Good time for spot spraying

For any area that has been burned, May is a good time for spot spraying resprouts of woody vegetation. Right now we are canvassing our savannas and spraying all resprouts we can find. Resprouts are relatively easy to find, and they are small enough so that herbicide use is low. Also, "good" plants are widely enough separated from resprouts so they won't get sprayed.

Here is a list of woody species we are spraying now:

• Buckthorn
• Honeysuckle
• Brambles (all species)
• Sumac
• Hazel
• Cherry

Some of these are more prolific than others. We have very little buckthorn and honeysuckle, since we mostly eradicated them some years ago. We are getting fairly good control of sumac, although some areas are better than others. Brambles, I fear, will always be a problem, although the big infestations are mostly gone.

We are also spraying a number of herbaceous species, such as:

• Thistles (Canada, bull, and other bad ones; NOT pasture, Hill's, woodland, or swamp, all of which are "good" thistles)
• Queen Anne's lace
• Burdock
• Sweet clover
• Red or white clover
• Bird's foot trefoil
• Pale Indian plantain

Canvassing an area takes quite a bit of time. A single person can spend two days on a single 5-acre unit, and use 8-10 Solo backpacks full of herbicide (Garlon 3A;  aqueous).

Anything that can be sprayed now will not be present later, when it is bigger and requires a lot more effort to control.

Resprouts of sumac (Rhus glabra) and hazel side by side. Both can be sprayed with a single spritz.

Some species are easier to find than others. Sumac, for instance, with its fine leaves, is harder to find than brambles.