How to Kill a Tree Revisited (or a shrub)

, delivery, timing Ron Rathfon, Extension Forester Forestry/Silviculture = managing vegetation (today much of it non-native invasive)

Historical Perspective

Why talk about?

Spring--Burning Trees in a Girdled Clearing, Western Scene - George Harvey (1801–1878) Forestry/Silviculture = managing vegetation (today much of it non-native invasive)

Historical Perspective Li’l Beaver - SIPAC Forestry/Silviculture = managing vegetation (today much of it non-native invasive)

Historical Perspective 1929 – Practice of Silviculture (Hawley) text book mentions sodium arsenite as a silvicide.

inorganic Forestry/Silviculture = managing vegetation (today much of it non-native invasive)

Historical Perspective 1937 – Practice of Silviculture, 4th ed (Hawley) text book describes how injecting sodium arsenite improves control over felling or girdling. Forestry Herbicides (Silvicides)

Historical Perspective 1944 – 2,4-D 1949 – 2,4,5-T (component of agent orange) 1958 – 1960 – (Tordon 101) 1971 – (Roundup) 1975 – (Garlon) 1978 – (Arsenal, Chopper) 1983 – metsulfuron methyl (Escort) 2005 – (Milestone) Delivery

Historical Perspective Jim Gem injector

Hypo-hatchet

Hack-’n-squirt

Bugwood.org Bugwood.org Herbicide Delivery

Historical Perspective Basal Bark

Peter Smallidge Herbicide Delivery

Historical Perspective Development of light-weight chainsaws

Windermere District Historical Society Choices! Which chemical? At what rate? Which delivery method? To which species? Target size? At what time? What equipment? Accessibility?

Peter Smallidge No Silver Bullet - No one treatment will do it all! Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) Current Recommendations Label – extensive research (not all inclusive) Company sales reps Individual and collective experience Applied research Current Recommendations Individual and collective experience Applied research

USDA Forest Service GTR SRS-131 A Management Guide for Invasive Plants in Southern Forests Purdue FNR-IDNR-414 Forest Improvement Handbook Current Recommendations Individual and collective experience Applied research

USDA Forest Service GTR NRS-96 Manual Herbicide Application Methods for Managing Vegetation in Appalachian Hardwood Forests Current Recommendations Much of my applied research in response to questions from field foresters and my own experience

D.M. Smith The Practice of Silviculture 7th Ed., 1962 Stem/StumpTreatments Asian Bush Honeysuckle Herbicide Trial Vigo County Parks –Keith Ruble 1 F=4.18, p=0.0009 Jan/Feb 2003 0.9 0.8 Crew - 2 0.7 Pathway herbicide 0.6 (picloram + 2,4-D) – RTU, 0.5 Garlon 4 (triclopyr ester) + 0.4 0.3 basal oil 0.2 Proportion Shrubs Proportion Killed 0.1 0 01-2’ 22-4.5’ 4.53-8’ 48’+

Height Class

Foliar Basal Bark Cut Stump

Size of target plants matters! Stem/StumpTreatments Asian Bush Honeysuckle Basal Bark Timing Trial Vigo County Parks – Keith Ruble, Don Carlson Jul 2004 – May 2005 Treatments: 20% Garlon 4 (triclopyr ester) 1% Stalker (imazapyr ester) 20% Garlon 4 + 1% Stalker 3% Stalker Herbicide Treatments

15% Garlon 4 + 3% Stalker 1 All in basal oil 0.9 0.8 0.7 20% T 0.6 1% I Seasonal variation 0.5 20% T + 1% I 0.4 3% I Volatilization 0.3 o 15% T + 3% I 0.2 91.9 F Proportion BHS Killed BHS Proportion 0.1 0 Jul-04 Sep- Nov- Jan- Mar- May- 04 04 05 05 05 Stem/StumpTreatments Operational treatment – SIPAC Asian Bush Honeysuckle/Autumn Olive/Multiflora Rose Winter 2011/12 Crew – 2 Brush saw Sideswipe applicator 50% Garlon 3A (triclopyr amine) ~ 40-50% control = death (no sprouts) Stem/StumpTreatments Cut Surface Timing Trial SIPAC Asian Bush Honeysuckle/Autumn Olive October 2013 – Sept 2014 chainsaw Spray bottles ~1/2 – 1 ml/in. dia.

