Scientific name: Phragmites australis Common name: Common Reed Updated 07/2002 A. PRIORITY #5
B. DESCRIPTION Common reed is a tall, native, warm-season, perennial, sod-forming grass. It has a nearly worldwide distribution. Throughout most of its range, it typically forms closed, monodominant stands along marsh and slough edges. These stands are often dense, with up to 19 stems (live and dead) per square foot. Common reed’s primary mode of reproduction is vegetative. Its extensive rhizome network is responsible for the maintenance and expansion of existing stands. Annual rhizome lateral spread can be 16 inches to 6.6 feet per year. Stolons, which may grow up to 4.25 inches per day, are produced in young stands or over open water and further aid in rapid stand expansion. Common reed is a relatively good seed producer. The seeds are dispersed by wind and water and become a part of the marsh seed bank. Seed banking can be important in establishing new plants in vegetation-free areas following marsh drawdown. However, seeds of common reed are much less abundant in the marsh seed banks than are seeds of other marsh emergents such as cattails (Typha spp) and bulrushes (Scirpus spp.). Natural germination of common reed is uncommon, and successful seedling establishment is rare. Common reed is a high quality livestock forage during early growth stages. At this time it is readily eaten by cattle and horses and may be cut for hay. After maturity, however, it becomes tough and unpalatable. Common reed is not an important wildlife food. Occasionally, seeds are eaten by waterfowl, and rhizomes and stems by muskrats. It is an excellent soil stabilizer and spreads rapidly. It is used in many wetland rehabilitation and stabilization projects. It is used to revegetate disturbed riparian areas, control shore erosion, stabilize river and canal banks, and reduce wave action on watershed structures. It is best established by spring transplanting of sprigs or plugs collected from local stands.
C. CURRENT DISTRIBUTION ON THE SITE SEE APPENDIX 2, MAP #6
D. DAMAGE & THREATS Common reed often grows in vast, unbroken stands along marsh edges. These stands are typically dense and impenetrable, and except for the stand edge, are of little value to livestock or wildlife. Common reed grows on level ground in freshwater marshes, oxbow lakes, swales, and backwater areas of river and streams. It also grows around springs and along pond and lake margins, streambanks, and irrigation ditches. It does not grow in permanently standing water but rather is found on sites with high water tables or sites that are seasonally flooded with not more than 20 inches of water.
E. GOALS The major goal the MNWAG wants to accomplish is to lessen the economic impact caused by common reed by increasing awareness of this potentially harmful invasive weed. Once encountered, we will eradicate small stands of reeds and reduce, then control, larger stands.
F. OBJECTIVES (Measurable) (Establish measurable objectives for the planned control activities. Include:
1. the impact on numbers, density, cover, etc. that you want to achieve;
2. the size of the area in which you hope to achieve this;
3. the period in which you hope to achieve it. For example you may state your objectives in terms of reducing percent cover of the species by 50% over an area of 5 acres within 3 years. Another possible objective would be eliminating the species from the site within 2 years.)
G. MANAGEMENT OPTIONS Because of its undesirable qualities, control of common reed in marshes is sometimes necessary. However, because waterfowl may benefit from mixing common reed with other marsh plant species or open water, complete eradication is seldom warranted. Viable control options are:
(1) CHEMICAL – Aerial applications of systemic herbicides applied when plants are actively growing can control common reed. Amitrole, dalapon, and glyphosate are the most effective. Some researchers have found that split applications at one-half the dosage with the second application 15 to 30 days after the first, are more effective than a single application.
(2) PRESCRIBED BURNING – The best way to reduce common reed with prescribed burning is to burn during the summer when carbohydrate reserves in the plant are low and when the soil is dry. From a wildlife standpoint, this opens up the stands, making them more attractive to waterfowl. Using summer burning to completely eliminate common reed is difficult. "Root burn", in which prescribe fires burn deeply into organic soils and consume the rhizomes, will probably only work on marshes where the water can be completely drained or on marshes experiencing severe drought.
(3) MECHANICAL – Mechanical control includes discing or plowing, crushing, mowing, and dredging. Summer mowing greatly reduces common reed on sites that become dry during the summer but is ineffective on sites that remain moist.
(4) CULTURAL – Common reed is moderately tolerant of grazing, but prolonged heavy grazing tends to reduce the extent and size of stands. Grazing is not recommended as a control measure in waterfowl management areas because the amount of grazing needed to reduce stands would be detrimental to desirable plant species as well.
H. ACTIONS PLANNED (Treatments and monitoring) (Briefly describe the locations to be treated, materials and methods to be used, and an approximate schedule for control and monitoring activities. If several methods are to be tested, outline the design of the planned experiment or demonstration.)
I. HOW ACTIONS WILL BE EVALUATED (Criteria for success) SEE APPENDIX 4: Examples of data collection forms.
J. RESOURCE NEEDS SEE APPENDIX 3: Weed Management Plan Tables
K. RESULTS OF EVALUATION (This section is to be filled in later, preferably within 1 year, when monitoring data has been taken and evaluated, at least preliminarily. The evaluation should be used to determine whether any of the sections B-K above should be modified.)