Comparing E-Z-Ject Application of Roundup with Foliar Application of Krenite in the Control of Aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) in Tallgrass Prairie

Aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) clones growing in tallgrass prairie resist fire and, once established, seem to be encouraged by it. If aspen grows tall, its shade drastically reduces the diversity of native prairie vegetation (Millbauer and Leach, unpubl. data). At Faville Prairie State Natural Area, in southeastern Wisconsin, we have focused aspen-control efforts on cutting and chemical weeding. Our goal has not been to eliminate aspen. Rather, it has been to protect the high-diversity wet-mesic prairie vegetation (see Leopold 1940, Curtis 1959, Partch 1962) from too much shade. Hence, we are interested in comparing the effectiveness of aspen control techniques that are cost and labor efficient but safe for nonarget species. This paper details our experience of injecting aspen trunks with glyphosate (Roundup registered ) using an E-Z-Ject registered lance and, alternatively, cutting the clones and following up with a foliar application of fosamine ammonium (Krenite registered ) to the resprouts.