DURHAM, N.H. (AP) - University of New Hampshire researchers say an invasive shrub is threatening the eastern white pine, a popular tree in the forest products industry.
They say non-native plants, including the glossy buckthorn shrub, have colonized many of the state’s eastern white pine forests and interfere with tree seedlings, reducing their growth. They found that removal of the shrub helps the trees.
Researchers removed buckthorn stems on UNH land, using such techniques as cutting and using flame guns. They found that helped the pines, but that the invasive shrub was not eradicated at any site. They plan to look at less expensive approaches to removal, such as herbicides. They would like to see if they can inhibit the shrub invasion by planting mixes of other species such as grass turfs or by compacting soils.
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