Border Privet- Ligustrum obtusifoliumForest invader!

Privet may persist, long-term, in fields where it grew under trees that have been removed.

Privet: How it starts.

Above: First year

Right: Second year

(Flowering occurs third year or later.)

Adolescent privet, eager to flower!

Privet in flower – The fragrancedelights some, distresses others.

Thanks, Google images!

Privet has opposite leaves and opposite branching (and may be evolving thorns).

Herbicided young privet Dormant mature privet

A variety of pollinators love privet!

http://asuburbanwilderness.blogspot.com/2011_06_01_archive.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bienenwabe/4352223984/

Birds very effectively disperse privet seeds.

An American robin repeatedly flies up to grab mouthfuls of Japanese privet berries, as in this picture from North Carolina

http://charlestonscphotoblog.com/

Border privet berries in early December, Shaw Nature Reserve. Fruiting twiglets later fall to leave thorn-like growths.

So, how do we kill privet?

• Prescribed burning (+ or -)

• Cut stump and basal treatments (mostly -)

• Aerial spraying (+ or -)

• Individual foliar treatment (mostly +)

Prescribed burningPro:-- Fire top-kills privet, weakening it, and preventing flowering/fruiting for 2-4 years.-- Fire may stimulate next season’s growth and reproduction of natives.

Con:-- Fire does not kill privet.-- Fire creates bare ground on which newly dispersed privet seeds may germinate.

Note: Mowing/brush-hogging effects roughly comparable in efficacy.

Cut stump and basal treatments

Pro:-- Cutting mature plants near the base top-kills privet, weakening it, and preventing flowering/fruiting for 2-4 years.-- This can favor next season’s growth and reproduction of natives.

Con:-- Dormant season cut-stump herbiciding does not kill privet, even with picloram-2,4,D!!!-- It may work during growing season (not tried), but this can harm other growing plants.

Aerial spraying

Sprayed 15 Nov. 2011

Photo: 18 Apr. 2012

(Died soon after.)

Pro:-- Can treat a large, heavily- infested area efficiently.-- Depending on timing, possibly selective for killing younger plants, which retain foliage longer.

Con:-- Weather, season restrictions.-- Depending on timing, possibly selective for killing younger plants, which retain foliage longer.-- If co-ocurring with Amur honeysuckle, timing is tricky, because they retain foliage longer.-- Kills other plants green at the same time, e.g. sedges, phlox.

Individual foliar treatment

Google images “backpack sprayer”

Pro:-- With care, can be targeted specifically, good for spotty or sparse infestations.-- Kills any-age privet plant that is properly treated.-- Can be opportunistically directed at other invasive plants that co-occur.-- Good job for dependable, knowledgeable volunteers.-- Results visible in a few days.-- Some formulations highly effective!

Con:-- Weather restrictions (rain, too cold, too hot).-- Labor-intensive and uncomfortable.-- Kills other green plants that receive spray drift.

Save the world: Trim your hedges

But the privet can get the better of you, so maybe better simply not to plant it.http://www.ehow.com/facts_7726376_privet-hedge-reproduce.html

http://annkschin.blogspot.com/2011/12/save-world-trim-your-hedges.html

Seriously, though . . .

• Hand pulling or using a brush-wrench are effective but labor-intensive, and hard on the back.

• Prescribed fire or brush-hogging on a 2-3 year interval will control flowering/fruiting. Hot fire may kill seedlings and very small saplings outright.

• The only thing that seems effectively to kill privet is growing-season foliar herbicide treatments.– Backpack spraying, 4-5% glyphosate– Backpack spraying, 2% glyphosate + 0.5% triclopyr– Aerial spraying, large droplets, 12% glyphosate +

appropriate surfactant (about 0.75 gallons of concentrate/acre)

Goats, anyone?

http://www.cmkikogoats.com/Brush_Busters.html