| habit prefers wet areas, but will grow in any disturbed site
control cutting will cause resprouting; so cuttings must be repeated.
Cut in late summer or fall, and instantly paint cut surface with Roundup.
Girdle tree (4" wide strip, cut deep) and paint surface with Roundup in
late summer or winter. Hand-pull small seedlings; trees up to 2"
diameter can be pulled with a weed wrench.
where to find it
Hanover: Balch Hill, Trescott Road (water company land) Mink
Brook
Lebanon: Etna Road, and near I-89 interchange #18
Norwich: near Montshire, a little on Bill Ballard Trail
can be found all along the Connecticut River
Garlic Mustard (Alliaria
petiolata)
  |
identification
cool season biennial of 1-3 feet in height; sturdy white taproot ;
plants can reach a density
of 20,000 seedlings / square meter
flowers: white, cross-shaped and growing in clusters; blooms
late spring, early summer; flowers appear in the plant's second year
seeds: in slender, elongated pods, average 800/plant; vigorous
plants may have 6000 seeds; which can sprout in first year
leaves: garlic odor when leaves are crushed; the leaves of first
year plant are rounded with teeth, growing in low rosette; second year
plants have alternate heart-shaped toothed leaves. |
habit forest edge and roadsides; tolerates deep shade and full sun;
often found in floodplains
control hand pull before seeds set in spring. Roundup
for dense populations, especially effective for first year plants.
where to find it
Manchester NH: common on the road to the airport.
Plainfield NH: River Road
Hanover NH: Recently appeared at construction site on
Buck Rd (near hay bale)
Thetford, VT: Geary Road
Shrub Honeysuckles
-
Tatarian Honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica)
-
Morrow Honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii) and their hybrids
 |
identification
upright, coarse deciduous shrubs; up to 16' height
branches:: wide spreading; older branches are hollow (to distinguish
from native honeysuckle shrubs)
leaves: opposite, simple, oval to oblong shape, 1 - 2.5 " long
flowers: numerous, in pairs on slender stalks, tubular with
deeply lobed petals
seeds: fruits have many seeds; berries are red,
orange or yellow
to distinguish the varieties: Tatarian: smooth hairless leaves,
pink or white flowers. Morrow has downy leaves, white flowers which
turn yellow. |
habit abandoned fields and pastures; edges of forest and wetlands;
tolerate a variety of moisture and shade levels, prefer sun
control small plants can be pulled easily, as roots are shallow.
Cut stems of large plants in late summer, cut new sprouts. If done
in late summer, or on warm winter day, cut stems can be painted with
Roundup, if done at once to prevent resprouting. Plant can be pulled
up with weed-wrench.
where to find it
Roadsides, wetlands throughout Upper Valley. Appearing in woodlands
near towns. In many places it is the dominant shrub on the Connecticut
River
Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum)
 |
identification
fast growing herbaceous perennial, 3-8' high forms dense patches
stems:: stout, hollow bamboo-like
leaves: broadly ovate
flowers: tiny, greenish-white clusters all over plant in late
summer
seeds: wind dispersed, propagation: mainly by rhizomes, which
may reach 45-50 feet |
habit sunny wetlands, marshes, roadside ditches; tolerates many
soil types and a range of moisture conditions
control avoid soil disturbance, to prevent it. It is not legal
to use herbicides in wetlands. Cut repeatedly in a season -- four
times is best, accompanied by restoration planting. Cutting procedure
is required for several years.
where to find it common near urban wetlands throughout
upper valley along road drainage ditches
Common Reed (Phragmites australis)
 |
identification
herbaceous, perennial grass, up to 15' in height stem:: stout
leaves: long (up to 2 feet long)
flowers: feathery plume purplish in July, tan or gray later
propagation:: by seeds or underground rhizomes (which can spread
30 feet in
a year) |
habit sunny wetlands, marshes, roadside ditches; tolerates salt,
grows in Ph range of 3.7 - 9.0, tolerates flooding
control avoid soil disturbance, to prevent it. Not legal
to use herbicides in wetlands. Cut over period of many years -- best
time is before end of July
where to find it common near urban wetlands throughout
upper valley, and along road drainage ditches (especially the interstates)
Other alien invasives beginning to appear in our area
Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)
Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
Asiatic Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
Norway Maple (Acer platanoides)
Autumn and Russian Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)
Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)
Black Swallow-wort (Vincetoxicum nigrum)
Celandine (Chelidonium majus)
Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)
photo credits: New England Wildflower Society |
