Great Neck Branch volunteered at Nissequogue to continue cutting out the last season of knotweed and also chopping down bamboo stumps. This is our second time cutting out the invasive plants (Japanese knotweed and mugwort) at Nissequogue, and we’ve noticed a decrease in their numbers compared to the last time. It’s crucial to cut the plants rather than pull them out to prevent more invasive plants from coming out.
Japanese Knotweed, like many other invasives, was originally imported as an ornamental plant. It can grow from 3 to 15 feet in height and, like other invasives, forms a monoculture that outcompetes native plants. Our goal is to follow the “power of three” theory, which suggests that cutting the plant back three times during the growing season, for three years, will prevent the plant from surviving, allowing native plants to re-colonize the area. Successful mechanical cuttings will be the preferred method of controlling this weed in the future. This is the first cutting of our third year.
Bamboo also forms a monoculture that provides little value to our native birds and wildlife and outcompetes native plants. In our ecosystem, it is considered a harmful plant and must be removed.
We researched several poison-free methods to remove bamboo, and we are opting for basic cutting and covering of the infected area with landscaping cloth. The cloth will block out light and contain heat to prevent new stalks from growing. Some stalks will still appear, and we can have fun stomping on them each time we come back for the knotweed.
Despite the very hot day, we worked hard and accomplished a lot. I am very proud of our branch for making a positive impact on the environment.
Members who participate(2.5hrs): Fanxi Xia, Zixi Xia, Feier Xu
