ODNR Fountain Square Complex
Invasive Plant Control Efforts Improve Small Natural Area
at ODNR Fountain Square Complex
A small natural area, nestled among office buildings within the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ (ODNR) Fountain Square complex, is home to native flowers and fauna, as well as invasive plants. To address these invaders, Invasive Species Forester Annemarie Smith and a crew of two spent three days removing invasive plants from the northern Columbus property.
Before photo showing Amur Honeysuckle
Amur honeysuckle, privet, common buckthorn, and tree-of-heaven were among the targeted species. The stems of the largest shrubs were cut near the base with a chainsaw and then the cut stumps were treated with an herbicide to prevent resprouting. Smaller shrubs were similarly treated following cutting with hand pruners or loppers. The smallest shrubs that could be easily pulled up from the ground were hand weeded. One tree-of-heaven was found during this work and that single stem was treated with a hack-and-squirt application. This tree will be removed after it is dead.
Chemically treating Amur Honeysuckle stump
The three-day effort resulted in much improvement to the area. The area is now more visually pleasing and sightlines to the pond in the center of the area have been improved. There is still more invasive control work to be done in this small area and follow up work is planned for the fall.
Mechanically removing Amur Honeysuckle
"Hack & Squirt" treatment of Ailanthus
After treatment photo
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