Herbicides: Pathway (picloram + 2,4-D) 50% Garlon 3A (triclopyr amine) 50% glyphosate 50% glyphosate + antifreeze (Dec – Mar) 20% Garlon 4 (triclopyr ester) + basal oil Control Stem/StumpTreatments Cut Surface Timing Trial SIPAC Asian Bush Honeysuckle/Autumn Olive Where plants survive, no. sprouts and height October 2013 – Sept 2014 much less than control BHS Control 100 90 80 70

(%) 60 50 40 Control 30 20 10 0 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep 50%PIC+D 50%TRI-AM 50%GLY 50%GLY+AF 20%TRI-ES CONTROL Stem/StumpTreatments Cut Surface Timing Trial SIPAC Asian Bush Honeysuckle/Autumn Olive Where plants survive, no. sprouts and height October 2013 – Sept 2014 much less than control AO Control 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 Control (%) 30 20 10 0 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep 50%PIC+D 50%TRI-AM 50%GLY 50%GLY+AF 20%TRI-ES CONTROL Stem/StumpTreatments Midstory Removal Method Trial 1 SIPAC, Dubois Co. Sugar maple, beech, misc. – 1-15 in. dbh July 2006 Basal bark 20% Garlon 4 (triclopyr ester) Injection (modified shingle hammer) + Pathway Chainsaw girdle + Pathway (picloram + 2,4-D) Stem/StumpTreatments Midstory Removal Method Trial 1 SIPAC, Dubois Co. Sugar maple, beech, misc. – 1-15 in. dbh July 2006 Basal bark 20% Garlon 4 (triclopyr ester) Injection (modified shingle hammer) + Pathway Chainsaw girdle + Pathway (picloram + 2,4-D)

Basal bark – most rapid mortality • 89% 4 MAT • 98% 12 MAT Stem/StumpTreatments Midstory Removal Method Trial 1 SIPAC, Dubois Co. Sugar maple, beech, misc. – 1-15 in. dbh July 2006 Basal bark 20% Garlon 4 (triclopyr ester) Injection (modified shingle hammer) + Pathway Chainsaw girdle + Pathway (picloram + 2,4-D)

Injection • 77% 4 MAT • 89% 12 MAT Stem/StumpTreatments Midstory Removal Method Trial 1 SIPAC, Dubois Co. Sugar maple, beech, misc. – 1-15 in. dbh July 2006 Basal bark 20% Garlon 4 (triclopyr ester) Injection (modified shingle hammer) + Pathway Chainsaw girdle + Pathway (picloram + 2,4-D)

Chainsaw girdle + herbicide • 78% 4 MAT • 91% 12 MAT Stem/StumpTreatments Midstory Removal Method Trial 1 SIPAC, Dubois Co. Sugar maple, beech, misc. – 1-15 in. dbh July 2006 Basal bark 20% Garlon 4 (triclopyr ester) Injection (modified shingle hammer) + Pathway Chainsaw girdle + Pathway (picloram + 2,4-D)

1 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.6 INJ 0.5 SAW 0.4 Surviving 0.3 BAS

Proportion Stems Stems Proportion 0.2 CON 0.1 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 MAT Stem/StumpTreatments Midstory Removal Method Trial 1 SIPAC, Dubois Co. Sugar maple, beech, misc. – 1-15 in. dbh July 2006 Basal bark 20% Garlon 4 (triclopyr ester) Injection (modified shingle hammer) + Pathway Chainsaw girdle + Pathway (picloram + 2,4-D) Cost: Treatment $/dia. inch $/ ft2 BA $/acre basal bark 0.19 8.69 158.48 injection 0.08 3.47 79.61 saw girdle 0.10 3.49 83.75

