to mow them when relatively few shoots = exceed knee height to ensure that rhizome reserves are not replenished = by these new shoots. Usually the second crop of shoots is nearly as thin = and weak as the first crop in sod but I try to mow these before = extension growth has halted.=20 In none of these perimeter areas is there thatch accumulation, as = opposed to the 10-20 cm accumulation of decaying culms that one would = find in an established stand, and the rhizome density in the perimeter = 2-3 metres is 1/5 to 1/10 as dense as under an established stand (I dug = some established stand several years ago; very slowly).=20 So even if an established stand is mowed at the optimum time there = will be lots of potential shoot buds ready to replace them without = delay. To kill an established stand by mowing, it would likely be = necessary to keep mowing numerous times until the shoots became thin and = weak and repeat for as many years as it takes. It is interesting that burning (which presumably removes much of the = accumulated thatch of old culms) is effective. Could this expose the = rhizomes to heaving injury ? Speckeled Alder can be killed by cutting in August but you have to = be more determined than the Alder. The vigorous patch on a woods road = that I have in mind kept coming back for about 10 years. ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Lance Laviolette=20 To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca=20 Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2012 9:18 AM Subject: RE: [NatureNS] elephant grass Hi David and everyone, =20 Given Fred's information that Miscanthus giganteus is sterile and = spreads only slowly be rhizomes then mowing should be a fairly effective = control which further makes it a good target species to test carefully = for biomass suitability in Nova Scotia. I say test carefully because = there are certainly cases of supposed sterile garden plants that = suddenly become quite fertile as if by magic. Sometimes profit has a = nasty way of making people overlook unexpected behavior until it's too = late. =20 For the Eurasian subspecies of Phragmites that is firmly entrenched = along roadsides in the Montreal area, I've seen no suggestion that = mowing does anything except prevent the growth of small trees and shrubs = that precede the succession to a woodland. The stands usually get cut = twice a summer and they are showing no signs of diminishing. Repeated = burning appears to do the trick. I've seen burning used at one of the = local DU marshes and one season of burning did have some effect. =20 All the best, =20 Lance =20 =20 From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca = [mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] On Behalf Of David & Alison = Webster Sent: June-29-12 6:11 PM To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca Subject: Re: [NatureNS] elephant grass =20 Hi Lance & All, June 29, 2012 Phragmites acts as a very effective trap for wind blown seeds such = as Ash, Maple and no doubt conifers if there were trees within wind = reach. Phragmites may well become a monoculture if it is growing where = nothing else can but on other than marsh/swamp soils it will quickly = become woodland if there are forest trees nearby. Mowing the perimeter = twice a year, with a scythe, during the growing season prevents spread = of Phragmites by rhizomes. =20 Miscanthus would be planted on upland soils that can be mowed by = machine in the spring so spreading off of the field should not be a = problem, especially if there were a mowed perimeter (in the summer) = where spreading seems to be a potential threat. =20 Yt, Dave Webster, Kentville =20 No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.2180 / Virus Database: 2437/5092 - Release Date: = 06/25/12 ------=_NextPart_000_003F_01CD57C4.349B1E40 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML xmlns=3D"http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" xmlns:v =3D=20 "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o =3D=20 "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w =3D=20 "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m =3D=20 "http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml"><HEAD> <META content=3D"text/html; charset=3Diso-8859-1" = http-equiv=3DContent-Type> <META name=3DGENERATOR content=3D"MSHTML 8.00.6001.19258"> <STYLE>@font-face { font-family: Cambria Math; } @font-face { font-family: Calibri; } @font-face { font-family: Tahoma; } @page WordSection1 {size: 612.0pt 792.0pt; margin: 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt = 72.0pt; } P.MsoNormal { MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"; FONT-SIZE: = 12pt } LI.MsoNormal { MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"; FONT-SIZE: = 12pt } DIV.MsoNormal { MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"; FONT-SIZE: = 12pt } A:link { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-style-priority: 99 } SPAN.MsoHyperlink { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-style-priority: 99 } A:visited { COLOR: purple; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-style-priority: 99 } SPAN.