03-26-2003 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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Wet Meadow & Upland Zones: Keep the plants watered very well during the first 3 -4 weeks. Watering needs will vary depending on the soil, weather, and temperature at the time of planting. Plants will need to be watered 1 -2" /week for the first 3 -4 weeks after planting and slightly less frequently later in the season depending on the amount of rain received. If the plants are in pure sand and the weather is dry with high temperatures, the plants may need daily watering of " or more for the first month or so. Adequate watering in the first season is one of the most important factors in a successful planting. Prepare a watering plan ahead of time. Soaker hoses or low output drip emitters, which ensure that the water reaches the plant, are ideal, but sprinklers work well too. To gauge watering needs when using a sprinkler. place a small dish in the area being watered and check it occasionally for water depth. Time how long it takes to fill the dish to 1" and use this time to know when to move the hose. A less frequent, long, deep watering is more beneficial and than many short watering sessions. The best time to water is early in the morning. Whenever possible avoid watering from noon to 5:OOpm. Plants along the shoreline can be watered directly from the lake by using a bucket to gently pour water at the base of the plant. Weed invasive species on an ongoing basis. It is easy to identify weeds in areas planted with plugs if weed scouting is done early and frequently after planting. If weeding is done early, the weeds are generally smaller than the plugs and not evenly spaced as the plugs are. Labeling and learning to identify the native plants can also be of great help. Weeds are easier to pull when they are small and they often grow faster than the native plugs, so frequency in weeding is important. Some desirable native species, especially aquatic and wet meadow ones, will come back on their own, so care should be taken to remove only invasive and nuisance species. Weeds can be hand pulled or treated selectively with herbicides. Use only aquatic formulations of an herbicide within ten feet of the water. Herbicides can be carefully applied to individual plants using a spray bottle or a dauber constructed of PVC pipe. The latter distances the applicator from the chemical and does not require bending. If you have questions about weeds or weeding, please call the Ramsey Soil and Water Conservation District. Replant if large areas of plants do not survive. Native plants will spread and seed themselves in the buffer zone, so replanting is not necessary unless there is a high mortality in a relatively large area. Plants can be replaced in early September or the following spring. Label examples of different species. To help you learn the names of the plants and to aid in weeding, label a few of each plant species within the buffer zone.