Controlling Mile-a-Minute-Weed
Description and MRGP Control Program
How you can help
More information
Mile-a-minute-weed (Persicaria perfoliata) is an invasive vine species that has recently been found in our immediate area. This plant has the potential to become a serious problem for private lawns and ornamental landscapes, preserved forests, and unmanaged greenspaces throughout the region.
Originally from Asia, mile-a-minute-weed is particularly problematic because:
- Under favorable conditions (lots of sun), MAMW can grow 6 inches a day
- As a vine, MAMW depends on other plants for support. It can very quickly enshroud trees and shrubs and kill them either by blocking sun or pulling them down
- Very few native animals eat MAMW, so its replacement of native plants limits the food source for birds and insects.
- Its rapid growth also enables it to completely cover yards and ornamental landscapes (trees, structures, etc.).
The Mianus River Gorge Preserve (MRGP) is trying to stop the spread of MAMW in our area. Last year, Gorge staff spent many hours locating and removing MAMW patches from properties within and adjacent to the Preserve. However, the problem is much more widespread than we can handle by ourselves.
We would like to involve the local community to whatever degree they are able to help. We would like to ultimately remove MAMW in a large buffer zone around the Preserve to limit the destructive impact of this plant in a forest already stressed by deer overabundance and other invasive flora and fauna. The first step of this process is to identify where MAMW can be found. Secondly, we are accepting volunteers to help pull the weed and/or modest donations to fund temporary staff as dedicated MAMW-pullers during the summer
How you can help
Step 1: Locate Invasions - First, it would be useful to know what properties in the Bedford/North Castle/PoundRidge area contained MAMW. Interested citizens can survey their own yard and let us know yes or no (email rodc@optonline.net or call 914 234 3455). The MRGP staff is always willing to come to your property and help with taking a look around. This information can be used to plan removals, determine the extent of MAMW colonization, and possibly to predict future areas of concern.
You will want to look for MAMW in sunny areas, often along gulleys and drainage ditches. It is often found growing out of leaf or rubbish piles at the edge of the yard.
Step 2: Remove MAMW - MRGP is committed to managing a sustained effort to remove MAMW in this area. However, the species has colonized too many areas for our staff to cover alone. There are a number of possibilities for you to help with the problem:
If you find MAMW on your property, you can remove it yourself. Pulling MAMW is not difficult in and of itself; it's usually the sheer amount of weed that needs to be pulled that creates the problem.
Become familiar with the pictures of MAMW above and found on the other links below.
The vine has small thorns, but these are not very sharp and will not bother you if you wear even light work gloves. Try your best to get the root out of the ground (it usually comes out if you pull gently).
Stuff the vines into garbage bags and leave them in the sun to dry out and thoroughly kill the vines. If you don't do this there is a chance the vine may release its seeds at the garbage dump. You will probably have to go over your property multiple times through the season to get the new lengths of vine that were too small for you to see during your first visit but have since grown.
Lastly, MAMW releases seeds in late summer, so get your pulling done by early to mid August at the latest. MAMW seeds can be viable in the soil for 3 years, so you will have to monitor your property for a few years after removing all MAMW. Below is a drawing of a seeding MAMW. Note the location of the seeding bodies on the whole vine.
Step 3: Join the Program - The MRGP is also looking to build a summer team of volunteers to pull MAMW in the neighborhood. If you are interested in helping, please contact us.
Finally, if you are unable to volunteer, modest donations are being accepted to be used to hire temporary staff dedicated to removing MAMW.
Thank you for your interest in helping your local ecology.
More Info
USDA Agricultural Library
MAMW Info sheet (.pdf)
http://www.ncagr.com/plantind/plant/entomol/alert.htm
Mianus River Gorge Preserve
167 Mianus River Rd
Bedford, NY 10506-1808
(914) 234-3455
rodc@optonline.net