NSP Manual PDF

8/9/2019 NSP Manual PDF

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Neighborhood Stewardship Project:

Restoration Manual

W I S S A H I C K O N R E S T O R A T I O N V O L U N T E E R S W I S S A H I C K O N R E S T O R A T I O N V O L U N T E E R S


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Photo by J. Powell

A publication of the Wissahickon Restoration Volunteers

3721 Midvale AvenuePhiladelphia, PA 19129

(215) 951-0330 ext. [email protected]

http://wissahickon.patrails.org


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2W I S S A H I C K O N R E S T O R A T I O N V O L U N T E E R S W I S S A H I C K O N R E S T O R A T I O N V O L U N T E E R S


Table of Contents

The Wissahickon Park ............................................................................................................3A History ...........................................................................................................................3Cultural and Ecosystem Value ............................................................................................4

Who are the Wissahickon Restoration Volunteers? ..............................................................5

What is the Neighborhood Stewardship Project? ..................................................................6

Natural Restoration ............................................................................................................ 7-17Step One: Site Assessment ................. ............................ ................. ............................. ....... 7Step Two: Invasive Plant Removal ................... ............................... .......................... ..... 8-13

Species to Know and Removal Techniques

Burning bush (Euonymus alatus) ..............................................................................................8Bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera) ......................................................................................8Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) .............................................................................................9Grapevine (Vitis species) .............................................................................................................9Golden bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea) ......................................................................................9Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) .............................................................................................10Devils walking stick (Aralia elata)...........................................................................................10English ivy (Hedera helix).........................................................................................................10Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) .............................................................................11Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) ........................................................................11Japanese stiltgrass ( Microstegium vimineum) ........................................................................11Kudzu (Pueraria lobata) ..........................................................................................................12Mile-a-minute (Persicaria perfoliata) .....................................................................................12Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) .............................................................................................12Norway maple (Acer platanoides) ........................................................................................... 13

Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)............................................................................13Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) ...................................................................................................... 13Spurge (Pachysanra terminalis) ..............................................................................................14Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) .......................................................................................14

Wineberry (Rubus phenicolasius) ............................................................................................14Step Three: Native Planting ................. ............................. ............................ ................ 15-17

Whats the benefit of planting native plants? .................... .............................. ............15Choosing native plants ..............................................................................................15List of some native species ....... .................. ............................ ............................ .......16Planting techniques ...................................................................................................17

Step Four: Site Maintenance ................. ............................. ............................ ................... ..17

Responsibil ities of a Site Leader .....................................................................................18-21WRV Safety Policy .................. ............................. ............................ ................. ...........18-19

NSP Site Leader requirements ..........................................................................................20Volunteer Coordination and Motivation ..................... ............................ ............................21

Contact Information .............................................................................................................22

Helpful References .................................................................................................................23Glossary of terms ................ ............................ ................... ............................. ................. 24

Pages


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The Wissahickon Park

A History

Although the Wissahickon Valley is considerednatural or wild land, in the last 300 years ithas been used extensively for agriculture, water-mill-powered industry and recreation. AfterWilliam Penns survey team first visited the areain 1681, farms, and small sawmills and gristmillswere developed throughout the 18 th century,

mainly along the mouth of Wissahickon Creekand the floodplains of its tributaries. Industrialdevelopment during the first half of the 19 th cen-tury, led to the construction of 24 large indus-trial mills along Wissahickon Creek. In the latterhalf of the 19th century, concern was raisedabout the quality of Philadelphia drinking wa-ter, which came from Wissahickon Creek and

concern led to the purchase of most of the

Philadelphia portion of the Wissahickon Val-ley by the state assembly and the City of Phila-delphia by 1867. By 1884, the last mill wasclosed, and the Valley became increasinglypopular as a recreational destination, with car-riage rides along Forbidden Drive and stops atinns (like Valley Green Inn) along the Creek.The 20th century saw an expansion of residen-tial development around the Wissahickon Val-ley, the closure of Forbidden Drive to vehicu-

lar traffic, the construction of a network oftrails and a greater recreational use of the areaby walkers, hikers, bicyclists and equestrians.