Triclopyr ester volatilization non-target damage Stem/StumpTreatments Chainsaw Girdle Method Trial Ferdinand State Forest, Perry Co. Blackgum, hickory, sugar maple – 4-14 in. dbh, mean = 7.4 in. Feb 2007 With or without herbicide: Chainsaw girdle Hickory – top kill within 1st growing season 50% Garlon 3A (triclopyr amine) Sugar maple – top kill within 2 growing seasons Treatment Double Single girdle girdle Single + Double + Species girdle herbicide girdle herbicide 2 P ------Stem Mortality (%) ------blackgum 21 b 95 a 29 b 89 a 78.02 < 0.001 hickory sp. 90 100 100 100 7.30 0.063 sugar maple 100 100 97 100 1.82 0.611 ------Tree Mortality (%) ------blackgum 17 24 8 26 5.57 0.134 hickory sp. 40 b 81 ab 71 ab 91 a 13.54 0.004 sugar maple 100 100 97 100 1.82 0.611 ------Sprouting frequency (%) ------blackgum 83 71 92 73 7.12 0.068 hickory sp. 50 b 19 ab 29 ab 9 a 9.73 0.021 sugar maple 0 0 0 0 0.00 1.000 Stem/StumpTreatments Midstory Removal Method Trial 2 TNC – Brown, Harrison Co., Purdue – Putnam Co. Sugar maple, beech, misc. – 2-22 in. dbh Jan/Feb 2008/09 Treatments: Chainsaw single girdle/felling 50% & 100% Glyphosate 50 % Garlon 3 A (triclopyr amine) Pathway (picloram+2,4-D) Double girdle/felling, no herbicide Injection (modified shingle hammer) 50% & 100% Glyphosate 50% Garlon 3 A (triclopyr amine) Pathway (picloram+2,4-D) Basal bark 25, 20, 15, & 10% Garlon 4+ oil (triclopyr ester) Stem/StumpTreatments Midstory Removal Method Trial 2 TNC – Brown, Harrison Co., Purdue – Putnam Co. Sugar maple, beech, misc. – 2-22 in. dbh Jan/Feb 2008/09 Sugar Maple Top Kill and Control Across All DBH Classes and Tracts End of 2nd growing season 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 Control (%) 20 10 0

Top Killed Stems (%) Dead Stems (%) Stem/StumpTreatments Midstory Removal Method Trial 2 TNC – Brown, Harrison Co., Purdue – Putnam Co. Sugar maple, beech, misc. – 2-22 in. dbh Jan/Feb 2008/09 Beech Top Kill and Control Across All DBH Classes and Tracts End of 2nd growing season 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 Control (%) 20 10

0 Only 10 in+ beech

Top Killed Stems (%) Dead Stems (%) Foliar Treatments Asian Bush Honeysuckle Herbicide Trial Vigo County Parks –Keith Ruble Nov 2002 – April 2003 4% Glyphosate, Low Volume Backpack Nov. 4, 2002

Mortality F=12.2, p=0.0002, α=0.05 a a 1 a a a 0.8

0.6

0.4 Proportion 0.2 b 0

SprTriclo SprGlyph FalTriclo FalGlyph

SprTriclo+Imaz FalTriclo+Imaz

Mortality GT 50% Damage LT 50% Damage Foliar Treatments Asian Bush Honeysuckle Herbicide Trial Vigo County Parks –Keith Ruble Nov 2002 – April 2003

5% Glyphosate, Low Volume Backpack Apr 11, 2003

Mortality F=12.2, p=0.0002, α=0.05 a a 1 a a a 0.8

0.6

0.4 Proportion 0.2 b 0

SprTriclo SprGlyph FalTriclo FalGlyph

SprTriclo+Imaz FalTriclo+Imaz

Mortality GT 50% Damage LT 50% Damage Foliar Treatments Asian Bush Honeysuckle Herbicide Trial Vigo County Parks –Keith Ruble Nov 2002 – April 2003

4% Garlon 3A (triclopyr amine) Low Volume Backpack Apr 4, 2003

Mortality F=12.2, p=0.0002, α=0.05 a a 1 a a a 0.8

0.6

0.4 Proportion 0.2 b 0

SprTriclo SprGlyph FalTriclo FalGlyph

SprTriclo+Imaz FalTriclo+Imaz

Mortality GT 50% Damage LT 50% Damage Foliar Treatments Asian Bush Honeysuckle Herbicide Trial Vigo County Parks –Keith Ruble Nov 2002 – April 2003

4% Garlon 3A (triclopyr amine) Low Volume Backpack Nov 4, 2002

Mortality F=12.2, p=0.0002, α=0.05 a a 1 a a a 0.8

0.6

0.4 Proportion 0.2 b 0

SprTriclo SprGlyph FalTriclo FalGlyph

SprTriclo+Imaz FalTriclo+Imaz

Mortality GT 50% Damage LT 50% Damage Foliar Treatments Asian Bush Honeysuckle Late Fall Timing Herbicide Trial SIPAC, Dubois, Co. Nov 7-21, 2005

