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New prickly plant after timbering. How to remove? #775696
Asked October 18, 2021, 12:39 PM EDT
I have forest land that was timbered a few years ago. There is now a low prickly plant that is growing in some areas that never existed before under the canopy. It is about the height of the ferns. It makes passage over the land very difficult. I would like to know what it is and the best options to remove it.
Iosco County Michigan
Expert Response
Good Morning,
What I see is hard to give a definite identification. Attached you will find articles on how to get rid of a number of invasive plants.
https://legacylandconservancy.org/know-your-woody-invasive-species/
https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/invasive-species/InvasivePlantsFieldGuide.pdf
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/aesculus-glabra/
https://cipwg.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/244/2016/12/Invasives_guide_2016_web.pdf
I'm sorry I couldn't be more help. Thanks for using our service.
Good Afternoon,
I believe this is virginia creeper. However, you can send in a sample to get confirmation. https://www.canr.msu.edu/pestid/
Despite being one of the most attractive plants out there, you should always admire the Virginia creeper from a safe distance and keep your children and pets away from it. According to a wide variety of sources, the Virginia creeper is a very toxic plant to humans.
The United States Department of Agriculture warns against eating them because they can be fatal to humans. In fact, the same source also claims that touching them is enough to cause skin issues.
References
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/virginia-creeper-parthenocissus-quinquefolia/
I hope this helps!