Vegetation Management in Longleaf Pine Systems

Pat Minogue, Ph.D., R.F.

Associate Professor of Silviculture

Use of Herbicides in Longleaf Management

Silviculture

Habitat Management

Fuels Management

Improve Aesthetics

Longleaf Alliance WebsiteLongleaf Alliance Website

Herbicides for Habitat Restoration?

Herbicides, like fire, provide a site disturbance that shifts plant species composition.

Many commonly used forestry herbicides shift vegetation to favor wildlife habitats or certain native plants because of differential plant tolerances.

Oust®, Velpar® for broomsedge release in longleaf pine

Photo: Pat Minogue

Lower Gould Field (Oust)

Concentration (lbs ai/ac)

0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3

wir

eg

ras

s c

row

n a

rea

(in

ch

2)

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

-N

+N

Lower Gould Field (Velpar)

Concentration (lbs ai/ac)

0.00 0.25 0.50 0.75

wir

eg

ras

s c

row

n a

rea

(in

ch

2)

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

-N

+N

Lower Gould Field (Arsenal)

Concentration (lbs ai/ac)

0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3

wir

eg

rass

cro

wn

are

a (

inch

2)

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

-N

+N

ARSENALOUST

VELPAR

Preliminary results,Dr. Cheryl Macowiak,University of FL

Herbicides labeled for “establishment and maintenance of wildlife openings”Trade Name Common Name Controls Selective to

Arsenal® AC Imazapyr Brush, Grasses, Broadleaves, Vines

Legumes,Blackberry,Pines

Escort® XP Metsulfuron methyl

Broadleaves,Legumes, Vines

Grasses

Plateau Imazapic Broadleaves Legumes,Perennial grasses

Accord XRT II Glyphosate Sprayed foliage By placement

Many other herbicides are labeled for this use site

Silvicultural Herbicide UsesSite Preparation

Herbaceous Weed

Control After Planting

Promote Desired

Associated Vegetation

Arrest Successional

Change - Hardwoods

Wiregrass is promoted by Oust®, low Arsenal rates

Site Prep Herbicides- Longleaf Pine

CommonName

Trade Name(also generics)

Label ProductRate Per Acre

Glyphosate Accord® XRT IIAccord® XRT

4-8 quarts1.5-8 quarts

Triclopyr Garlon® 4 Ultra 4-6 quarts

*Hexazinone Velpar® LVelpar® DF

2-6 quarts1.3-4 lb

*Imazapyr Chopper® Gen2Arsenal® AC

32-64 oz24-40 oz

*Sulfometuron Oust® XP 2-8 oz

*Metsulfuron Escort® XP NOT LABELED

* Soil Active Residual Herbicides

Herbicide Site Preparation - LongleafSpring treatment with Velpar® (hexazinone)

• Ideal for sandy soils, oaks sensitive, favors grasses

• Longleaf pine is very tolerant to hexazinone

• Adjust rate by soil texture & organic matter (see label)

• Velpar DF 1.3-4 lb product/acre

• Velpar L 2-6 qts product/acre

• 1-3 lb active ingredient/acre

Solid Formulation Needed!!

Herbicide Site Preparation - LongleafBroadcast foliar sprays in June - October

➢ Conversion, dense hardwood?40 -48 oz Chopper® Gen 2+ 3 qts Accord® XRT II

➢ Save grass? Longleaf restoration?

Use less than 32 oz Chopper® Gen 2 or less than 16 oz Arsenal AC per acre

32 oz Chopper® + 0-1 qts Accord® XRT 32 oz Chopper® + 1-2 qts Garlon® 4 Ult.

➢ Waxy leaf species: Yaupon, Gallberry, Lyonia, Waxmyrtle?

32-40 oz Chopper® Gen 2plus 1-2 qts Garlon®4 Ultra

Herbaceous Weed Control Herbicides for Longleaf Pine

Common Name Trade Name* Product RatePer Acre

Hexazinone Velpar® LVelpar® DF

4-8 pints1.3-1.8 lb

Imazapyr Arsenal® AC 4-6 oz

Sulfometuron Oust® XP 2-8 oz

Sulfometuron (12%) + Hexazinone (63%)

Oustar® 10-19 oz

*Comparable generic products are also labeled for this use.

Herbaceous Weed ControlLongleaf Pine Apply mid-April to mid-May

Do not add surfactant

2 Oust® XP + 24 oz Velpar® L

10-12 oz Oustar®

Pasture Conversion

4 oz Arsenal® + 2 oz Oust® XP

applied mid-may

Bermuda, Torpedograss-

Site prep first!

Check for new roots

Longleaf Alliance Website

Selective “Cutting” of Individual Stems – Using Herbicides

“Remove” diseased trees, those of poor form

Provides dead wood for wildlife

Promote desired species for wildlife

Red + White Oaks

Persimmon

Backpack Foliar Sprays Best for targeted

applications on low brush, less than 4 feet tall

Less than 1,500 rootstocks per acre

Use low volumes, 10-20gallons spray per acre (GPA)

Common Herbicides:

Arsenal® AC, Chopper®

Garlon® 4, Garlon® 3A

Accord® XRT Proper Personal Protective Equipment

Basal Stem TreatmentSpray bark of small diameter stems, < 4”d

May be applied in dormant season

Apply from ground to 12-15 inches high

Use with “basal oil” or oil emulsion carrier

Common Herbicides

Garlon® 4 Ultra No residual effect

Chopper® Gen II Residual soil activity

Hack & Squirt (Cut Stem)• Used on taller vegetation, greater than 4” diameter• Make cuts at a downward angle around the tree• See labels regarding solution concentration, spacing between “hacks”.

• Generally apply 1 ml/hack, about the same as 1 pull on a squirt bottle.

• Common Herbicides:

•Arsenal® AC

•Garlon® 3A

•Weedar® 64 (2,4-D)

Cut Stump•Best for a few targeted trees

•Spray just the cambium

•Best on freshly cut stumps

•Treat all the stumps!

• Common Herbicides

•Chopper®, Stalker®

•Garlon® 4 Ultra (ester),

Garlon® 3A (amine)

•Pathfinder® II (RTU)

•Accord® XRT II

Soil Basal and Spot TreatmentsSpring applications Undiluted Velpar® L

Exact delivery handgun application to the base of woody vegetation

For trees use 2-4 ml product per inch of stem diameter at breast height.

For brush apply 2-4 ml product per 3 feet canopy width.

Sources of Additional Information

Forest Vegetation Management Website

Silviculture and Wildlife Management

Patrick J. Minogue, Ph.D., R.F.Associate Professor of SilvicultureNorth Florida Research and Education CenterQuincy, FL 32303 pminogue@ufl.edu