‘Knock them back’: HCT volunteers square off against wily invasive plants

Perhaps the invasive plants thought a cold morning would deter Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) volunteers. But the bittersweet and English ivy didn’t count on the can-do spirit of these lopper-wielding heroes.

And thus, another chapter of the epic battle against villainous vines played out in a quiet Harwich neighborhood. The chill just added to the thrill of an important land stewardship project.

One thing you learn pretty quickly on these outings is that invasive plants are pretty darn good at what they do. Give them a little time, a dose of sun and regular rain and watch out! It almost seems that if you stood still for a while, a bittersweet vine might travel up your leg and deftly remove your wallet.

Connor O’Brien, HCT’s Director of Land Stewardship, is an experienced hand in this titanic tussle. He said the best approach was to realize that it was impossible to completely defeat invasive plants in most areas, so you just do your best to give them a good whack. “It’s just maintenance more than anything,” he said. “You’re just trying to knock them back.”

Improving pocket sanctuaries

The fray for this day took place on two quarter-acre lots, owned by HCT, and located along Nor’East and Sou’West Drives. While the properties are small, these pocket conservation sanctuaries within neighborhood settings provide important green space for wildlife. And there’s something restful and aesthetically pleasing about having preserved, undeveloped land among the charming homes.

There are always surprises on these adventures. The first one was how cool the HCT team looked as they walked along the tidy streets, carrying serious tools of invasive plant destruction. Joined by O’Brien and AmeriCorps member Lillian Pogany, the group could have been mistaken for stars of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, sauntering confidently toward destiny.

Then, once things got going, HCT volunteer Chris Watson discovered an enormous bittersweet vine, a true showstopper, brilliantly braided by nature, but ominously strong and powerful. Without the efforts of the plant posse, these tree-choking climbers would be free to run rampant over the landscape.

‘Extremely aggressive vine’

According to the North Carolina Forest Service, Asian bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) “is native to Japan, Korea, and northern China and was introduced to the United States in the mid-1800s for ornamental purposes.” The big draw was the brightly-colored red and yellow fruits that the plant produces, popular in floral arrangements and wreaths.

But there’s a huge downside to the decorative use of bittersweet, as it creates additional opportunities for the invasive plant to spread. The seeds are already widely dispersed by wildlife and birds and bittersweet roots are prolific spreaders. And keep bittersweet out of your compost pile — you don’t want to start an invasive plant nursery in your backyard.

Once it gets going, Oriental bittersweet can wreak havoc. According to the University of New Hampshire, it is “an extremely aggressive vine that climbs on other vegetation, restricting its host plant’s access to sunlight, nutrients and water. The added weight of bittersweet vines also makes trees and other plants more vulnerable to storm damage.”

A useful tool

For someone who is always seeking new tools to battle backyard invasives, it was instructive to watch O’Brien wield a 13-inch billhook, made by Fiskars. It fits nicely in the hand and features a sickle-shaped blade that easily cuts English ivy and bittersweet vines that have wrapped themselves around trees. You can work your way around the circumference of a tree in a jiffy, nipping the nutrient pipeline that feeds the vines above.

While the vagaries and vigor of invasive plants can lend a bit of unpredictability to an HCT volunteer land stewardship outing, one thing is always certain. The easygoing sense of camaraderie and accomplishment is good for the soul and the effort is always time well spent. Sure, it’s impossible to eradicate every vine, root and tendril. But when HCT volunteers swing into action, invasives are headed for a serious smackdown.

—Volunteers are the heart of HCT and are a driving force for trail maintenance, wildlife habitat enhancement, bird nest box monitoring, office operations, citizen science projects, and more. Interested in joining the meaningful fun? Click here to fill out our Volunteer Interest Survey Form.

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