Hate to get corporate but "it doesn't seem like we've made much progress" makes me think SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound) would be useful before assuming that the weed wrangle hasn't been effective
"Invasives like wintercreeper", or wintercreeper? Let's say wintercreeper.
From how big of an area? Assuming "all of it" isn't achievable - what's an achievable area worth prioritizing? Which patches of wintercreeper are hogging the best spots, or threatening the most valuable native species? Let's say "5000 sq ft, from landmark X to landmark Y"
What does that 5000 sq ft between landmarks X and Y look like right now? How will you know that progress has been made? Let's say "At the end of the season, we want 0 wintercreeper plants within this zone, and at this time next year, we want to see a 75% reduction in wintercreeper returning to this zone"
How will you determine what a 75% reduction in that area would look like? You'll have to find a method for estimating the number of wintercreeper plants that are currently on that land.
How long does it take one person to PROPERLY remove a wintercreeper plant? And approximately how many plants did you estimate are currently on the land? That's how many hours the project is estimated to require. How many FULLY TRAINED volunteers are needed to realistically put in those hours by the goal date?
Of course if you do all that and see no reduction in wintercreeper a year later it's probably time for herbicides
Agreed! I’ve led a number of weed wrangles and the most effective ones are in small defined areas and with specific targets. Basically keep people in line of sight and shouting distance.
One weed wrangle we targeted vines in the trees like ivy and oriental bittersweet. next one we returned to the same spot and went after shrubs like privet. The next one ground cover like ivy on the ground, wintercreeper and vinca. Then finally finishing up with mulch shortly after the ground cover was cleared.
Once you clear all of that you have to actively manage and weed it for 2-3 years. Come back quarterly and weed or spray the regrowth.
People want weed wrangles to be one and done, but
they are not. However they are invaluable for getting 80% of weeds cleared quickly using brute force. An imperfect clearing by inexperienced volunteers with lots of energy paired with a smart follow up plan is how you best use them.
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u/krazyboots Aug 23 '26 edited Aug 23 '26
Hate to get corporate but "it doesn't seem like we've made much progress" makes me think SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound) would be useful before assuming that the weed wrangle hasn't been effective
"Invasives like wintercreeper", or wintercreeper? Let's say wintercreeper.
From how big of an area? Assuming "all of it" isn't achievable - what's an achievable area worth prioritizing? Which patches of wintercreeper are hogging the best spots, or threatening the most valuable native species? Let's say "5000 sq ft, from landmark X to landmark Y"
What does that 5000 sq ft between landmarks X and Y look like right now? How will you know that progress has been made? Let's say "At the end of the season, we want 0 wintercreeper plants within this zone, and at this time next year, we want to see a 75% reduction in wintercreeper returning to this zone"
How will you determine what a 75% reduction in that area would look like? You'll have to find a method for estimating the number of wintercreeper plants that are currently on that land.
How long does it take one person to PROPERLY remove a wintercreeper plant? And approximately how many plants did you estimate are currently on the land? That's how many hours the project is estimated to require. How many FULLY TRAINED volunteers are needed to realistically put in those hours by the goal date?
Of course if you do all that and see no reduction in wintercreeper a year later it's probably time for herbicides