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Pest Management

Non-native Invasive Plants: Nandina domestica (Heavenly Bamboo)

November 18, 2022

Nandina domestica, Cathy Dewitt, (Wake County, NC) CC BY 4.0

As the long-lasting bright red berries form and the dark green foliage turns burgundy in autumn, heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica) shows off why it is a popular choice for a fast-growing shrub with four-season interest. The fact that these broadleaf evergreens thrive under many different soil, temperature, and light conditions, are deer resistant, and have few insect or disease problems is what makes them problematic as exotic invasive plants!

Nandina invading natural areas. Image by Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org

What’s the problem?
Landscape disturbance.
Although this Asian native was introduced to the United States in the early 1800s as a desirable ornamental shrub Nandina domestica spreads so quickly from both rhizomes and seeds that it is now invading much of the southeast. Dense clusters of Nandina domestica displace native vegetation and decrease light levels in forested areas.
Bird and mammal impact.
Birds and mammals disperse the hundreds of seeds these shrubs can produce to both developed and natural areas. Nandina berries contain cyanide that can reach toxic levels. Cedar waxwings consuming large quantities of the berries have died from cyanide poisoning. Domestic and grazing animals can also become ill from eating the berries.

Managing Nandina domestica in your garden to prevent its spread
Mechanical
You can hand pull new seedlings, and dig out shrubs, but you must remove all root fragments, so the plants won’t regenerate. Established plant removal is often difficult due to the shrubs’ extensive root systems. If you haven’t yet succeeded in removing mature plants, cut off the white flowers when they have faded before the berries form. If berries are already present, remove and dispose of them in the trash, not your compost pile.
Chemical
If having difficulty removing large shrubs, you can turn to herbicides, which may require several applications. The North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual recommendations for woody plant control include herbicides containing glyphosate and triclopyr. For most effective control of Nandina domestica, the USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station recommends foliar wetting with glyphosate mixed with a surfactant only from August to October. If you prefer to cut back the shrubs, use glyphosate or triclopyr mixed with a surfactant painted on freshly cut stumps shortly after making the cuts. To prevent run-off, make these stem cuts level and close to the ground. Always follow the label instructions for determining the application rate (percent solution) for either method.

Replacing Nandina domestica in your landscape
There are shorter, more compact varieties of Nandina domestica that produce few, if any, berries. Examples include ‘Fire Power’ 2 to 2 1⁄2 feet, ‘Gulfstream’ 3 to 3 1⁄2 feet, and ‘Obsession’ 3 to 4 feet tall and wide, respectively. Obviously, these selections won’t fill the same space and purpose as the original shrubs and if they do produce berries, the berries must be removed to prevent seeding. So, what are your alternatives? Many native shrubs can provide attractive substitutes for Nandina domestica. Recommendations for desirable, wildlife friendly shrubs include:

Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
  • Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
  • Dwarf Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii)
  • Smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens)
  • St. John’s Wort (Hypericum frondosum)
  • Inkberry (Ilex glabra)
  • Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
  • Arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum)

Article written by Carol Anne Reynolds, Extension Master GardenerSM Intern.

For more information:
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/nandina-domestica/
Invasiveness:
http://nc-ipc.weebly.com/nandina-domestica.html
Toxicity:
https://vet.uga.edu/toxicity-due-to-nandina-domestica-in-cedar-waxwings-bombycilla-cedroru/
Native alternatives:
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/ilex-verticillata/
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/fothergilla-gardenii/
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/hydrangea-arborescens/
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/hypericum-frondosum/
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/ilex-glabra/
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/juniperus-virginiana/
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/viburnum-dentatum/
Chemical control:
North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual:
https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/north-carolina-agricultural-chemicals-manual
A Management Guide for Invasive Plants in Southern Forests:
https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/gtr/gtr_srs131.pdf

 

 

 

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Categories Invasive Plants Tags heavenly bamboo, invasive plants, nandina, nandina domestica, non-native invasive plants

What’s There to Like about Weeding? Top 10 Reasons.

May 22, 2022

Pulling weeds may be one of the most universally disliked garden chores.  But a recent survey of Buncombe County Extension Master Gardeners uncovered some good reasons to appreciate (if not actually like) the job.

But before we reveal these Top 10 reasons, why is weeding important?  Weeds not only make a garden look messy, they compete for water, nutrients, and light that your plants need.  Weeds can harbor insect and disease pests that may spread to cultivated flowers, shrubs, and vegetables.  And ignored, weeds multiply rapidly to overwhelm your garden and make any extraction session more and more difficult.