Photo by Dani-Ella Betz

Photo by J. Powell


the Schuylkill River. This


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The Wissahickon has 57 miles of trails, manyhistoric structures, three public stables and is the nearestintact wilderness for 1.5 million, city dwelling Philadel-

phians to enjoy. As the home of the Valley Green Inn,which has been in operation for 150 years, the Wissa-hickon is the chosen site for many people to celebrate im-portant moments in their lives. Birthdays, achievements,anniversaries and weddings have all been celebrated onthe banks of the Wissahickon Creek. Opportunities foreducation in the Wissahickon abound. The WissahickonEnvironmental Center, known as the Treehouse, hastaught thousands of children and adults about biologyand the environment. Universities, historians, localschools, adult education groups, birders, bicyclists, envi-

ronmentalists, runners, anglers, volunteer groups and in-dividual citizens hold gatherings, classes, workshops,lectures and outings in and about the Wissahickon everyyear. Weather trying to get to the Indian Statue carved in1902, sledding down Tommys Hill or simply going for awalk the Wissahickon offers something for everyone.

Cultural and Ecosystem Value

This culturally important landmark is also valued as an ecosystem. Many Philadelphiaresidents are unaware of this almost 2000 acre urban park. Ninety-four percent of natu-ral land in the Wissahickon is forest and 6% is either meadowland, shrubland, or water.

Due to extensive human use, much of the park is degraded and over-run with invasive-exotic plants. The Wissahickon Restoration Volunteers (WRV) is one of the groups thatworks to remove these non-native plants from the Wissahickon. According to Fair-mount Park, most of the native canopy tree species are present in the park, [but] thereare reductions in many shrub and herb species of the understory Wissahickon Parkhas the highest species diversity of any of the Fairmount Park system areas. The vary-ing forests, meadows, and aquatic ecosystems found within the park are biologicallyimportant for wildlife and plant diversity.

Birds in our area use our forests as nesting sites, wintering grounds, or roosting placesduring migration. Forest fragmentation, and the change in habitat that results, is an im-

portant factor in the decline of several bird species. Forest preservation or restoration isa factor in their success. Declining local nesting birds include thrushes such as the veryand woodthrush, which depend on intact understories for nesting. Even for forest birdswhose population is not declining, protection of forest habitat creates an urban environ-ment in which birds can nest or roost successfully. This applies to a large range of birdsincluding warblers such as the Louisiana waterthrush and ovenbird, which depend onintact forest environments, including a healthy understory, to nest successfully.

Photo by Amanda Hymansmith



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Who are the Wissahickon Restoration Volunteers?

Wissahickon Restoration Volunteers(WRV) is a nonprofit organizationdedicated to the natural restoration ofthe Wissahickon Valley section ofFairmount Park, Philadelphia. WRVwas founded by a group of conserva-tion-minded volunteers who haveworked actively on restoration pro-jects in the Wissahickon Park since1986. In 1997, WRV was formally

structured as a member organizationof the New Beginnings Nonprofit Incubator Program at Resources for HumanDevelopment, a 501(c) 3 (nonprofit) entity. WRVs ongoing work is based onthe Fairmount Park System Master Plan and focuses on native tree and shrubplanting, invasive plant removal and trail repair with the help of communityvolunteers. The volunteers learn about the value of a restored environment insafeguarding water quality, maintaining a healthy ecosystem and providingrecreational opportunities in a natural setting. By volunteering to restore theenvironment, the community surrounding the Wissahickon Valley is develop-ing a sense of stewardship for the exceptional natural resource on its doorstep.

In the past 12 years, WRV has : planted over 10,000 native trees, shrubs and

herbaceous plants, with a 90% success rate removed acres of invasive plants at 17 sites Led thousands of committed volunteers

who have donated over 25,000 hours tonatural restoration work in the Wissahickon.

