The systemic herbicide triclopyr (e.g., Garlon) is absorbed into plant tissues and carried to the roots, effectively killing the entire plant in place. Foliar applications: From summer to fall, apply a 2.5% mixture of triclopyr amine (Garlon 3A) in water to the leaves or cut first, allow to regrow, and apply the same mix to new foliage. Herbicide will also be absorbed through the stem bark for additional effect. Basal bark applications: A higher rate (15-30%) of triclopyr ester (Garlon 4) may also be applied to stems of vines growing up trees but there is a possibility that the herbicide will be absorbed into the host tree, depending on the thickness of the host tree's bark and the penetration of English ivy rootlets. Because English ivy is an evergreen vine, and remains active during the winter, herbicide applications can be made to it any time of year as long as temperatures are above 55 or 60 degrees Fahrenheit for a few days. Fall and winter applications will avoid or minimize impacts to many native plant species. Repeat herbicidal treatments are likely to be needed and followup monitoring should be conducted to evaluate the success of treatments. Herbicidal contact with desirable plants should always be avoided. In areas where spring wildflowers or other native plants are interspersed, application of herbicides should be conducted prior to their emergence, or delayed until they have died back
Herbicide application The waxy cuticle of H. helix allows the plant to have a high resistance to herbicide uptake, thereby, creating great complication during attempts to treat the plant (Morisawa, 1999; Derr, 1993). Studies prove that H. helix is tolerant of preemergence herbicides (Derr, 1993). Multiple applications of postemergence herbicides have proven to be more effective though success varies according to the age or maturity level of the plant (Derr, 1993). Herbicides absorption is greater in newer shoots compared to older, more mature leaves (Derr,
1993). Round-up (glyphosate) applications of 3.0 kg/ha (2.7lb/Acre) on younger plants proved most effective when applied during spring months (Derr, 1993; Reichard, 2000). Application of Round-up (glyphosate) on mature plants retarded growth up to 60% though proved ineffective to completely destroy H. helix even with a higher concentration, a second application, or use of a non-ionic surfactant (Reichard, 2000; Derr, 1993)). Weedar 64 (2,4-d) applied at a rate of
1.1kg/ha (1lb/A) did control H. helix when applied twice (Derr, 1993). In some of the treatment plots, however, ivy was reestablished after two years from advances of adjacent populations that were untreated (Reichard, 2000).
George Krall of the Bureau of Environmental Services in Portland, Oregon (2000) also mentioned the combination technique of using Scythe (pelargonic acid) with Round-up (glyphosate). Scythe is a non-selective herbicide that effectively burns through the leaf cuticle, killing active leaf tissue; it is appropriately named after the Grim Reaper?s tool (Thomson, 1997; Gilman, 2000). It is assumed that once the pelargonic acid has been applied, Round-up (glyphosate) will be able to penetrate through the leaf cuticle more successfully and then be absorbed by the plant through transpiration (Krall, 2000). This method is being used in riparian zones, wetlands, and upland forests throughout Portland.
There is speculation that the method of combining pelargonic acid and glyphosate may not be very effective. Round-up (glyphosate), a systemic herbicide, needs active tissues to enable transportation to the roots of a plant for it to be effective (Gilman, 2000). Applying Scythe (pelargonic acid) will destroy leaf tissue resulting in a ?reduced effect? of the Round-up (glyphosate). Gilman (2000) suggested researching an alternative method of using Round-up (glyphosate) with a controlled droplet application or electrostatic sprayer. This treatment system would charge the ions of Round-up (glyphosate) so that herbicides will more successfully adhere to stomates on the underside of the plant, avoiding its waxy cuticle and resulting in increased uptake (Gilman,2000). Studies have examined this method and determined that it allows for a more accurate application of herbicides and increased effectiveness (Gebhardt,
1984).
Acts of creation are ordinarily reserved for gods and poets. To plant a pine, one need only own a shovel.
-- Aldo Leopold