Time to get after purple loosestrife

July and early August is the time to get it. Consequently, it is very manageable — unlike Japanese knotweed, which, as the article states, is beyond control.

There is currently some purple loosestrife growing in Moscow and across the road from Keewaydin Farm, for example.

I have almost singlehandedly reduced the amount growing on the Mountain Road by at least 70 percent, but would love to educate others to see and remove it in our community.

Anyone who has driven south or west has seen it completely taking over roadside ditches and swamps. I so enjoy our lack of this invasive in our community, and so do the native species. Now is the time to act, before it gets out of control.

The most simple thing to do is to cut off the flowering stalks, put them in a garbage bag and take to the transfer station.

This does have to be done every year before the flower stalk starts to go to seed, and the seeds develop from the bottom up.

The next step would be to dig up the plant and remove it. I have also used Roundup judiciously, and would be happy to help anyone interested in how and when to use it. I am an organic gardener and would never use Roundup in my gardens, but in this case it is the lesser evil.

A simple cutting of the flower heads and a quick light spray on the remaining leaves on a dry day will remove this plant forever.

There are informational brochures available outside the town clerk’s office. Here is a link to a Vermont invasives site: vtinvasives.org/invaders/purple-loosestrife.

Lyndall Heyer

Stowe