![]() For young plants, just pull them, bag and destroy the plants. If you have existing plants, you need to control them. This will prevent millions of seeds from ripening and spreading." Repeat throughout the flowering season (late June - early September). Cut off flower heads, bag and destroy them.Rinse off equipment, gear, clothing and footwear used in infested areas before moving into uninfested areas.Be on the lookout for pioneering plants or isolated small colonies, especially in areas otherwise free of loosestrife.Even Lythrum varieties advertised not to make seeds can cross-breed with the invading loosestrife to make seeds. Ways to prevent further spread of loosestrife This is to prevent further spread of this invasive plant. This means that "it is illegal to propagate, sell, or transport these weeds in the Commonwealth" (PA Bureau of Plant Industry). The inclusion of loosestrife cultivars was added to the noxious weed list in November, 2000. How can we control this plant? Pennsylvania has declared loosestrife as a noxious weed. In Europe, Lythrum's native habitat, there are natural predators for this plant, keeping it in check, just as our native plant populations are kept in balance by natural predators here. This makes the plant even more prolific in our wetlands. Unfortunately, there are no natural predators, specifically insects, diseases and animals which attack the purple loosestrife. It not only reduces our native food supply and habitat for our wildlife, it also reduces water flow through areas, causing water quality to decline, increasing costs for dredging those waterways. As the waterways are taken over by this single plant species, less and less habitat is available for our native wildlife to nest, eat and breed. Unfortunately, this plant is not liked by birds, mammals, or waterfowl. It grows into dense plantings, reduces then eliminating wildlife. It prefers sun, but, like most invasive weeds, it adapts well in many soil types. Purple loosestrife is found along waterways, marshes and wetlands. It has now become a noxious weed across the US, particularly in the Northeast. It was used for medicinal purposes as well as a forage for bees and as an ornamental plant. ![]() Native to Europe, this loosestrife has been grown in the US as a garden plant. This invasive weed is misleading, as we typically think of pretty things as good. What they were seeing was purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria. ![]() “Producers should also consider the right herbicide choice or mixture to achieve weed control of loosestrife (and other summer weeds) and respect any with-holding periods before sprayed paddocks are grazed,” she said.Recently, some folks pulled into the local nursery, asking about the pretty pink flowering plants that were blooming along the fields and roadsides.They wanted to purchase some of those plants for their garden. ![]() “Loosestrife is easier and cheaper to kill at the seedling stage, rather than waiting until the plant is mature.” If the herbicide is acting slowly to achieve plant death, then the plant is still considered toxic while it is green. Once these toxic plants are dessicated or killed, then stubble or pasture paddocks can be grazed. “Cattle are most susceptible and producers may notice lethargy, progressing to death over a period of days,” he said.Īgronomist with Riverina Local Land Services, Lisa Castleman says that spraying of the plant with a registered herbicide is advised. This plant contains a kidney toxin which is often fatal.” “Do not allow livestock to graze loosestrife. Loosestrife is an upright, hard stemmed herb, similar to rosemary in appearance, which grows up to 40cm in height and has small pink flowers.ĭistrict Veterinarian, Tim Biffin advises producers to be wary when loosestrife is present. Loosestrife ( Lythrum hyssopifolia), also known as lesser loosestrife, is flowering and growing rapidly on many farms in the region and has the potential to be fatal to livestock. As a result of the substantial rainfall across the Riverina and Murray in winter, together with the increase in temperatures, weeds are becoming problematic due to the ideal growing conditions. ![]()
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