A to the ControlGuide and Management phragmitesINVASIVE A Guide to the Control and Management of invasive phragmites Partial funding for this program is supported by a Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government. understanding phragmites control methods recommended management strategies further information part 1 part 2 part 3 part 4 Table of Content Introduction 1 Understanding Control Methods 9 Recommended A Call to Action 33 Phragmites 3 Management Strategies Herbicides 11 List of Authors 34 23 The Problem 3 Table 1. Contact Information 35 …for Large, Dense Illustration of the nonna- Herbicide Application Stands of Phragmites on Reference Information 35 tive phragmites plant 4 Information 11 a Wet or Dry Site 24 Acknowledgments 37 Plant Description 5 Table 2. …for Large, Dense Herbicide Application Native Phragmites 5 Stands of Phragmites in Methods 12 Impoundments 25 Life Cycle 7 Prescribed Fire 15 …for Low-Density Mechanical Treatment Stands of Phragmites on 17 a Wet or Dry Site 26 Water Level Management Table 3. “Flooding” 21 Management Strategies 27 Long-Term Management and Monitoring 29 understanding phragmites control methods recommended management strategies further information part 1 part 2 part 3 part 4 1 Introduction An aggressive, nonnative variety of phragmites (Phragmites australis), also known as common reed, is threatening the ecological health of Michigan wetlands and coastal shorelines. This invasive variety of phragmites is agers’ on-the-ground experience, to becoming widespread throughout the control the nonnative variety of phrag- Because this guide discusses tools Great Lakes and is displacing the native mites, hereafter referred to simply as that are not readily applied by the variety of the same species, as well as phragmites. Control of phragmites is many other native plants. Near-mono- one step toward a greater goal of restor- average landowner, it is intended typic stands of this phragmites have ing native wetland plant communities replaced high-quality, complex commu- and protecting fish and wildlife habitat. primarily for land or resource man- nities of native plants over thousands of The easiest way to control phragmites is agers from agencies, organizations, acres of Michigan wetlands and coastal to begin a control program as soon as it areas. The rapid expansion of this variety is observed on your property, before and businesses and extension agents or of phragmites has resulted in adverse the plants become well established. ecological, economic and social impacts In many areas, especially those with others in a similar position. on the natural resources and people of established phragmites, complete eradi- the Great Lakes. cation may not be achievable. However, through periodic management, it is The goal of this guide is to provide possible to maintain phragmites infesta- information about effective methods to tions at levels that allow for regeneration control and manage phragmites. This of native wetland plant communities guide presents a compilation of tech- and protection of fish and wildlife niques, based on four years of research habitat. and more than 10 years of land man- left: Dense stand of phragmites that has displaced native vegetation. B. Avers understanding phragmites control methods recommended management strategies further information part 1 part 2 part 3 part 4 3 The Problem Once phragmites invades, it causes adverse ecological, economic and social impacts including: Understanding * Threats to coastal and interior Phragmites wetlands, which are Michigan’s most biologically diverse and To better control and manage phragmites it is helpful to understand productive ecosystems. the physical characteristics of the plant, as well as how and when * Domination of native vegetation, it reproduces and spreads. displacing desirable native plant species such as sedges, rushes and In Michigan, phragmites is found grow- Phragmites continues to expand within cattails, and reduction of plant ing in coastal and interior marshes, Michigan, in part because it reproduces diversity. bogs, fens, swamps, lake margins, road- through wind dispersal of seeds and vig- * Reduction of wildlife habitat side ditches and other low wet areas. orous vegetative reproduction through diversity resulting in loss of Typically it prefers the wetland-upland rhizomes. Rhizomes broken by natural food and shelter. interface, though it can be found in dry actions, such as waves, or man-made * Alteration of water regime, uplands. actions, such as dredging or disking, causing “drying” of marsh soils readily reroot in new locations. Rapid through increased evaporation expansion also is facilitated by other dis- and trapping of sediments. turbances that give phragmites a compet- itive edge, such as discharge of nutrients, * Reduction of property values wetland drainage, fire and road salt. due to use