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { COLOR: purple; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-style-priority: 99 } P { FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"; MARGIN-LEFT: 0cm; FONT-SIZE: = 12pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0cm; mso-style-priority: 99; mso-margin-top-alt: = auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto } P.MsoAcetate { MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; FONT-SIZE: = 8pt; mso-style-priority: 99; mso-style-link: "Balloon Text Char" } LI.MsoAcetate { MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; FONT-SIZE: = 8pt; mso-style-priority: 99; mso-style-link: "Balloon Text Char" } DIV.MsoAcetate { MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; FONT-SIZE: = 8pt; mso-style-priority: 99; mso-style-link: "Balloon Text Char" } SPAN.EmailStyle17 { FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri","sans-serif"; COLOR: #1f497d; mso-style-type: = personal } SPAN.BalloonTextChar { FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-style-priority: 99; = mso-style-link: "Balloon Text"; mso-style-name: "Balloon Text Char" } SPAN.EmailStyle21 { FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri","sans-serif"; COLOR: #1f497d; mso-style-type: = personal-reply } .MsoChpDefault { FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-style-type: export-only } DIV.WordSection1 { page: WordSection1 } </STYLE> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults v:ext=3D"edit" spidmax=3D"1026" /> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout v:ext=3D"edit"> <o:idmap v:ext=3D"edit" data=3D"1" /> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></HEAD> <BODY lang=3DEN-CA link=3Dblue bgColor=3Dwhite vLink=3Dpurple> <DIV><FONT size=3D2>Hi Lance & All, = =20 July 1,=20 2012</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2> My experience with containment of = Phragmites by mowing differs from eradication of a stand by routine = mowing in=20 several respects. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2> The perimeter of the two stands = includes=20 healthy dense lawn grass, spotty plant cover & formerly = cultivated and=20 thus largely bare soil. Even one mowing whenever convenient is overkill = where=20 grass is healthy and dense. The shoots that do come up are thin = with few=20 narrow leaves and rarely exceed 2' if left unmowed = Where=20 competition is light, the first crop of shoots to emerge are as = vigorous as=20 those in the established colony and I try to mow them when relatively = few shoots=20 exceed knee height to ensure that rhizome reserves are not replenished = by these=20 new shoots. Usually the second crop of shoots is nearly = as thin=20 and weak as the first crop in sod but I try to mow these before = extension growth=20 has halted. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2> In none of these perimeter areas = is there=20 thatch accumulation, as opposed to the 10-20 cm accumulation of decaying = culms=20 that one would find in an established stand, and the rhizome density in = the=20 perimeter 2-3 metres is 1/5 to 1/10 as dense as under an established = stand (I=20 dug some established stand several years ago; very = slowly). </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2> So even if an established = stand is=20 mowed at the optimum time there will be lots of potential shoot buds = ready to=20 replace them without delay. To kill an established stand by mowing, it = would=20 likely be necessary to keep mowing numerous times until the shoots = became thin=20 and weak and repeat for as many years as it takes.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2> It is interesting that burning = (which=20 presumably removes much of the accumulated thatch of old culms) is = effective.=20 Could this expose the rhizomes to heaving injury ?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3D2> Speckeled Alder can be killed by = cutting in=20 August but you have to be more determined than the Alder. The vigorous = patch on=20 a woods road that I have in mind kept coming back for about 10=20 years.</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE=20 style=3D"BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; = PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"=20 dir=3Dltr> <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV=20 style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B>=20 <A title=3Dcorvuscorax@sympatico.ca = href=3D"mailto:corvuscorax@sympatico.ca">Lance=20 Laviolette</A> </DIV> <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=3Dnaturens@chebucto.ns.ca=20 href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</A> = </DIV> <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, July 01, 2012 = 9:18 AM</DIV> <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: [NatureNS] = elephant=20 grass</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV class=3DWordSection1> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20 style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; = FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Hi=20 David and everyone,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20 style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; = FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20 style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; = FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Given=20 Fred=92s information that <I>Miscanthus giganteus</I> is sterile and = spreads=20 only slowly be rhizomes then mowing should be a fairly effective = control which=20 further makes it a good target species to test carefully for biomass=20 suitability in Nova Scotia. I say test carefully because there are = certainly=20 cases of supposed sterile garden plants that suddenly become quite = fertile as=20 if by magic. Sometimes profit has a nasty way of making people = overlook=20 unexpected behavior until it=92s too late.