Birchbank Stiltgrass Removal
Teresa Gallagher
Here’s a video I took this week at the far end of Birchbank (near the lower Scout bridge) that used to be an ash grove but is now getting a lot of sun since all the ash died. The invasives predictably taken over and tree seedlings and shrubs are being smothered. Most of the lower flat area is owned by Aquarion, but the hiking trail and hillside are owned by the City. Stiltgrass and garlic mustard both interfere with the trails because they grow so fast and flop over onto the trail (they can be five feet tall), and their seeds are tracked up and down the trails by hiker’s boots (both are annuals/biennials, so it’s important to get them before they go to seed). Therefore, my first goal at Birchbank has been to remove these invasives alongside the trail so their seeds aren’t being spread by hikers. Second is to pull the invasives away from native plants (lots of bittersweet choking off spicebush) so they can grow, and third is to reduce the seed bank. As a reminder, Birchbank has a lot of plant species that are rare in our region due to its geology.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wNNG6Wzk-4
Teresa Gallagher
Natural Resources Manager
City of Shelton
54 Hill Street, Shelton, CT 06484