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TNC here in WI manages several properties with dense stands of Pennsylvania Sedge on it. Although a native species and an important component of several habitat types, we too observe that the species is present in such dense stands such that it prohibits other native species from staking their claim. Anecdotally we have observed several times that the "sedge mat" is broken up and other native species take advantage after a soil disturbance event, particularly of note, after a timber harvest when equipment has caused some scarification.
We and others have also speculated for a long time, but haven't take steps to scientifically demonstrate in WI, that the timing of RX burning that we typically conduct here in WI is advantageous to Penn Sedge, and that the repeated burns during the dormant season favors it's density.
Some observations of some burning that TNC is conducting in Michigan during the summer months (yes, apparently very slow moving and smoky burns) is in effect breaking up the penn sedge mat and giving opportunity to other native species to flourish. The following is from a coworker with TNC in MI and they have some permanent photo points and plots documenting the effects.
"P. Sedge, summer burns have proven effective in breaking-up (punching holes in a dense sedge matt. Generally, lack of fire can lead to very dense P. sedge mats in some areas, which inhibits other native plant growth.Early spring burns (March, early April) does NOT cause a beak-up of sedge matt, appears to actually help it. Late spring burns, dependent on intensity and severity, can start to break-up the sedge matt, but also can help it out (again, dependent on intensity/severity, and the aggressive response of other native prairie plants, especially the grasses). Summer burns (May, June, July, August), while often low intensity, can have moderate/high severity, and can have a very long residence time, can break-up the P. sedge matt, and allows other plants to "intermingle" within the sedge matt. Repeated burning continues to break-up this sedge matt, to where the P. sedge is still a component of the vegetation diversity, but not the dominant one, or one that is inhibiting other plant diversity."
My general reaction is that we should be seeking to find the right alternate management practices to help other natives compete with Penn Sedge, rather than specifically trying to kill it with herbicides. Herbicides may work at a small scale, but at a large scale I believe the desired effects will have to come through fire management.
Hannah Spaul
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Hannah Spaul
Director of Conservation - Land Management hspaul@... (608) 316-6431(Office Direct Line) |
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The Nature Conservancy Wisconsin Field Office 633 West Main Street Madison, WI 53703 |
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From: IPAW@yahoogroups.com [mailto:IPAW@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Boos, Thomas M - DNR
Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2009 3:01 PM
To: IPAW@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [IPAW] Penn sedge control
If you have any ideas or thoughts about controlling Penn sedge let me know. I saw some studies with scarification of the soil and herbicide. No chemical name though. Any thoughts?
P Thomas M. Boos II
Forestry Invasive Plant Coordinator
Office of Forest Sciences
Division of Forestry
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
(() phone: (608) 266-9276
(() fax: (608) 266-8576
(+) e-mail: thomas.boos@
...and the man plays a beautiful whistle, but he wears a prickly thistle. Jack White
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