NCS emphasizes woody invasive species control and native landscape design, & wetland planning as areas of winter efficiency, expertise, and offers you a 20% discount on your woody invasives/brush removal, native landscape design and wetland consulting needs this winter! Contact me to learn how Natural Community Services can help you john@naturalcommunityservices.com
We provide a variety of ecological services in uplands and wetlands for all types of landwoners - and native landscape design should occur as part of a “Cover-It-Up” invasive to native revegetation process so control efforts yield a good return on investment! Judicious use of edge native groundcovers, and focal or hedgerow groups shrubs and trees of Michigan replaces upland and wetland invasives:
Wild ginger
A low-growing plant with heart-shaped leaves and small bell-shaped flowers. It prefers moist, well-drained soil and full to partial shade.
Wild geranium
Prefers rich, moist soil but can tolerate drier conditions. It blooms pink-lavender flowers from late spring to early summer.
Creeping phlox
Native to the eastern United States, this plant is hardy enough to withstand colder climates. It rarely has pest or disease problems.
Golden ragwort
Self-sows vigorously, so you don't need to install many plants initially. It can grow in shady conditions and supports many insects.
Purple coneflower
A native perennial that produces large purple flowers that attract butterflies and bees. It prefers full sun and well-drained soils.
Butterfly weed
A native herbaceous perennial with showy orange flowers. It grows well in native plant gardens with lots of sun and very dry soil.
Native trees and shrubs: https://www.wildtypeplants.com/woody-plant-plugs#:~:text=We%20are%20offering%20an%20increasing%20number%20of%20woody,the%20growing%20season%2C%20not%20just%20the%20dormant%20periods.
Native grasses: https://mitppc.umn.edu/sites/mitppc.umn.edu/files/2024-06/Guide-to-forest-understory-revegetation-buckthorn-2024_3.pdf
In wet environments, NCS provides wetland and water resources consulting (and restoration) services for HOAs, residential and commercial developers, landowners, companies, and more throughout the state of Michigan. Our experienced professionals are experts with the technical aspects of identifying and delineating wetlands, working closely with each of our clients to determine which wetland services are required for the full completion of their desired project.
https://www.naturalcommunityservices.com/consulting-services
To aid this mission, our wetland services includes:
Wetland Determinations
Wetland Delineations
Wetland Permits
Wetland Mitigation Plans
Wetland Banking
Stream Mitigation & Restoration
And as you may be aware - NCS Is the woody weed specialist in southeast Michigan! Noone cuts more acres of buckthorn than us!
While many of the herbaceous invasives are best tackled in spring and summer, winter is the ideal time to target woody species such as autumn olive, buckthorn, and honeysuckle.
Winter Invasive Plant Control Methods
Cut Stump Treatment – This method utilizes a chainsaw to fell individual trees and works well for anything from 1” saplings to mature trees. The stump is then treated with herbicide to prevent regrowth.
Cutting with a Brushcutter – For stands of smaller trees and shrubs up to 2-3” in diameter, a brushcutter can be a quicker option. You might have to bring in a chainsaw to take out the larger trees. This method also requires treating the stumps with herbicide.
Forestry Mulching – A forestry mulcher or mower is essentially a skid steer with a large rotating cylinder on the front. It will handle thick brush and even trees up to 6”DBH, turning them into a pile of chips. For properties with a lot of woody material to be removed, this can be a very efficient and cost-effective method. It is fast, labor-saving, and eliminates the need for brush removal from the property.
Girdling – Where larger single trees need to be killed but left standing, girdling is a cost-effective method. A chainsaw is used to cut a ring around the outside of the tree at waist height, ½” into the cambium of the tree. Herbicide is applied to the wound, killing the tree over time. This method is cost-effective but is inadvisable for public or heavily utilized properties due to the hazards of standing dead wood.
Hack and Squirt – A similar method is to take a small hatchet and hack a circle of wounds at the base of the tree or shrub, then squirt herbicide into the wounds to kill the tree. This method works well for invasive shrubs like buckthorn and Asian bush honeysuckle.
Basal Bark Treatment – Here, the herbicide is used directly on the trunk of the tree without cutting through the bark. Typically, the bottom 12” of the tree is sprayed with a combination of Garlon 4 (oil-soluble triclopyr) and basal oil, which soaks in and kills it. It doesn’t work for every species but can be useful in certain circumstances. One of these is controlling Tree of Heaven since exposure to the sap of this tree has been linked to risk of heart conditions.
Winter application allows for very targeted treatment, minimizing herbicide use by concentrating it only where it needs to go and limiting off-target damage to nearby plants. It takes far less herbicide to apply around the edge of a stump or hack and squirt around the base of a dormant tree than to spray an entire tree in leaf.
Planning for Winter Invasive Plant Control - By assessing your site requirements, types of species, and budget, we can help you create the right invasive plant control plan for your property.
Finally, Phragmites on ice, is Nice! In wet areas, mowing invasive Phragmites as mechanical treatment is most often done in the winter when the ground is frozen, which provides better and safer access to these areas, as well as minimizes impacts to small animals and native plants. Cutting or mowing Phragmites takes place in the winter (December through March). By cutting Phragmites, light reaching the ground is increased. Light encourages germination of existing seeds lying dormant in the soil and in many cases desirable plants will recolonize the wetland quickly.
Even with a successful initial treatment, some regrowth of Phragmites is expected due to unconnected rhizomes and new seed germination. For best results, the area is treated both chemically and by winter mowing for at least two consecutive years and is re-planted with native grasses as needed. Future spot treatments may be necessary to prevent re-establishment. but all winter