Friday, July 20, 2012

Photo Journal July 2012

Click on photo: A photo journal is a collection of pictures taken around the first of the month to document the projects progress from repeatable points of view.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Photo of Wetlands

Click on photo:

Photo of Two Worlds

Click on photo:

Photos of Plants

Click on photo:

Spraying of Invasives

This year we focused on reducing populations of Canada Thistle and Reed Canary Grass. Click on photo:
We purchased a retired bean buggy and re-worked it to use as a thistle busting machine. We added drip free spot spray wands and a 6' boom on the back end. Although it came with three seats, it is a job best done alone. The wheel track makes a six foot wide easy to follow mark. I can ride around 8 acres in a long day. The boom was rarely used. It was best for dense patches in which it was very effective. This machine has an electric starting engine and electric pumps. Hydrostatic drive and power steering. This method was much more efficient and effective than using our ATV. The ATV and a 6' boom was very effective in spraying thistle patches in the cattails.
We sprayed the Reed Canary Grass clones with a backpack sprayer and 6% glyphosate. This is very effective. We had only twelve clones to spray this season. In 2011, we placed 2x2 oak stakes by 25 clones and sprayed them with 6 percent glyphosate. There was no new growth of reed canary at those sites this season.