Kudzu Eradication:
Join PAC every Monday to help eradicate Kudzu (and other non-native and invasive plants) from Norman Wilder Forest!
Meet at the parking area off of US 176 from 9-11.
Since February 7th, 2011, the PAC "Kudzu Warriors" have been meeting every other Monday for a two hour eradication effort of the non-native and invasive Kudzu (Pueraria lobata) taking over the native flora of the PAC protected Norman Wilder Forest. There has been a huge improvement in the area where Kudzu and thick, massive mats of Kudzu vines have been removed. In fact, after removing the mat of Kudzu in one area, this spring we were greeted by Sweet Betsy Trillium, Solomon’s Seal, and Jack-in-the-pulpit (to name a few) that had been waiting in the soil for the opportunity to emerge from the ground!
Initially, the vines were loaded into a trailer and hauled to the dump. However, because of the enormous amount of old Kudzu vines at the site, we have decided to pile up the vines and leave much of it to decompose naturally, providing nitrogen to the soil and perhaps providing shelter for animals in the meantime.
There have also been efforts to eradicate Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense), Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), and Princess Tree (Paulownia tomentosa) from the site, as well as some of the Poison Ivy from along the trail edge. Several trailers full of Tree-of-Heaven have also been hauled away, but many of the trees are going to be left in piles to decompose on site.
Below is a photo history of the eradication efforts starting in January 2011:
1/28/11:
The location where eradication efforts will begin (north of the parking lot off of HWY 176).
3/1/11:
The site after eradication efforts began; approximately one month in.
4/11/11:
The site two months in! Note all of the new growth--Sweet Betsy Trillium, Solomon's Seal, and Jack-in-the-Pulpit!
5/2/11:
Some of the "Kudzu Warriors"...still smiling after three months of work! (Must be smiling because of the great progress and native growth coming up in the area without Kudzu!!!) Way to go TEAM! (Left to right: Greg Miner, Bill Jackson, Alex Salley, and Pam Torlina. Not pictured: Barbara Hall and Mary Savard.)
10/24/11:
Note all of the new, native growth!
11/10/11:
PAC Kudzu Warriors uncovered an old rock wall along the trail that was buried beneath the Kudzu! We can't wait to see what else we find!
(Pictured from left to right: Mary Savard, Moreen Morello, Barbara Hall, and Greg Miner (not pictured: Pam Torlina-photographer).)
2/6/12:
You may notice that the Kudzu Warriors have gotten pretty far up the hill on the right.
The Warriors have been battling other non-native and invasive species on the site too, like Chinese Privet, Tree-of-Heaven, Mahonia, Nandina, English Ivy, Bittersweet, and Japanese Honeysuckle!
The scene is definitely different! We are looking forward to seeing what comes up this spring!!
This Sweet Betsy Trillium is an early bird and an indicator of what's been hiding below the Kudzu!!!
2/20/12
Bill Jackson and Alex Salley are hard at work, removing old Kudzu vines. Note the pile of Tree-of-Heaven logs!
Greg Miner gets into his work...and keeps smiling!
Bill Jackson points out the sentiment of the Kudzu Warriors, "Think Good Thoughts".
Sweet Betsy Trillium is emerging where Kudzu used to dominate..."Think Good Thoughts", need we say more?
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Click the link to read Nathan Bartlett's (PAC's summer intern) article printed in the Tryon Daily Bulletin on July 1, 2011:
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A brief history of Kudzu in the United States:
Kudzu (Pueraria lobata) is a member of the pea family and is native to southern Japan and southeastern China. It is a semi-woody vine and it has beautiful, fragrant purple flowers in the late summer.
Kudzu was first introduced to the United States in 1876 at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where countries from around the world were invited build exhibits for the occasion. Japan built beautiful gardens including Kudzu. The fragrant, beautiful blooms attracted gardeners in the U.S who decided to introduce the plant into their home gardens.
In the 1920's the plant was promoted as fodder for animals, and in the 1930's, the Soil Conservation Service promoted the plant for a natural erosion control. During the Great Depression, hundreds of men were put to work, through the Civilian Conservation Corps, planting Kudzu.
In 1953, the United States stopped advocating the use of Kudzu for erosion control, and in 1972 it was declared a weed!
Ecological Threat:
Kudzu grows rapidly, up to one foot of new growth per day! It creates a solid blanket of leaves and vines that smother and out compete our native species. The vines are capable of girdling woody stems and tree trunks and they can break branches and uproot trees and shrubs by the sheer weight of the vines and leaves as they engulf the canopy of the tree or shrub.
Join the effort to eradicate this highly invasive weed from our community! It all starts with YOU! PAC would love your help on our Norman Wilder Forest site! However, the eradication of Kudzu (and other non-native and invasive species) from our community can be done anywhere and started any time--the sooner the better! But, if we sit idly by, doing nothing, this and other non-native species will slowly (or rapidly!) out compete our beautiful and ecologically important native species which add the diversity that all of us have come to love in Southern Appalachia! Please contact PAC if you are interested in learning more about non-native and invasive species!