Buncombe County Extension Agent, Alison Arnold, shares tips to help you win the battle against weeds in this April 21, 2022, article published in Better Homes & Gardens, “7 of the Worst Weeding Mistakes That Make Gardening Much Harder,” by Rita Pelczar.  https://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/garden-care/weeding-mistakes-to-avoid/?did=779004-20220512&cmp=bhggetgrowing_051222&utm_campaign=bhg-get-growing_newsletter&utm_source=bhg.com&utm_medium=email&utm_content=051222&cid=779004&mid=87090528438&lctg=39823821

And now, a countdown of 10 Reasons to like pulling weeds.

  1. EXERCISE. Believe it or not, I find pulling weeds to be good exercise!  Lunges and squats give my glutes a workout; hinging at the hips to bend over stretches my calves and hamstrings; and, navigating a steep slope while carefully stepping between plants improves my balance.
  1. AVOIDANCE. Weeding gets me out of the house while [fill in the blank] someone else cooks dinner!
  1. PERSONAL TIME. Weeding is my time to think and plan with no phone and no distractions.  It’s my personal, quiet time—just me and the singing birds.
  1. DISCOVERY. With my nose close to the ground, I discover emerging plants that are not weeds and become garden treasures.  Some of these volunteers that now thrive in my garden are native flame azaleas, downy rattlesnake plantain, blue-eyed grass, Solomon’s seal, and a ten-foot-tall American holly that I discovered when it was only a one-inch seedling.
  1. NEXT STEPS. The slow pace of weeding lets me identify other garden needs for my “to do” list–diseased plants, bad insects, future pruning or transplanting jobs.
  1. INTERACTIVE. Weeding lets me get up close and personal with my plants.  I find that I appreciate them more and am ready to tackle more weeds the next day.
  1. CARETAKING. I like knowing that all the water and nutrients that my garden needs will now be going to help the plants I love, and not the weeds.
  1. NATURE. I like to weed because it gives me quiet time in the sunshine when I can really listen to what is going on in the garden—bees humming, birds chirping, the wind blowing through the leaves. It’s a win-win to enjoy nature while tidying up the garden.
  1. ACCOMPLISHMENT. I have a feeling of accomplishment when the weeding’s done.  I’m a bit compulsive and this fills a need to tackle and complete a job.
  1. APPEARANCE. I especially like how nice everything looks after the weeding is done.  Weeding is like washing and putting away dishes and wiping down the counters.  It helps things look tidy and the things that really matter can shine and be seen.

Now that you’re feeling slightly more enthusiastic about weeding, do approach it wisely.  Tolerate some weedy growth as beneficial to the survival of pollinators, honeybees, and ultimately our food crops.  Flowering weeds, like clover, dandelion, henbit, and hairy fleabane, provide food sources for pollinators in early spring.  Protect bees and other pollinators by avoiding insecticides.  Reduce lawn size and opt for pollinator-friendly, native plants instead.  Designate a small area of your landscape where weeds like goldenrod, bee balm, Joe pye, and milkweed can flourish.  Be weed-wise for the bees.

Want to learn more about how to identify and effectively manage weeds in your garden?  Check out these resources:

From NC State Extension:

  • Plant Toolbox:  Weed Profiles
  • Extension Gardener Handbook:  Weeds Chapter
  • Gardening Portal:  Weed Resources

From other Extension services:

  • Learn to Read Your Weeds: lsuagcenter.com/profiles/rbogren/articles/page1563547396748
  • Reading the Weeds: gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/care/weeds-and-invasive-plants/reading-the-weeds.html
  • What Can Weeds Tell Me About My Garden Soil? extension.unh.edu/blog/2019/06/what-can-weeds-tell-me-about-my-garden-soil

Thanks to the following Master Gardener volunteers for their weedy musings:  Carol Brown, Nancy Good, Catherine Pawlik, and Carol Anne Reynolds.  And also to our Extension Agent, Alison Arnold.

Article written by Beth Leonard, Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteer.

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Categories Weeds Tags soil-full musings, weeds

Gardening Video: Understanding Natural and Organic Pesticide Options

January 17, 2022

Gardening in the Mountains presents:
Understanding Natural and Organic Pesticide Options

Check out the latest gardening video on the Buncombe County Master Gardener website. This presentation will outline the use of natural and organic pesticides including soaps and oils, botanicals, minerals, and biopesticides (microbials). Pests are any unwanted living organism found in your home, garden or landscape. While a good pest management plan will start with preventative, cultural and other non-chemical methods, a pesticide may also be considered. Selection guidelines, proper use and reasons for pesticide failures will be discussed. To access this video, click on the link below:

Understanding Natural and Organic Pesticide Options

Or go to www.buncombemastergardener.org , click on the ‘Gardening Videos’ tab at the top of the page, and select the video from the list provided.

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Categories General Gardening, Pest Management, Pesticides Tags organic pesticides

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