United States 

Department of 

Agriculture 

Forest Service 

Nottheastern Forest 

Experiment Station 

Research Paper 

N E-497 

s Hardwoods 

in Wes Virginia 

G. W. Wende 

J. N. Kochenderfer 
The Authors 

G. W. Wendel, research forester, joined the Northeastern Forest 

Experiment Station's Timber and 

Watershed Laboratory, Parsons, 

West Virginia, in 1962. He received a 

B.S. degree in forestry from Iowa 

State University in 1951, and a 

master's degree in forestry from 

Yale University in 1957. 

J. N. Kochenderfer, research 

forester, joined the USDA Forest 

Service in 1960 and has been stationed at the Northeastern Station's 

Timber and Watershed Laboratory 

since 1967. He received a B.S. degree in forestry from West Virginia 

University and a master's degree in 

forestry from Duke University. 

Manuscript received for publication 8 

June 1981 

Abstract 

Applications of Roundup, a glyphosate, by mistblower were effective in controlling hay-scented fern, 

blackberries, and some tree, shrub, 

and herbaceous species on an experimental watershed in West Virginia. Damage to planted Norway 

spruce was slight at rates of 1, 2, 

and 3 qtlacre (0.75, 1.50, and 2.25 

lblacre of the acid glyphosate). A 

variety of hardwood species were 

killed following injections of 20 or 

50 percent solution of Roundup at a 

rate of 1.5 ml per incision. The cuts 

were spaced at 1.5 inches, edge to 

edge, around the stem near 

groundline. Resprouting of the 

treated hardwoods was minimal 

after 2 years. 
The banning of 2,4,5-T and restrictions on the use of other 

phenoxy-based herbicides has drastically curtailed the use of these 

chemicals in forestry practices. 

Roundup1, a water-soluble compound that contains 3 lblgal of the 

acid glyphosate (Isopropylamine salt 

of N-(phosphonomethy I) glycine) 

may be an effective substitute for 

2,4,5-T in some forestry applications. 

Roundup is registered for use 

in certain forestry operations including site preparation and direct foliage spraying on undesirable vegetation. It can be used for conifer release but this use is not recommended in several southern states. 

Norway spruce and Scotch pine 

have shown a profound tolerance to 

glyphosate during the mature 

growth stage, and less tolerance 

during shoot elongation (Lund-Hoie 

1975, 1976). In Norway, target 

species appeared more sensitive to 

autumn application. In western Oregon, Douglas-fir, grand fir, noble fir, 

and ponderosa pine were not affected by foliar applications of 

Roundup applied at 1 qt or less per 

acre (Newton 1977). Best results 

were obtained just before leaf abscission. Also, injections of 1 ml per 

6 inches of diameter were effective 

on western hardwoods treated in 

late summer. 

In the East, applications of I 

qtlacre of Roundup on the Allegheny Plateau in Pennsylvania controlled the development of hayscented fern, Mew Vork fern, shorlhusk grass, bracken fern, wild oat 

grass, rough-stemmed goldenrod, 

and flat-topped aster for 3 years. 

The use of trade, firm, or corporation names in this paper is for 

the information and convenience of 

the reader. Such use does not constitute an official endorsement or 

approval by the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture or the Forest Service of 

any product or sewice to the exclusion of others that may be suitable. 

One year after application, survival 

and growth of planted and natural 

black cherry seedlings on the plots 

were not affected2. 

The objectives of this study 

were (1) to determine the tolerance 

Horsley, Stephen B. Effectiveness of herbicides in controlling 

ground covers in orchard stands 

and woodlands. In preparation. 

of planted Norway spruce and natural vegetation to different rates of 

Roundup applied at different times 

with a mistblower, (2) to determine 

the effectiveness of injections of 

Roundup in killing hardwood 

saplings larger than I-inch dbh and 

large cull beech trees. Testing was 

done in West Virginia on the Fernow Experimental Forest and on the 

Cheat Ranger District, Monongahela 

National Forest. 

Figure 1.--General condition of spruce before treatment. 
Methods 

The dominant species of vegetation on the Norway spruce area 

before treatment were hay-scented 

fern and blackberry, which accounted for about 60 percent of the 

ground cover. Small saplings, 

mostly red maple, sweet birch, 

sassafras, sourwood, and downy 

serviceberry, were intermingled with 

greenbrier, azalea and were underlain by patches of haircap moss. 