WRV is not funded by the city, although ourwork benefits Philadelphia citizens. Our fund-ing comes from individuals membership(please join!) and grants. Members receive amonthly email and a quarterly newsletter. WRValso sponsors an annual 10K trail run or 5Kwalk in the Wissahickon Park called the Wissa-hickon Trail Classic, which takes place in June.

Photo by Susannah Beckett




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What is the Neighborhood Stewardship Project?

The Neighborhood Stewardship Project is an initiative by the Wissahickon Restora-tion Volunteers to empower local community volunteers to become stewards of thenatural areas in their neighborhoods through knowledge, practice, and support.

WRVs goals for the 2009 Neighborhood Stewardship Project:

Teach local residents how to conduct natural restoration work in an ecologicallyresponsible, safe, and enjoyable way in their section of the Wissahickon park

Help create neighborhood restoration groups that will work independently, un-der the guidance of WRV, to continue natural restoration

Offer ongoing support to the newly formed neighborhood restoration groups.Examples of support include: planning collaborative workdays, monitoring pro-gress, consultation, and statistic gathering.

Group IdentityEach Neighborhood Stewardship Project group is encouraged to come up with agroup name. For groups with tech-savvy individuals,emailing lists, blogs, and even websites are great tools tokeep volunteers current on restoration efforts.

Neighborhood LeadersAt the end of this project, WRV aims for one or twoNeighborhood Leaders to emerge from these groups.

Neighborhood Leaders are responsible for documenting andreporting site progress to WRV, overseeing tools and plants,training new neighborhood volunteers, and coordinatingwork sessions. These leaders will receive Fairmount ParkCommission permits allowing them to carry out restorationwork in the Wissahickon.





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Step 1.) Site Assessment

Get to know your site. Walk a few hundred feet around the area intended for res-toration.

Identify the native plant population as best you can. Which natives are thriving inthe area? Which native plants seem to be struggling or are absent altogether?

Identify the invasive plants. Note whether there are many types of invasive plantsor one species that is predominant. This will help you plan what tools to bring.

Is there evidence of deer in the area, i.e. a suspicious lack of ground cover and for-est understory, deer rub on the trees, or droppings? Knowing this will help youdecide which native plants have the best chance of survival: Larger plants andspecies deer do not like to eat, like evergreens and spicebush.

Learn about the history of the site. Has restoration work been done there in thepast? Does Fairmont Park or the PWD have any future plans for that area? Arethere any historic structures or plantings to be aware of?

Assess the safety of the site for yourself and other volunteers

Natural Restoration for the NSP

Natural restoration is the focus of all of WRVs work. This means that we workin areas that have been badly affected by human disturbance and attempt to restorethose areas to a more natural state. This is done, in part, by removing invasive plantsand replacing them with plants that are native to Philadelphia. When these restoredsites are maintained, they have a good chance of functioning properly as part of thelarger ecosystem of the Wissahickon forest. The restored sites help stabilize the forestfloor, protect the tree canopy, provide habitat and nutrient rich food for wildlife andinsects, keep the watershed healthy and clean, and add to the natural beauty of anortheastern forest.

We have outlined four steps that will help Neighborhood Stewardship Projectgroups get started on natural restoration in their neck of the woods, including:

Step 1.) Site AssessmentStep 2.) Invasive Plant Removal

Step 3.) Native PlantingStep 4.) Site Maintenance




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Invasive PlantsWhats the big deal?

BURNING BUSH (Euonymus alatus) can grow to 12 ft. tall. Thegreen branches and twigs have four wide, corky wings. Thecrown of the burning bush is very dense and broad. The leavesare elliptical in shape and turn a bright red in the fall.

Introduced in the 1860s as an ornamental, Burning bushis still being used in landscaping. It grows well in full sun aswell as deep shade and in dry to relatively moist soils. It is most

problematic in open woods and in mature second growth uplandforests, pastures and hill prairies in the East and Midwest.Burning bush can be controlled by consistent cutting.

Foliar spraying with Roundup in early summer may be neces-sary where large populations are established.

