June/July Arlington Invasives Work
To help you plan your invasives removal work, here's a list of the most common Arlington invasives that are flowering and beginning to set seed in the months of June and July. The seed on most of these plants matures between late July through Fall. So you have time to gradually remove a bit each week in yards or Arlington parks and open space.
Black swallowwort: Our Monarch butterflies will thank you for getting this plant out of your yard and Arlington open spaces. Monarchs lay eggs on this milkweed imposter, but the caterpillars die trying to eat it. To remove, use a large garden fork to loosen soil and lift plant from underneath to get all the roots. Large stands are best removed in two parts. First go through and quickly clip all vines to about 6 inches from the soil. Remove and bag to stop flowers from setting seed and remove pods before they split open. You now have more time for the next stage of removing by the roots as described above.
Roundleaf Bittersweet (formerly Oriental bittersweet): This Invasive has both male and female plants. First priority is always to remove berries which progress in color from green to a yellow outer capsule to an orange-red soft inner fruit by Fall. (Bittersweet berries at Turkey Hill: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/141808750 ) Bittersweet rather innocently enters yards under bushes and hedges when birds eat Fall berries and deposit seeds where they roost. It’s best to get it out young when hand pulling is easy. Here’s what young bittersweet looks like: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/185164652 . Bittersweet becomes extremely problematic if not removed early. There are many examples in Arlington of monstrous thick vines winding around trees, weighing down branches, and ultimately strangling and killing them. (McClennen Park: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/150492165 ) Mature bittersweet is best clipped with loppers and dug out by roots if not in conservation areas. Extra time spent removing roots at the start saves much time in the long run.
Bittersweet nightshade: Nightshade is quite poisonous to pets and humans. Note the deeply notched, three-part leaves present somewhere on the plant, the purple flowers with yellow tongues sticking out of the flower, and bright red ripe berries. ( https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/178719057 ). Check near rock walls, sidewalks, and in hedges. This invasive seems to like more alkaline conditions. Get the berries while green if you can't get this nightshade out of a wall by the roots.
Asiatic Dayflower: This short rather cute annual with gorgeous blue flowers is deceptive. Wherever it gains a toehold, it completely covers the landscape, preventing other vegetation from germinating. It's satisfying to weed out because it's easy to pull. See examples of how this invasive completely takes over an area by visiting the bike path at Bow St. and Frazer Lane in Arlington. It flowers all summer long into November, so monthly weeding is best.
Invasive Knotweed - help in the effort to cut this multiple times during the summer. If you find it in your yard away from wetlands, streams and pods. DIG IT OUT with a strong shovel, or cut it multiple times throughout the growing season, starting in June, after it uses up stored energy to push out 4-6 ft canes.
iNaturalist Links:
Blackswallow-wort at Frazer and Mill Lane: - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=42.42691328029149&nelng=-71.17663531970851&place_id=any&swlat=42.4242153197085&swlng=-71.17933328029152&taxon_id=208963&user_id=ecrow&verifiable=any
Asiatic Dayflower at Frazer/Mill Lane: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=42.42691328029149&nelng=-71.17663531970851&place_id=any&swlat=42.4242153197085&swlng=-71.17933328029152&taxon_id=52927&user_id=ecrow&verifiable=any
Bittersweet nightshade at Ryder St.: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=42.42660718029149&nelng=-71.17251691970849&place_id=any&swlat=42.42390921970849&swlng=-71.1752148802915&taxon_id=55620&user_id=ecrow&verifiable=any
Knotweed at Frazer/Bow: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=42.42691328029149&nelng=-71.17663531970851&place_id=any&swlat=42.4242153197085&swlng=-71.17933328029152&taxon_id=914922&user_id=ecrow&verifiable=any