The spruce ranged in height from 

about 1 to 3 feet; most were partially or completely overtopped 

(Fig. 1). Aerial spraying of the area 

with 2,4,5-T 3 years earlier provided 

only short-term control of the blackberries and hardwoods; control of 

the hay-scented fern was minimal. 

At the time of these tests, the average height of the regrowth was between 3 and 6 feet. 

Application by Mistblower 

Roundup was applied to 115- 

acre plots with a mistblower at rates 

of 1, 2, and 3 qtlacre (0.75, 1.50, and 

2.25 Iblacre) on August 15, September 1, and September 15, 1978. 

The amount of Roundup required for 

the three application rates was 

mixed with enough water to prepare 

3 gal of mixture to ensure complete 

and uniform coverage. The final 

evaluation of the mistblown area 

was made in the late summer of the 

second growing season. A subjective evaluation was made by rating 

species controlled in 8 milacre plots 

in each 115-acre plot. Hardwoods 

were considered controlled if crown 

foliage was less than 20 percent. . Hay-scented fern, blackberries, 

greenbrier, and haircap moss were 

considered controlled if the amount 

of the plot they occupied was 

reduced by 80 percent or more. 

Damage to spruce also was noted. 

Tree Injection 

The injection areas had been 

planted with 2-0 eastern white pine 

8 years earlier following clearcutting 

of the overstory hardwoods. At the 

time of release, the pines were 2 to 

3 feet tall, sparsely needled, and 

overtopped by seedling- and sproutorigin hardwood stems 15 to 20 feet 

tall. We used 20 and 50 percent 

solutions of Roundup and injected 

approximately 1.5 ml of solution 

into each cut. Trees were injected in 

mid-September or mid-November. 

Cuts were spaced at 1.5 inches, 

edge to edge, around the circumference of the tree a few inches 

above groundline. The same procedure was used to treat 24 cull beech 

trees 8 to 24 inches in diameter at 

breast height, except that 2 ml of 20 

percent solution was injected into 

each incision. 

Injected hardwood stems were 

examined in September of the 

second growing season after treatment. The species, number of stems 

injected, and number of injected 

dead stems were recorded. Release 

effect on white pine was noted in 

change of needle color and agparent vigor of seedlings. 

Results 

Release of Noway Spruce 

The effects of mistblowing were 

evident within 2 to 3 weeks after 

treatment; this was earlier than had 

been anticipated. Observations 2 

years after treatment did not differ 

from those 1 year after treatment. In 

general, at all rates and times of 

application, most of the woody 

species, hay-scented fern, and blackberries were controlled 

(Table 1). However, overall control of 

the woody species seemed to be 

slightly better at the two heavier 

rates. %i 

The most resistant species of 

vegetation were greenbrier, cucumbertree, and haircap moss 

(Table 1)- They appeared little affected for all levels of Roundup. 

Species f hat showed intermediate 

Table I.-Sensitivity of various species of vegetation %B mistblown 

Roundup at rates of 1.50 and 2.25 iblacre of the acid 

8 lyphosate applied August 15, September I, and 

eptember 15 

Intermediate 

resistanceb 

Devil's walking-stick Sourwood Greenbrier 

Red maple White ash Norway spruce 

Blackberry Flowering dogwood Gucum bertree 

Hay-scented fern Clu bmoss Haircap moss 

Azalea 

Sweet birch 

Chestnut oak 

Sassafras 

Pin cherry 

Bigtooth aspen 

Black cherry 

Black locust 

Yellow-poplar 

Northern red oak 

Downy serviceberry 

Bracken fern 

Broom sedge 

St. John's-wort 

a After 2 years, no foliage or any sprouting from base of dead sterns. b Crowns partially killed; second-year foliage deformed and sparse. 

After 2 years, foliage appeared normal and healthy. 
resistance to Roundup were sour- even less pronounced, or had dis- Autumn bent grass is now the most 

wood, white ash, flowering dog- appeared. The damaged spruce prevalent species on these plots. 

wood, and clubmoss. These species were on the areas treated with 2 and 

still had some folia~e, but most 3 atlacre. Effects of Tree Injection 

were deformed andthe foliage was 

scattered. Sourwood trees sprouted 

at the base but the sprouts were deformed. 

