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Tree TalkLandscaping Tips | Plant of the Month | Tree TalkKudzu One cannot help but notice kudzu when traveling in the rural South. Kudzu is an Asian vine brought to the U.S. to control erosion. The vine took a healthy liking to the soil and climate below the Mason Dixon line and it has swallowed vast swathes of Southern real estate, choking any non mobile items in its path. It leads to striking viny vistas but it chokes out wildflowers and young trees. The Upper Arlington version of kudzu is the Asian bush honeysuckle. This aggressive woody shrub has overwhelmed the understory of any natural areas the city possesses. It is the first plant to leaf out in the spring, the last to loose its' leaves in the fall. The white flowers turn to yellow and eventually produce large crops of red berries, spread everywhere by birds. Honeysuckle grows equally well in dense shade and bright sun, producing dense thickets with vigorous three to four foot long yearly shoots. It can be found throughout Smith Nature Park, Cardiff Woods, the south side of Fancyburg Park, and anyplace in U.A that is not regularly mowed. The plant lines both sides of the entire length of Riverside Drive and also infests all of the land around the old limestone quarries. Aggressive non native plants like honeysuckle are a problem in that they outcompete less vigorous native species and result in a monoculture. Spring wildflowers and seedling trees, including dogwood and redbud don't stand a chance against it. Honeysuckle commonly outcompetes ornamental yard shrubs such as privets, wegelias, mock orange and other ornamentals. The seedling honeysuckles blend in with the more desirable shrubs and are not recognized. As both grow together, the honeysuckle eventually outcompetes and can kill the other plant. Almost every hedge in the city has invading honeysuckle growing in it. It is not possible to eradicate this pest from our natural areas at this point without an extensive and expensive effort. I would encourage removing it from your yard. It is tempting to leave a "free" shrub in place but one that grows three to four feet each year requires a large amount of time to prune each year. Viburnums are a much nicer choice. Charles J Hickey Vice Chair, Upper Arlington Tree Commission Parks & Forestry Division Parks & Recreation Department City of Upper Arlington 3600 Tremont Road Upper Arlington, OH 43221 Phone: 614-583-5340 |
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