Invasive Plant Cleanup Marathon at Multiple HHLT Preserves
From September 4 through October 14, 2024, teams of dedicated HIPP volunteers conducted a Fall marathon of invasive plant cleanup workdays at multiple Harpswell Heritage Land Trust (HHLT) preserves. Fall is a particularly productive time to combat certain invasive plant species because they are more visible from their Fall leaf color, or presence of Fall flowers, berries, and seed pods.
HIPP has conducted workdays like this for nearly fifteen years and with them demonstrates that consistent ongoing management of invasive plant species succeeds in reducing the burden of these plants on Harpswell lands. It is an effort that continues though, and HIPP relies entirely on volunteer support for this important work and its positive impact.
HHLT Preserves that were included in this effort were:
- Johnson Field – 9/4 and 9/27
- Houghton Graves – 9/30
- Otter Brook – 10/2 and 10/4
- Anna M Tondreau – 10/3
- Curtis Farm – 10/14
Of particular note is that volunteers dedicated over two workdays each at both Johnson Field and Otter Brook Preserves due to larger infestations. Also, this was the first HIPP workday for the Anna M. Tondreau Preserve, HHLT’s newest. HIPP conducted an invasive plant survey at Tondreau Preserve earlier this summer to determine the baseline extent of invasive plants.
Across the preserves HIPP volunteers removed multiple invasive plant species including Bittersweet, Bull Thistle, Japanese Barberry, Spotted Knapweed, Shrub Honeysuckle, Knotweed, and Multiflora Rose.
HIPP uses multiple approaches to combat different invasive plant species. Some plants can be dug up or clipped back and safely left on site. Other plants are able to resprout from cuttings or if they have seeds or berries. Gardeners must bag up and dispose of these difficult plants. Gardeners may also carefully dab the freshly cut stems of difficult plants such as bittersweet with herbicide if they are more than 25 feet from streams or shorelines.
For more information on how to become involved with HIPP please email [email protected].
HIPP volunteers with bags of plant material at Johnson Field
Volunteers prepping for work at Anna M Tondreau Preserve
Volunteers working on a bittersweet-covered tree at Anna M Tondreau Preserve