Norway spruce appeared only 

slightly sensitive to Roundup. In the 

first year we observed only four 

trees with needle damage; by the 

second year, the symptoms were 

Treatment remained effective 

for at least 2 years. While some herbaceous plants, grass, and young 

blackberries have become reestablished on the area, we do not feel 

that they are serious competitors to 

the spruce. In effect, the Roundup 

has set back plant succession to 

the grass-herbaceous stage. 

lnjection proved effective in 

killing hardwoods 1.0 inch or more 

in diameter that had overtopped 

planted white pine. There was no 

difference in the kill rate at injections of 20 or 50 percent solution, 

nor was there any difference in kill 

between application dates. The kill 

rate was best when the prescribed 

method was followed. When spac- - 

ing exceeded 1.5 inches, only part 

of the tree crown was killed in some 

instances, On stumps with a large 

number of sprouts, especially red 

maple, control was excellent when 

the stumps were treated as prescribed (Fig. 2). 

The response sf white pine to 

injection was highly visible 2 years 

after treatment. Before injection, the 

pines were yellowish green, mostly 

crooked, very slow growing, and 

sparsely needled. Two years after 

release, the pine foliage was much 

more dense and foliage was a 

bluish green. The effect on height 

growth of pine was not measured 

per se, but observations indicated 

that second-year internodes generally were longer than in the previous year. 

The effect of Roundup injection 

on various hardwood species is 

shown in Table 2. Dogwood was the 

most resistant of the species 

treated. We observed sprouting on 

one sourwood clump, but the 

sprouts were small and the leaves 

were deformed. After 2 years, we 

did not observe basal sprouting on 

any of the other species injected. 

After 1 year, 54 percent of the 

injected large cull beech trees had 

dead crowns. During the second 

growing season, 75 percent of the 

treated trees were leafless and the 

trees appeared dead (Table 3). Of 

the remaining trees, crown kill 

ranged from 50 to 80 percent. 

Figure 2.---Typical red maple clump injected with Roundup. 
Table 2.-Effectiveness of 

ections of Roundup in 

ling sapling hardwood 

trees 

Number Number 

Species observed observed 

injected dead - - 

Sassafras 

White oaka 

Sourwooda 

American 

chestnut 

Red maplea 

Black locust 

Blackgum 

Flowering 

dogwood 

Chestnut oaka 

Downy 

serviceberry 

Witch-hazela 

Yellow-poplar"" 

a Mostly sprouts. 

Table 3.-Effect of Roundup injection on large cull 

beech trees 2 years after 

treatment 

Dbh Number of Number of 

class trees dead crowns 

Discussion 

Noway spruce was slightly 

sensitive to Roundup at the two 

higher rates used in these preliminary tests. Although some needle 

burn was observed on a few trees 

the first year, most of the symptoms 

had disappeared by the end of the 

second growing season. Blackberries and hay-scented fern were 

100 percent controlled for at least 2 

years on the test area, and control 

of many woody species was adequate. 

8 

12 , 

14 

16 

18 

20 

22 

24 

Total 

The use of 1 ml of undiluted 

glyphosate (Mon-0139) at 4 lb active 

materiallgal and incisions at 7 

inches was effective in killing sweet 

gum and blackjack oak in the south 

(Mann and Haynes 1978; Mann 

1979). A 1:1 mixture of Tordon 101 

and glyphosate (Mon-0139) was effective in controlling hickory. 

This study showed that foliar 

application of Roundup was effective from August 15 until September 

15. Earlier or later dates may be effective, but these were not tried. 

Lund-Hoie (19"7, 1976) and Newton 

(1977) reported good results from 

application several weeks before 

leaf abscission. 

One of the study objectives 

was to determine an effective rate 

and time for foliar spraying of the 

entire watershed. The test plots 

provided this information and on 

September 6, 1980, the watershed 

was helicopter sprayed with 10 

gallacre of 5 percent Roundup solution (2 qt Roundup per acre). Treatment effects will be monitored annually to provide additional data on 

sensitivity of various species and 

growth response of Norway spruce. 