People are sometimes surprised to learn that a big part of natural restoration involvesthe removal of many plants and trees. These plants are called invasives. Most invasivespecies are exotic, coming from other ecosystems around the world. In their nativehabitat, plant numbers are kept in balance by natural predators, but when introducedas non-natives, are often able to spread rapidly without the constraints of natural com-petition. Invasive-exotic plants usurp natural resources of native plants by out-competing them for space, pollinators, nutrients, light, and water. Some exotics caneven kill native plants by strangling them. Native wildlife is threatened by exoticplants, as they rarely provide food or habitat. Other problems arise when non-native

plants are transported along with soil containing pests and seeds.

Common Invasive Species found in theWissahickon:

BUSH HONEYSUCKLE (Lonicera species) can grow 6-15 ft. tallwith smooth oval leaves that are 1-2 in. in length. The flowersbloom in spring, ranging in color from white and yellow tomany shades of red, depending on the species. Its berries growin pairs and can vary from red to orange. The stems are hollow.

They are found along forest edges, fields, pastures,roadsides, and open land. They can form a dense shrub layerthat crowds and shades out native plants, and out-compete na-tive bush honeysuckles for pollinators. They reproduce fromthe roots and through the berries, which are attractive to birds.

Hand removal is useful for smaller growths. Repeatedclippings near the ground will kill the plant. If the plants are cut

once and left to grow, however, they may form standsthat are denser than prior to the initial cutting.naturalbiodiversity.org

Helpfulgardener.com


Step 2.) Invasive Plant Removal


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GRAPEVINE (Vitis species) is common through-out the Wissahickon. It has leaves that taper to apoint. Some species have leaves that are dividedinto 3-5 lobes. Stems become woody with age andhave tendrils for climbing. Sections that havebeen cut can easily generate new plants. Porcelainberry, a type of invasive grapevine, has purple -blue berries with white and gray spots.

Grapevine grows along trees and otherplants and strangles them by impeding growthand pulling them to the ground. It can attach to the tops of trees and saplings.

Manual cutting should be conducted both at ground level and at least 3 ft from theground, and this is best done in the spring and fall. This creates a gap that will reduce the abil-ity of any new grapevine shoots produced by the stump from reattaching to the cut-off stem.

GOLDEN BAMBOO (Phyllostachys aurea) can grow to be 30 fttall with hard stalks and long leaves. It flowers infrequently,sometimes not for several decades.

Bamboo thrives in full sun and it will take overwooded areas wherever there is a gap in the flora. Bamboogrows rapidly and is able to take over an area of forest morequickly than other plants. Bamboo creates a dense thicket that

is impenetrable to other plants and even wildlife. It mainlyspreads from shoots, which develop in the spring from thestalks of the existing plant.

Mechanical methods of removing this invasive plantinclude cutting and mowing small infestations. For large in-festations, herbicidal control is best including foliar spray, gly

GARLIC MUSTARD (Alliaria petiolata) has leaves that are darkgreen and kidney-shaped & others that are toothed & triangu-lar. From spring-summer, leaves stems produce a distinctivegarlic odor. Flowers consist of 4 white petals. Plants usuallyproduce a single flower stalk, and can range in height 5-46.

Garlic mustard thrives in shady habitats. This plant in-vades forest, wooded stream banks, roadsides and trail edges.

Seeds germinate April-May and produce only leavesduring the 1st yr. Garlic mustard remains green throughoutthe year. In the 2nd yr, plants bloom May-July, and producefruit July-August. The plants die after producing seed.

It spreads only by seed. Successful control methods in-clude hand-pulling, cutting flower stems, and preventing itfrom going to seed.

phosate, cut stump method, etc.

icode6.net

treehugger.com

Forums.gardenweb.com



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DEVILS WALKING STICK (Aralia elata) is a tree that origi-nated in Asia. It is easily recognized by its thorny stem andleaves. As the tree grows, the thorns are harder to see at thebase. We also have a similar native plant, Aralia spinosa,which is being displaced by Aralia elata. The two are very diffi-cult to distinguish from each other. Among some of the dis-tinctions, on spinosa leaves, the veins of the leaflets do not runto the teeth; on elata, they do.

