Herbicide Use at the LWC
The Luckiamute Watershed Council typically employs the use of herbicides within our restoration project sites to reduce the presence of invasive non-native species, which include knotweed, Himalayan blackberry, English ivy, Canada thistle, teasel, scotch broom, reed canary grass, and other priority species that are identified as threatening the long-term ecological health of a project site. We also use herbicides during the "plant establishment" phase of our revegetation projects, to limit the presence of grasses and other aggressive plants that compete with young trees and shrubs for sunlight, water and nutrients. These spot sprays and ring sprays typically occur for only a few years while the plants are young and vulnerable. The amount of weeds present declines over time, meaning we can visit less often and use less herbicides as the native plants develop. Treatments are discontinued once the plantings reach the free to grow benchmark. If you have any questions about our use of herbicides or would like any further information, please don't hesitate to reach out to us by email at [email protected] or by calling (503) 837-0237. Thank you!
Glossary of terms:
Spot spray: To apply herbicides to individual weeds directly, or in "spots," rather than applying a product to the entire area.
Ring spray: To apply herbicides in a circle around an individual plant in order to kill weeds and grasses that are in direct competition with that plant.
Free to grow: The growth stage at which a tree or shrub extends above all competing vegetation.
Spot spray: To apply herbicides to individual weeds directly, or in "spots," rather than applying a product to the entire area.
Ring spray: To apply herbicides in a circle around an individual plant in order to kill weeds and grasses that are in direct competition with that plant.
Free to grow: The growth stage at which a tree or shrub extends above all competing vegetation.