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20 style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; = FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20 style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; = FONT-SIZE: 11pt">For=20 the Eurasian subspecies of <I>Phragmites</I> that is firmly entrenched = along=20 roadsides in the Montreal area, I=92ve seen no suggestion that mowing = does=20 anything except prevent the growth of small trees and shrubs that = precede the=20 succession to a woodland. The stands usually get cut twice a summer = and they=20 are showing no signs of diminishing. Repeated burning appears to = do the=20 trick. I=92ve seen burning used at one of the local DU marshes and one = season of=20 burning did have some effect.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20 style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; = FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20 style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; = FONT-SIZE: 11pt">All=20 the best,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20 style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; = FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20 style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; = FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Lance<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20 style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; = FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20 style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; = FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <DIV> <DIV=20 style=3D"BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; = PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; PADDING-LEFT: 0cm; PADDING-RIGHT: 0cm; BORDER-TOP: = #b5c4df 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 3pt"> <P class=3DMsoNormal><B><SPAN=20 style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"=20 lang=3DEN-US>From:</SPAN></B><SPAN=20 style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt" = lang=3DEN-US>=20 naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] = <B>On=20 Behalf Of </B>David & Alison Webster<BR><B>Sent:</B> June-29-12 = 6:11=20 PM<BR><B>To:</B> naturens@chebucto.ns.ca<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: = [NatureNS]=20 elephant grass<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></DIV> <P class=3DMsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P> <DIV> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt" lang=3DEN-US>Hi = Lance &=20 All, =20 June 29, 2012</SPAN><SPAN=20 lang=3DEN-US><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt" = lang=3DEN-US> =20 Phragmites acts as a very effective trap for wind blown seeds such as = Ash,=20 Maple and no doubt conifers if there were trees within wind reach. = Phragmites=20 may well become a monoculture if it is growing where nothing else can = but on=20 other than marsh/swamp soils it will quickly become woodland if there = are=20 forest trees nearby. Mowing the perimeter twice a year, with a=20 scythe, during the growing season prevents spread = of Phragmites=20 by rhizomes.</SPAN><SPAN lang=3DEN-US><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN = lang=3DEN-US> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt" = lang=3DEN-US> =20 Miscanthus would be planted on upland soils that can be mowed by = machine in=20 the spring so spreading off of the field should not be a problem, = especially=20 if there were a mowed perimeter (in the summer) where spreading = seems to=20 be a potential threat.</SPAN><SPAN = lang=3DEN-US><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN = lang=3DEN-US> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt" lang=3DEN-US>Yt, = Dave Webster,=20 Kentville</SPAN><SPAN lang=3DEN-US><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV> <P style=3D"mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"=20 class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN = lang=3DEN-US><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P></DIV><A></A> <P align=3Dleft color=3D"#000000" avgcert??>No virus found in this=20 message.<BR>Checked by AVG - <A=20 href=3D"http://www.avg.com">www.avg.com</A><BR>Version: 2012.0.2180 / = Virus=20 Database: 2437/5092 - Release Date: = 06/25/12</P></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML> ------=_NextPart_000_003F_01CD57C4.349B1E40--
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