These tests also demonstrated 

that unwanted hardwoods can be 

controlled by injections with Roundup. For example, release from cornpeting hardwoods usually is necessary to reestablish a white pine 

component in hardwood stands. By 

using injectors, the percentage of 

white pine in the new stand can be 

controlled, 

In our region, more work is 

needed to determine the best spacing of incisions and the optimum 

concentrations of different herbicides and mixtures for various species. Frequently, we wish to control 

many species of hardwoods not 

only for conifer release but also to 

release hardwood crop trees in 

young stands. The effectiveness of 

Roundup in controlling sprouting 

from treated hardwoods is of major 

importance in crop-tree release 

work. 

The season of the year when injection is most effective on different 

tree species needs to be better defined. We know from experience 

with other water-soluble herbicides 

that injection is not effective on 

trees such as maples and birches 

during periods of strong sap flow. 

Newton and Smith (1976), working 

with Silvisar 510 and 550, recornmended that treatment of maples, 

beeches, and birches be avoided 

from January to May, Injection during the dormant season, however, 

usually is desirable from the standpoint of workloads. It is generally 

easier to get around in the woods 

during the dormant season, and the 

bases of the trees to be treated are 

not obscured by other plants. 

The results of this preliminary 

study indicate that Roundup has POtential uses in central Appalachian 

forests. The effectiveness of Roundup on a wide spectrum of species, 

its water solubility, selectivity on 

some conifers, and reportedly rapid 

breakdown and immobilization in 

the soil enhance this potential. 

Acknowledgment 

We thank the personnel of the 

Cheat Ranger ~istiict, Monongahela 

National Forest, particularly David 

Welsch and Mike Ledden, for their 

assistance in locating suitable areas 

and their help with the installation 

of the study. 
List of Species Mentioned in this Paper 

Common Name Scientific Name 

American beech 

American chestnut 

Bigtooth aspen 

Blackgum 

Black locust 

Cherry 

Black 

Pin 

Cucumbertree 

Doug las-f ir 

Downy serviceberry 

Fir 

Grand 

Noble 

Flowering dogwood 

Maple 

Red 

Sugar 

Norway spruce 

Oak 

Blackjack 

Chestnut 

Northern red 

Pine 

Eastern white 

Ponderosa 

Scotch 

Sassafras 

Sourwood 

Sweet birch 

Sweet gum 

White ash 

Yellow-poplar 

Fagus grandifolia Ehrh. 

Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Borkh. 

Populus gradidentata Michx. 

Nyssa sylvatica Marsh. 

Robinia pseudoacacia L. 

Prunus serotina Ehrh. 

Prunus pensylvanica L, f . Magnolia acuminata L. 

Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco 

Amelanchierarborea (Michx, f.) Fern. 

Abies grandis (Dougl. ex. D. Don) Lindl. 

Abies procera Rehd. 

Cornus florida L. 

Acer rubrum L. 

Acer saccharum Marsh. 

Picea abies (L.) Karst. 

Quercus marilandica Muenchh 

Quercus prinus L. 

Quercus rubra L. 

Pinus strobus L. 

Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws 

Pinus sylvestris L. 

Sassafras albidum (Nutt.) Nees 

Oxydendron arboreum (L.) DC. 

Betula lenta L. 

Liquidoumbar styraciflua L. 

Fraxinus americana L. 

Liriodendron tulipifera L. 

Shrubs and Herbaceous Vegetation 

Aster 

Azalea 

Blackberry 

Broom sedge 

CI u bmoss 

Devil's walking-stick 

Fern 

Bracken 

Hay-scented 

New York 

Goldenrod 

Grass 

Autumn bent 

Wild oat 

Greenbriers 

Haircap moss 

St. John's-wort 

Witch-hazel 

Aster umbellatus Mill. 

Rhododendron nudiflorum (L.) Torr. 

Rubus spp. 

Andropogon virginicus L. 

Lycopodium L. spp. 

Aralia spinosa L. 

Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Ku hn 

Dennstaedtia punctilobula (Michx.) Moore 

Dryopteris noveboracensis (L.) Grory 

Solidago spp, 

Agrostis perennans Walt. Tuckerm. 

Danthonia compressa Aust. 

Smilax rotundifolia L. 

Polytrichum commune 

Hypericum punctatum Lam. 

Hamamelis virginiana L. 
Literature Cited 

Lund-Hoie, Kare. N-phosphonomethylglycine (glyphosate), an 

alternative to commercial and preand post-emergence herbicides 

for the control of unwanted 

species in forest plantations in 

Norway. 1975; Agric. Coll, of Norway Sci. Rep. 54:NR6. 13 p. 

