Focus on Risk Prevention with Quality Brush Control
Brush can be described as any dense collection of woody, vegetative material, including stems, branches, shrubs, and small trees. While this combination of vegetation may seem harmless, it poses several risks to infrastructure, safety and accessibility, service reliability, and natural habitats.
Combating brush, and its invasion of industrial sites, transportation corridors, and utility rights-of-way is a challenge at the forefront of vegetation management programs. Prevention and maintenance are critical to ensure unruly brush does not manifest into long-term and dangerous situations.
BRUSH DESTRUCTION
Large trees and encroaching plant species with deep root systems can compromise the stability of the ground, leading to erosion and soil displacement which can damage buried utilities. In addition to ground stability, vegetation overgrowth can cause service disruptions through falling tree branches and obstructed access to transportation routes, utility lines, and equipment. Visibility is hindered and safety risks increase when plant species are left unmanaged, including risk of wildfires. Dense brush, including dry leaves and dead vegetation, ignites easily and spreads rapidly.
While safety and reliability are areas of concern, environmental preservation is also a critical factor. Invasive and unruly species can interfere with and destroy natural habitats leaving vegetation and wildlife without an adequate ecosystem. Encroaching brush outcompetes native groups for space and sunlight. Over time, desirable and endangered species, wildlife, pollinators, and even quality soil may be affected within a region.
CONTROL METHODS
Numerous tactics have been explored as brush control options. Manual and mechanical methods are an economical burden, can be physically challenging, and oftentimes only provide short-term control. Mechanical methods that include dozing and shredding can lead to the iceberg effect or additional trouble under the surface of the ground. In addition to the costly expense, once the top growth is removed, without ridding the ground of the root system, many woody plants will quickly resprout.
In cases of dense, undesirable species, the most cost-effective, long-term method of brush control is a selective, broadcast spray application following the spring flush, when deciduous plants are fully leafed out. To increase efficacy, treatments applied in the late summer or early fall will maximize the translocation of herbicide to the root system. If it is determined that a follow-up application is required, individual plant treatments (IPT) can be performed. IPT is the most economical treatment option when target populations are low. Treatment effectiveness is based on an appropriate plan of action determined by target species and application technique. Allgiare's vast portfolio of products provides diverse solutions to use on a variety of species, use sites, and application techniques for broad-spectrum brush control.
YOUR ALLY IN VEGETATION MANAGEMENT
Contact your local Alligare Transportation & Energy specialist to learn more about the impact brush control can have on your vegetation management program. Focus on safety and prevention; manage brush and product greater results with Alligare's high-performing, broad-spectrum Transportation & Energy solutions.
