JAPANESE STILT GRASS SPREADING IN CALHOUN - A Plague To Trees And Plants

(05/06/2004)

Stilt grass covers a bottom Pine Creek near Hur, an area logged in 2003 The grass has spread along road banks, creek bottoms and hillsides since last year By Bob Weaver READ 5-5-2004 "SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES - Japanese Stilt Grass Taking Over, Invasion Hits Calhoun" Japanese stilt grass could become a plague to state woodlands. The rapidly growing plant is present in many parts of Calhoun, with severe spreading last year. The grass produces toxic substances when it dies to the ground, killing vegetation and tree seedlings. It was first introduced into the United States in Tennessee around 1919 and likely escaped as a result of its use as a packing material for porcelain. Japanese stilt grass is currently established in 16 eastern states, from New York to Florida. It occurs on stream banks, river bluffs, floodplains, emergent and forested wetlands, moist woodlands, early successional fields, uplands, thickets, roadside ditches, gas and power-line corridors, lawns and gardens. Japanese stilt grass threatens native understory vegetation in full sun to deep shade. Stilt grass readily invades disturbed shaded areas, like floodplains that are prone to natural scouring, and areas subject to mowing, tilling and other soil-disturbing activities including white-tailed deer traffic. Japanese stilt grass appears to be associated with moist, acidic to neutral soils that are high in nitrogen.

Hur Herald ®from Sunny Cal The information on these pages, to the extent the law allows, remains the exclusive property of Bob Weaver and Dianne Weaver The Hur Herald. All information may be freely used but must not be sold or used in any type of commercial endeavor, or used on any web site without the express permission of the owners ©Bob and Dianne Weaver, The Hur Herald, 1999, 2000, 2001