New (Type) | Description |
Type -
Mowing
User Type -
Novice
Effectiveness -
in season
year after treatment
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Mowing or cutting in late summer after flowers have emerged, but before seeds are produced will reduce the number of shoots and seeds produced, but provides unreliable levels of suppression. Mowing three times in a season, starting in late spring and repeating before flowers form on regrowth, will provide suppression for the entire season. Use a mower that bags cut material or rake and bag cut material after mowing and dispose of it in a landfill or burn it to avoid potential for above ground tissue to resprout.
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Type -
Prescribed burning
User Type -
Professional
Effectiveness -
in season
year after treatment
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Burns can kill germinating seedlings and suppress above ground growth of established plant depending on fire intensity. However, the habitat that loosestrife grows in are rarely conducive to fire. This makes it difficult to have a complete burn that significantly damages loosestrife populations. After the fire, established plants will likely be quick to re-sprout and reinvade areas; this management method is not recommended unless integrated with other techniques. A hand-held propane torch can be effective for treating seedlings.
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Type -
Removal
User Type -
Novice
Effectiveness -
in season
year after treatment
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Pulling and digging can be effective individual plant control techniques. Pull if soil conditions allow for the removal of all root tissue. This is easier with a first or second year plant as its root system is not extensive. Root fragments left behind can resprout. Bag all plant material and dispose of it in a landfill or burn it to avoid potential for root material or above ground tissue to reroot.
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Type -
Manipulation of the environment
User Type -
Novice
Effectiveness -
in season
year after treatment
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Flooding can be effective at reducing purple loosestrife populations, especially if used in conjunction with cutting stems. Cut the stems of purple loosestrife so that the part of the plant that remains rooted is below water and remains submerged for at least 12 months. This is easiest in an area where the water level can be controlled.
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Type -
Biocontrol
User Type -
Novice
Effectiveness -
in season
year after treatment
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There are four agents that are used for biological control of purple loosestrife. They are two leaf feeding beetles (Galerucella calmariensis and G. pusilla), a flower weevil (Nanophyes marmoratus), and a root mining weevil (Hylobius transversovittatus). The leaf feeding beetles can reduce populations by >90% within 5 years, although the level of reduction varies by site and year. Plant size and seed production are typically greatly reduced, put plants are rarely eliminated. Competition from taller native plants can be used to reduce the loosestrife further and keep it controlled. Contact your local department of agriculture for information on permits for the release of biological control agents.
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Type -
Cultivation
User Type -
Novice
Effectiveness -
in season
year after treatment
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Cultivation, if repeated, can provide effective control as roots that resprout are located near the soil surface. Cultivate three times a season beginning in late spring. Cultivation, however, can spread root fragments into previously uninfested areas.
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