1% glyphosate High Volume Tractor Nov 8, 2005

1.00 0.90 0.80 0.70 7-Nov 0.60 0.50 14-Nov 0.40 0.30 21-Nov 0.20

Proportion Killed 0.10 0.00

1%glyph 2%glyph 4%glyph 0.5% imaz 0.25% imaz 0.125% imaz

1% glyph+0.125% imaz Foliar Treatments Foliar Herbicide Timing Trial SIPAC, Dubois Co. Autumn olive, Amur honeysuckle, Japanese honeysuckle, multiflora rose May 2015 – May 2017 Treatments: Monthly applications to all species 2% 2,4-D + 1% dicamba (amine) 1.5% Crossbow (triclopyr ester + 2,4-D ester) 4 oz./100 gal. Escort (metsulfuron methyl) 8 oz./100 gal. Escort (metsulfuron methyl) 1% glyphosate 2% glyphosate 4% glyphosate 1% Garlon 3A (triclopyr amine) 2% Garlon 3A (triclopyr amine) 4% Garlon 3A (triclopyr amine) Foliar Treatments Foliar Herbicide Timing Trial SIPAC, Dubois Co. Autumn olive, Amur honeysuckle, Japanese honeysuckle, multiflora rose May 2015 – Apr 2016

SPP & Timing (May-Oct) Combined 1 YAT 100.0 80.0 60.0 40.0 Control (%) 20.0 0.0 Foliar Treatments Foliar Herbicide Timing Trial SIPAC, Dubois Co. Autumn olive, Amur honeysuckle, Japanese honeysuckle, multiflora rose May 2016 – Apr 2017 AO Control 1 MAT 100 90 80 70 60 50

Control (%) Control 40 30 20 10 0 May-16 Jun-16 Jul-16 Aug-16 Sep-16 Oct-16 Nov-16 Mar-17 Apr-17 2,4-D+DIC CRSBW ESC4 ESC8 GLY1 GLY2 GLY4 TRI1 TRI2 TRI4 Foliar Treatments Foliar Herbicide Timing Trial SIPAC, Dubois Co. Autumn olive, Amur honeysuckle, Japanese honeysuckle, multiflora rose

May 2016 – Apr 2017 AO Control 1 YAT 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 Control (%) Control 30 20 10 0 May-16 Jun-16 Jul-16 Aug-16 Sep-16 Oct-16 Nov-16 Mar-17 Apr-17 2,4-D+DIC CRSBW ESC4 ESC8 GLY1 GLY2 GLY4 TRI1 TRI2 TRI4 Foliar Treatments Foliar Herbicide Timing Trial SIPAC, Dubois Co. Autumn olive, Amur honeysuckle, Japanese honeysuckle, multiflora rose May 2015 – Apr 2016 BHS Control 1 YAT 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 Control (%) Control 30 20 10 0 May-15 Jun-15 Jul-15 Aug-15 Sep-15 Oct-15 Nov-15 Mar-16 Apr-16 2,4-D+DIC CRSBW ESC4 ESC8 GLY1 GLY2 GLY4 TRI1 TRI2 TRI4 Foliar Treatments Foliar Herbicide Timing Trial SIPAC, Dubois Co. Autumn olive, Amur honeysuckle, Japanese honeysuckle, multiflora rose May 2016 – Apr 2017 MFR Control 1 YAT 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 Control (%) Control 30 20 10 0

ESC4 ESC8 Foliar Treatments Foliar Herbicide Timing Trial SIPAC, Dubois Co. Autumn olive, Amur honeysuckle, Japanese honeysuckle, multiflora rose May 2016 – Apr 2017

MFR Control 1 YAT 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 Control (%) Control 30 20 10 0

GLY1 GLY2 GLY4 Foliar Treatments Foliar Herbicide Timing Trial SIPAC, Dubois Co. Autumn olive, Amur honeysuckle, Japanese honeysuckle, multiflora rose May 2016 – Apr 2017 MFR Control 1 YAT 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 Control (%) Control 30 20 10 0

TRI1 TRI2 TRI4 Foliar Treatments Foliar Herbicide Timing Trial SIPAC, Dubois Co. Autumn olive, Amur honeysuckle, Japanese honeysuckle, multiflora rose May 2016 – Apr 2017 Non-ionic surfactant (NIS) – ¼% Methylated seed oil (MSO) – 1% Optimize Prescriptions:

Herbicide Herbicide Rate Delivery Method(s) Species Size Distribution Timing OR Silver Bullet? Keep good records: Visit treatment site ~ one year after treatment to assess long term effectiveness. District Foresters

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Indiana licensed applicators

SAFETY Ron Rathfon, Extension Forester 812-678-5049 [email protected]

Still learning, but happy to share! Get in touch!