Lund-Hoie, Kare. The correlation between the tolerance of Norway 

spruce to glyphosate and the uptake, distribution, and metabolism 

of the herbicide in the spruce 

plants. 1976; Agric. Coll. of Norway Sci. Rep. 55:NR21. 25 p. 

Mann, W. F., Jr. Glyphasate is 

highly effective for tree injection. 

1979; USDA For. Serv. Res. Pap. 

SO-150. 7 p. 

Mann, W. F., Jr.; Haynes, M. J. 

Status of some new herbicides. 

1978; USDA For. Serv. Gen. Tech. 

Rep. SO-21. 18 p. 

Newton, Michael. Silvi~ultural applications of glyphosate. Corvallis, 

OR: Oregon State Univ, School of 

Forestry; 1977. 6 p. 

Newton, Michael; Smith, Robert W. 

Injection and aerial spraying 

herbicides in Vermont. North, 

Logger 25(2):10,13,35,37; 1976. 
Caution 

Pesticides used improperly can be 

injurious to man, animals, and plants. 

Follow the directions and heed all precautions on the labels. 

Store pesticides in original 

containers under lock and key-out of 

the reach of children and animals-and 

away from food and feed. 

Apply pesticides so that they do not 

endanger humans, livestock, crops, beneficial insects, fish, and wildlife. Do not 

apply pesticides when there is danger of 

drift, when honey bees or other pollinating insects are visiting plants, or in ways 

that may contaminate water or leave illegal residues. 

Avoid prolonged inhalation of pesticide sprays or dusts; wear protective 

clothing and equipment if specified on 

the container. 

If your hands become contaminated 

with a pesticide, do not eat or drink until 

you have washed. In case a pesticide is 

swallowed or gets in the eyes, follow the 

first aid treatment given on the label, and 

get prompt medical attention. If a pesticide is spilled on your skin or clothing, 

remove clothing immediately and wash 

skin thoroughly. 

NOTE: Some States have restrictions on the use of certain pesticides. 

Check your State and local regulations. 

Also, because registrations of pesticides 

are under constant review by the Environmental Protection Agency, consult 

your local forest pathologist, county agricultural agent, or State Extension 

specialist to be sure the intended use is 

still registered. 
Wendel, G. W.; Kochenderfer, J. N. Glyphosate controls hardwoods in West Virginia. Broomall, PA: Northeast. For, Exp. 

Stn.; 1982; USDA For. Serv. Res. Pap. NE-497. 7 p. 

Applications of Roundup, a glyphosate, by mistblower were 

effective in controlling hay-scented fern, blackberries, and 

some tree, shrub, and herbaceous species on an experimental 

watershed in West Virginia. Damage to Norway spruce was 

slight at rates of 1, 2, and 3 qtlacre (0.75, 1.50, and 2.25 lblacre 

of the acid glyphosate). A variety of hardwood species was 

killed following injections of 20 or 50 percent solution of 

Roundup at a rate of 1.5 ml per incision. The cuts were 

spaced at 1.5 inches, edge to edge, around the stem near 

groundline. Resprouting of the treated hardwoods was minimal after 2 years. 

ODC 414.13:414.22:414.26:174.7 Picea abies L. + 174.7 Pinus 

strobus L. 

Keywords: Injection; mistblowing; white pine; Norway spruce 

i 
Headquarters of the Northeastern Forest Experiment Station are in 

Broomall, Pa. Field laboratories are maintained at: 

* Amherst, Massachusetts, in cooperation with the University of 

Massachusetts. 

Berea, Kentucky, in cooperation with Berea College. * Burlington, Vermont, in cooperation with the University of 

Vermont. 

Delaware, Ohio. * Durham, New Hampshire, in cooperation with the University of 

New Hampshire. 6. 

* Harnhn, Connecticut, in cooperation with Yale University. 

Maamtown, West Virginia, in cooperation with West V 

University, Morgmtown. 

@ Orono, Maine, in coopration with (fit! University of Maine, 

Orono. 

@ Parsons, West Virginia* * Princeton, West Virginia. * Syracuse, New York, in cooperation with th,e State University of 

New York College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry at 

Syracuse University, Syracuse. 

University Park, Pennsylvania, in cooperation with the 

Pennsylvania State University. * Warren, Pennsylvania,