Connecticut Wildfires Versus Controlled Burns

 

              Photo of Wildfire Natchaug State Forest Photo Credit DEEP

All of the recent press about the devastating wildfires in California made me think about the role invasive plants could play in the risk of spreading wildfires in Connecticut. Research reveals invasive plants do pose an increased risk! That is yet another reason for as much of their elimination as possible. We experienced a period of extreme drought, hot dry air, and windy conditions last summer. This led to 50 forest fires in our state. One of those let to a fatality. Eventually the fires were contained, but at great expense and not without leaving widespread damage. Forest fires are becoming more common in Connecticut. There is no reason to believe that the hot dry and windy weather pattern won't happen again.  Weather patterns like this may perhaps occur with more frequency.  The above photo from 2020 shows a wildfire burning, and out of control at the Natchaug State Park in Connecticut. You can see how the fire travels along the ground being fed by leaf litter and brush. At this point, in addition to invasive plants, our forests contain numerous dead fallen trees adding to the risk of these fires spreading out of control.  Below is information regarding an age-old method of forest maintenance that also involves the use of fire. 

              Photo of a Connecticut Controlled Burn on Connecticut's Coast Photo                                                 Credit Connecticut Public

Prescribed Burning or Cultural Burning was a method long practiced by the Indigenous population of the Americas.  Fire was a tool used for many purposes. One of those purposes was to condition the landscape for a variety of uses. Prescribed burns created a patchwork of contrasting landscapes, a mixture of open grassy fields to attract grazing animals and forested habitats for hunting various other wildlife, or nut gathering. Areas for gathering other foods such as berries or herbs were also maintained using fire. These carefully controlled fires helped to clear underbrush and downed branches and trees making travel easier, while increasing visibility through the forest. It is well documented that these Indigenous Prescribed Burns occurred throughout our country with regularity. The practice also left the landscape less conducive to uncontrolled forest fires. The resulting ash from the fires kept the earth fertile. Upon European settlement, Prescribed Burns were gradually abandoned, at first restricted to areas populated by Indigenous communities. As those communities dwindled through disease or displacement, the practice was nearly abandoned completely. With European methods for farming and creating townships, fire became increasingly perceived as a danger. Now that much of our land has been abandoned for farming purposes, and has been reclaimed by the forest, thoughts by people involved in land management have returned to the practice of Prescribed Burns. Several of these have occurred recently in the state of Connecticut. The CT DEEP has been using controlled burns in place of herbicides to restore grassy habitat that has become infested with invasive plants, and to provide various ecosystems essential for the existence of a variety of wildlife. For more information on this practice click on the following link https://portal.ct.gov/deep/forestry/native-american-use-of-prescribed-fire

Thoughts on Herbicides

 

Almost all of the" How to Remove" sections included with the invasive species varieties listed on this blog include an option for removal involving the use of herbicides.   I don't advocate herbicides as the first option for removal, but I do believe there are situations where herbicides can be a useful tool when they are used properly and in moderation.  Their overuse through the years had led to some undesirable circumstances.  Therefore, great care should be taken when considering their use on your land.  

 

There are many varieties of herbicides out there.  Here I discuss a few of the more popular among them.  Although at first sight they may all seem the same, that is not true.  The variety of herbicides sold have different active ingredients and they work in different ways.  Some are broad range and kill grasses and broad-leaf plants.  Others only kill broad leaf plants.   Before considering their use do some research to find the one that works best for the plant you are attempting to control and its situation on your property.   Always read the label and follow the instructions.

 

For your safety when spraying or using any herbicide, always wear a face mask, and a shield or some type of eye protection.  Wear waterproof gloves and protective clothing.  Change your clothing and wash thoroughly after herbicide application.  Most importantly wash your hands as they can contact your mouth or eyes! Be certain to make spray applications on a calm day to prevent over drift both onto yourself and to desirable vegetation!

 

Round-up- Glyphosate

 

This herbicide is capable of killing both grasses and a variety of weeds. There are health risks associated with its use, some proven with certainty and others not yet proven.  Glyphosate is listed as the active ingredient in Round-up.  Some versions of Round-up also contain additives for example dyes so that you can see the areas sprayed, or additives to help the glyphosate cling to the foliage.  One thing that has been proven without controversy over the years since 1974 when Round-up was first marketed by Monsanto is that numerous weeds have become resistant.  This resistance has likely been caused by Glyphosate's regular use in spraying agricultural fields planted with genetically engineered herbicide resistant crops such as corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, and others.  As you can imagine the repeated high volume spraying of herbicide resistant crops with Glyphosate has led to a gradual evolution of the weeds, and many have successfully evolved one way or another to become Round-up resistant weeds. This in turn has led to crops engineered to be resistant to an ever-increasing variety of herbicides.  Eventually the weeds will become resistant to these as well.  That said, this herbicide is still very effective for home use.  It can be sprayed in proper dilution on vegetation or used in concentrated form on cut trees or shrubs to prevent regrowth from the stump.

 

Dicamba

 

Dicamba is a selective herbicide often marketed for use on lawns.  Being a selective herbicide, it kills a variety of broad-leafed plants but causes no harm to grasses.  It is another variety of herbicide presently used in spraying agricultural fields. Even if Dicamba is properly applied to a field, there is the danger of this herbicide vaporizing and forming a drifting gas.  This danger, activated by hot humid weather, can continue for up to three days after dicamba's application to a field.  The gas vapor can rise and travel, drifting a distance on a hot breezy day and damaging nearby trees and plants in its path.  At this time, the danger, if any, that this gaseous drift may pose to people or animals is unknown. If you are planning to use an herbicide containing Dicamba please keep this in mind and use it on a cool and calm day! Preferably on a series of cool days under 85 degrees to prevent potential vaporization.  Be aware of the possibility of its potential drift during and after application and potential damage to surrounding vegetation.  This herbicide will also prevent regrowth if applied to cut trees and shrubs when squirted or brushed on to them.

 

Brush Be Gone- Triclopyr

 

Triclopyr is the active ingredient in Brush-Be-Gone.  It is another selective herbicide that like dicamba kills many broad leaf woody vines and plants but will not harm surrounding grasses.  It too can be sprayed, but like any of the other herbicides mentioned above, Triclopyr can also be used by squirting the concentrated liquid into cuts made through the bark and cambium layer of a tree or shrub. It can also be applied to a cut stump to help prevent regrowth.