Effects of Method of English Ivy Removal and Seed Addition on Regeneration of Vegetation in a Southeastern Piedmont Forest

Invasive plants can have substantial negative impacts on native flora and fauna. As a result, ecological restoration often involves removal of invasive species. We examined the effects of the removal of Hedera helix (English ivy) on regeneration of native vegetation in the Piedmont of Georgia. Ivy was removed by hand or by herbicide from five 5 m × 5 m plots for each treatment and half of each plot was seeded with native seeds. We then counted the number of seedlings present in each plot bimonthly over a 5-mo period. Ivy removal by pulling resulted in the greatest density and diversity of seedlings. Furthermore, these plots exhibited increased seedling density and diversity due to seed addition. Spraying was effective in removal of the ivy but significantly lowered seedling density and diversity and hindered any seed addition efforts. Control plots in which ivy was not removed had no seedlings germinate. Our results suggest that the method of exotic plant removal and the addition of native seed can have profound effects on the regeneration of native vegetation and should be a major consideration for future exotic plant removal projects.