Devils walking stick has become naturalized in for-ested areas. It sends root shoots and can produce stumpsprouts after cutting.

Physically remove young seedlings and apply herbicideto stumps of larger trees so that it does not regenerate.

ENGLISH IVY (Hedera helix) is a vine with dark leaves. The flowers appear in fall at the tipsof each stem. The fruit is dark blue-purple.

English Ivy is found growing in forestsespecially those in urban areas where ivy ismost abundantly planted. It forms solidstands, which inhibit the growth of nativeplants. It is not used by native wildlife. Eng-lish ivy adds weight to trees, increasing storm

and wind damage. It roots along the ground &also aerially, climbing trees or other objects.

The best method of control is hand-pulling. Pruners can be used to cut the vine

then it should be pulled off trees and the forest floor. English ivys waxyleaves are almost impervious to herbicide. To prevent undesirable plants from becoming

CANADA THISTLE (Cirsium arvense)grows up to 4 ft tall. Theleaves are dark green and prickly with a hairy underside. Thereare many purple-white flowers.

It is mostly found in open disturbed areas such as agri-cultural land, roadsides, ditch spoil banks, and pastures.It produces creeping horizontal roots that produce dense

patches of aerial shoots. These roots can grow to a length of 36in one season. The plant can regenerate from fragments that areas small as 2 long and 1/2 in diameter. Along with root dis-persal, one plant can produce up to 5,200 seeds. Seeds are dis-persed by wind and water runoff.

For small infestations, hand-pulling followed by a gly-phosate herbicide such as Roundup is successful.

established where the ivy has been removed, plant native plant species.

emmitsburg.net

Photo byDani-Ella Betz

mdinvasivesp.org



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JAPANESE KNOTWEED(Polygonum cuspidatum) forms

large clumps 3-10 high. It reproduces by seed andspreads by its roots. The stems are hollow and bamboo-like, and persist into winter. The flowers are greenishwhite and appear in summer.

Knotweed is found primarily in sunny sites;growth is suppressed in shady sites. It spreads along riv-erbanks, and grows in wetlands, and disturbed areas. Itsprimary mode of reproduction is through roots that canreach 16-20 in length. Commonly it is dispersed whenhumans transport soil as fill dirt. Roots can regeneratefrom small fragments, even regenerating when buried up to 3 deep.

Control small patches by digging out entire plant, including pieces of root, which canregrow. Control larger infestations with persistent cutting throughout the growing season.

JAPANESE STILTGRASS (Microstegium vimineum) is a lime-green grass, 24-40 tall. This shade-tolerant annual has taperedleaves. The flower clusters occur at the tip of long stalks. Theplant develops a slight purplish tinge in the fall.

Stiltgrass grows in tight stands. It occupies various areassuch as riverbanks, floodplains, swamps, woodland thicketsand roadsides. It prefers moist, shady areas. Stiltgrass spreadsreapidly through disturbed areas, replacing herbaceous groundvegetation within 3 to 5 years if not removed.

Stiltgrass germinates in June, flowers in August and pro-duces seed from September-November. There are no obviousmechanisms of dispersal such as hooks or barbs, which makesthe rapid expansion of stiltgrass not well understood.

Pulling by hand is effective if it is thorough and timedcorrectly. August and early September are the best times to

JAPANESE HONEYSUCKLE(Lonicera japonica) is a trailing ortwining woody vine. The leaves are oval-oblong in shape andmay persist on the vine year-round, making honeysuckle a semi-evergreen vine. The white-pale yellow flowers are extremely fra-

grant and produced throughout the summer. The fruit is many-seeded, black, pulpy berry that matures in fall.

Japanese honeysuckle is mostly found in disturbed areas.It spreads primarily by birds and other wildlife that feed on thepulpy fruit in early fall. The vines spread vertically and horizon-tally by climbing up tree trunks and/or by trailing over the for-est floor. Trailing vines produce stolons, which root when theycontact the soil. Once established, a single vine can grow to alength of 30 ft. or more.

duke.edu

yorkcounty.gov

blogs.rep-am.com


hand-pull to prevent seed set.