impairment. * Restriction of shoreline views due to tall, dense stands. * Reduction of access for swimming, fishing and hunting. * Creation of potentially serious fire on page 2: Tall, dense stand of phragmites restricting views and access to water, hazard to structures due to dry and creating potential fire danger. J. Schafer biomass during the dormant season. Illustration of the nonnative phragmites plant [USDA NRCS plants database] seed head plumes purple-brown-silver; 6-20 inches long and up to 8 inches broad flat, stiff leaves 0.5–2.0 inches wide near the base, tapering to a point at the end rhizome horizontal, underground stem; sends out roots and shoots from its nodes Nonnative (background, left; dark leaves) and native phragmites (front, right; light green leaves) at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, NY. B. Blossey, Cornell University understanding phragmites control methods recommended management strategies further information part 1 part 2 part 3 part 4 5 Native Plant Description Phragmites Phragmites is a perennial, warm season grass that can grow in dense typically has the following stands and is long living. distinguishing traits: Plants can reach 15 feet in height, yet Before attempting to control phragmites * Stems are reddish in the spring more than 80 percent of the yearly bio- it is important to be able to identify the and summer and are smooth, mass is contained below ground in a native phragmites and other native plants shiny and flexible, while nonnative dense mass of roots and rhizomes. Stalks that grow under similar conditions in phragmites stems are tan and support flat, stiff leaves that are 0.5–2.0 Michigan’s coastal and interior wetlands. rough, dull and rigid. inches wide near the base, tapering to a Field guides and other resources can be * Leaves of native phragmites point at the end. Phragmites has gray- used to identify other wetland plants, are lighter yellow-green, green foliage during the growing season, and a website through Cornell University as opposed to dark blue-green. with distinctive purple-brown-silver seed (http://www.invasiveplants.net/phragmites/ * Rhizomes rarely exceed head plumes appearing by late July. phrag/morph.htm) can be used to identify 15 millimeters in diameter These plumes form at the end of stalks, native and nonnative phragmites. and are yellow, as opposed to are 6-20 inches long and up to 8 inches white to light yellow. broad, and have many branches. Phragmites turns tan in the fall and most Co-occurs with other plants, * leaves drop off, leaving only the stalk and while nonnative phragmites plume-topped shoot throughout winter. typically grows as a monoculture. Dorm ant Jan ed h ec Fe S D b d e e S & v M s o e a N r m G o z e i r h m R i n o t t a c r t d p i O o o A n o F S e y p a M F lo w A e ug n ri Ju n th g Ju w & l ro Se G ed ve Se ati t eget Primary V understanding phragmites control methods recommended management strategies further information part 1 part 2 part 3 part 4 7 Life Cycle Phragmites reproduces through rhizomes, horizontal stems growing under the ground. Rhizomes generate roots and stalks at Mature plants produce as many as 2,000 regularly spaced nodes. An individual seeds annually. Germination occurs in plant can multiply into a large stand the spring, generally on exposed moist through its rhizomes. Rhizomes may soils. Although seed viability is consid- exceed 60 feet in length, grow more than ered low and germination is a slower 6 feet per year and readily grow into new process than spreading by rhizome frag- plants when fragmented. ments, new stands of phragmites will develop from seed. Water depths greater In addition to facilitating reproduction, than 2 inches typically prevent germina- phragmites rhizomes can penetrate the soil tion of seeds. to a depth of more than 6 feet. This allows the plant to reach low-lying groundwater Effective control of phragmites hinges and tolerate a variety of conditions, upon attacking the right portion of the including dry upland sites and wetlands plant at the proper times within the life with water depths exceeding 2 feet. cycle to slow or stop current and future growth. left: Approximate timing of the life cycle stages of phragmites throughout the year. Photos: D. Avers. understanding phragmites control methods recommended management strategies further information part 1 part 2 part 3 part 4 9 Control Methods Control programs can result in significant reduction of phragmites, but this requires commitment to an integrated approach and a long- This section will provide an overview term management strategy. of four broad control methods and Few techniques are fully effective when The use of herbicide treatment(s) recommendations based on field used alone, and reinvasion by phrag- (initial and spot treatments) is recom- mites is likely when the management mended as the primary control method experience.