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MILE-A-MINUTE (Persicaria perfoliata) has thorny stems thatcan reach over 20 long. The leaves are triangular and 1-3wide. New plants can be seen in April or May and the bluish-purple fruits ripen around September.

Mile-a-minute grows in disturbed areas such as road-sides, forest edges, and fields. It can grow up to 6 a day, cre-ating a dense coverage that takes over native plants. Birds androdents eat the fruit, further spreading the plant. New growthcomes from the germination of over-wintering seeds.

Cutting or hand removal can be used to manage this

weed. Gloves should be worn as protection from the spines.All plant material should be removed from the site to makesure no viable seeds are left behind.

MULTIFLORA ROSE (Rosa multiflora) is a shrub with pink-ish-white flowers, 1/2 diameter. The fruit, known as rosehips, are bright red. The stems are 3-5 long with a droopingform. Multiflora rose is capable of enduring a wide range ofconditions. Multiflora rose is commonly seen growing in man-gled clumps in old fields, pastures, and forests.

Flowering begins in May & the fruits develop in sum-

mer. The rose hips dry to form leathery capsules, which arehighly attractive to birds. Seeds remain viable for years. Mul-tiflora rose is spread primarily by seeds (via birds) and byrooting at the tips of its drooping canes.

Medium to large shrubs can be removed with a weed-pulling tool or dug out by hand after the thorny tops have

KUDZU (Pueraria lobata) is a climbing vine with lobed leaves.In the summer long, fragrant, purple flowers appear.

Kudzu attacks forest edges, fields, roadsides, and

other disturbed areas. Areas that suffer from canopy loss areat a great risk, as kudzu loves sun. It grows rapidly, up to 12inches per day. One root crown can produce 30 stems, eachcapable of reaching 100 tall. Insects also pollinate this plant.

It can be killed by removing all rooting runners & theroot crown, which is a fibrous knob atop the root, ranging insize from a pea to a basketball. Cutting vines is not sufficientfor an immediate kill, but repeated cuttings over time will ex-haust the plants carbohydrate reserves. Buried crowns canregenerate into healthy kudzu. Dont transport infected soil.

been cut away.

forestry.ky.gov

wissahickon.patrails.org

Threatsummary.forestthreats.org



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ORIENTAL BITTERSWEET (Celastrus orbiculatus) isa twining, woody vine with abundant bright yellow& red fruits that appear all along the stem in clustersof 3- 7. Vines can grow over 5 in diameter & 60long. The leaves are oval-round in shape

Oriental bittersweet invades open woods,thickets, and roadsides; upland meadows and youngwoods are most vulnerable.

Oriental bittersweet escaped cultivation in 21states. Birds, and people who use the fruit in dried

arrangements, are its primary means of dispersal.Oriental bittersweet also root-suckers profusely.

Regular cutting and mowing will eradicate it.

PRIVET (Ligustrum vulgare) is a stout, many branched,shrub that can grow up to 15 high. The leaves haveshort stalks, are smooth on the underside and grow op-posite each other on the stem. The white flowers areproduced in clusters from May -June.

An extremely aggressive plant, privet invadesopen and forested areas. Privet can form dense, impene-

trable thickets, crowding out native plants.Privet was introduced from Europe. It is a pro-lific producer of seed that is sought after by birds, whospread the seeds far from the original planting. Privetalso spreads by root suckers. Since its escape from culti-

vation, common privet has spread throughout the eastern half of the U.S.To remove privet, dig the plant out by the roots. This is harder for larger plants and

NORWAY MAPLE (Acer platanoides) usually grows to be 40-50 tall, but can grow to 90. These trees are often confusedwith sugar maples. The dark green leaves are distinguishable

by the milky substance that oozes from their leaves when bro-ken. The bark is grayish-black. Norway maples seeds arevery flayed in shape.

Norway maples are hardy trees. Forests and othernatural habitats are threatened by these invaders because theyoutcompete native maple seedlings and other native plants.Norway maples produce seeds earlier than native maples andtheir seeds are more abundant. The seeds are wind dispersed.

Removing Norway maple seedlings by hand is effec-tive and larger trees should be girdled.

may need herbicide treatment by the FPC.

NPS.gov

Tredyffrin.org

sirio.regione.lazio.it



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WINEBERRY(Rubus phenicolasius) is a bristly plantwith hairlike thorns along the stems. The leaves arewhite underneath & the stems & buds are reddish. Itsnot until the 2nd yr when it produces side shoots andflowers. The red fruit is produced summer-fall.

Wineberry prefers moist conditions and ade-quate sunlight where it can grow rapidly. It reproduces

primarily by seeds but can also reproduce throughvegetative means, including root buds and sproutingfrom where stems touch the soil. The fruits are soughtafter and dispersed by various birds and mammals.

Removal of plants by hand pulling or use of a spade can be effective,as long as the soil is moist and the roots and cane fragments are removed. Branches with ber-ries should be bagged, but the remaining plant material can be left to compost.

TREE OF HEAVEN (Ailanthus altissima) can grow to be 70-100tall. When crushed, the leaves have an unpleasant odor thathas been described as smelling like cat urine, rotting peanuts,and Cheerios. The bark is light gray. The flowers, which ap-pear from April-July, are yellowish green-reddish.

Tree of Heaven thrives in sunny areas, especially can-opy gaps in the forest and other disturbed areas and toleratescity conditions extremely well. This tree competes with nativeplants for resources. It spreads by both seeds and suckers.

To kill this tree, you must kill the roots or prevent addi-tional sprouting. This can be done through manual and me-

chanical removal techniques, but cutting will stimulate re-sprouting and increase density.

floracyberia.net

Photo by Leslie Mehrhoff

SPURGE (Pachysanra terminalis) is an evergreen

groundcover. It has clusters of leaves that are glossy

and dark green. It grows to a height of 6-10. In

March-April small white flowers bloom in spikes that

are 1-2 long. It can also grow small fruits along the

branches.

Pachysandra is prominently found along the for-

est and meadow edges in the eastern half of the U.S. It

grows very quickly through underground stems forming

a very dense groundcover.

Pachysandra can be controlled by manual hand

pulling.

Washington.edu



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Native PlantsWhats the benefit of planting native plants?

Choosing native plants

Native trees, shrubs, and groundcover plants contribute to the over-all health ofnatural ecosystems. In their natural habitat, plants offer a variety of benefits in-cluding aiding in erosion control, providing native wildlife with food and habitatthat is used for shelter and breeding, and stabilizing an area during severe storms.Native plants are better at resisting drought, disease, and insects, and need onlythe nutrients and resources that are available in an area, instead of requiring addi-tional water, fertilizers, and pesticides. Native plants are better suited to the en-vironment where they have evolved because their natural predators and competi-tion keep their numbers in-check.

Any reputable garden center or nurserywill know whether a plant is native orexotic to the area. There are even nurser-ies in the Philadelphia area that special-ize in or sell only native plants. Some ofthese are listed on the Contact page inthis manual. When planning to make aplant order or trip to your local nursery,its a good idea to have a list of native spe-cies available to refer to ( see page 16!) . Knowing specifics about the intendedplanting area is also helpful when choosing plants. Some things to make note of :the amount of sun exposure, whether the soil is more wet or dry, if the site is on ahill side, a flat area, or at the base of a hilly area, and what other species appear tothrive at the site.

People often look to exotic plants for variety in appearance, but native plant speciesoffer a great array of colors and shapes and can satisfy any gardener!

Still have questions? Feel free to drop WRV a line!

Native Spicebush Photo by Dani-Ella Betz


Step 3.) Native Planting

Remember: Native plants make great gifts!


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Some native species allowed in Fairmount Park

Groundcover

Trees Shrubs

ForestBetula lenta (sweet birch)Carya glabra (pignut hickory)Carya ovata (shagbark hickory)Cornus florida (flowering dowd)Fagus grandifolia (Am. beech)Fraxinus americana (white ash)Nyssa sylvatica (black gum)Ostrya virginiana (hop-horn.)Quercus alba (white oak)Quercus rubra (red oak)Quercus montana (chestnut oak)Tilia americana (basswood)

MeadowBetula populifolia (gray birch)Carya glabra (pignut hickory)Celtic occidentalis (hackberry)Cercis canadensis (redbud)Cornus florida (flowering dogwd)Crataegus crus-galli (c. hawthorn)Diospyrus virginiana (persimmon)

Fraxinus americana (white ash)Juniperus virginiana (red cedar)Populus tremuloides (q. aspen)Prunus serotina (black cherryQuercus velutina (black oak)Quercus coccinea (scarlet oak)Sassafras albidum (sassafras)

ForestAmelanchier canadensis (serviceberry)Cornus racemosa (gray dogwood)Corylus americana (hazelnut)Hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel)Kalmia latifolia (mountain laurel)Prunus americana (American plum)Rhododendron maximum (rosebay)Vaccinium angustifolium (low blue-berry)Vaccinium corymbosum (high blue-berry)Viburnum acerifolium (maple-leaved

viburnum)Viburnum dentatum (arrow wood)Viburnum prunifolium (blackhaw)

MeadowCeanothus americana (NJ tea)Corylus americana (hazelnut)Parthenocissus quinquefolius (VAcreeper)Prunus americana (American plum)Rhus copailina (winged sumac)Rhus typhina (staghorn sumac)

Rosa carolina (pasture rose)Vaccinium angustifolium (low-bushblueberry)Vaccinium corymbosum (high-bushblueberry)Viburnum prunifolium (blackhaw)Symphoricarpos orbiculatus (coralberry)

ForestAster cordifolius (blue wood aster)Aster divaricatus (white wood aster)Avena sativa (annual oats)

Carex flaccosperma (blue wood sedge)Carex pensylvanica (Pennsylvania sedge)Elymus canadensis (Canada rye)Eupatorium rugosum (white snakeroot)

Juncus tenuis (path rush)Polygonatum biflorum (Solomons seal)Smilacina racemmosa (false-Solomons seal)Solidago ceasia (blue-stem goldenrod)


MeadowAndropogon virginicus (broom sedge)Avena sativa (annual oats)Eragrostis spectabilis (purple lovegrass)

Elymus canadensis (Canada rye)Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem)Tridens flavus (purple-top)Sorghastrum nutans (Indian grass)Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed)Heliopsis helianthoides (ox-eye)Lespedeza hirta (hairy bush clover)Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot)Rudbeckia hirta (black-eyed Susan)

A volunteer rescuing anative tulip poplar tree.



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Planting Techniques

Step 4.) Site MaintenanceAs good stewards, make a plan for your group to return regularly to your site to main-tain, protect, and monitor the newly planted native trees and shrubs.

Container plants come in a variety of sizes with plants varying in sizes from very small seed-lings to trees that have been growing for several years. After receiving container plants from anursery, you can keep them in a pot for several months before putting them in the ground, buttheir growth will be restricted during that time.

Bare root trees are trees that have been harvested in nurseries while dormant. They are sold

without soil and with much of the root mass missing. Since there are so few roots left, anydamage caused to a BR tree can be very detrimental. Place the trees in an area where theyll beprotected. If untreated and unbagged upon receiving them, treat the roots with a root inocu-lant dip, which will reduce stress, stimulate growth, and retain moisture. Then place a largeplastic bag around the roots. Keep the bag moist by adding a little water whenever necessary.Plant bare root trees as soon as possible! This usually means within the first week-and-a-halfof receiving them and treating them.

The closer to maturity a plant is, the greater the likelihood of it becoming established.

It often doesnt make sense to order trees taller than 5 feet in containers because theybecome too heavy for one person to lift. With bare root trees, however, you can get amuch taller (6-12) and more mature tree that is still easily manageable by one person.

Planting

Note: It is imperative to receive planting instruction from someone with experience planting

trees and shrubs. Refer to the following information as a reminder.

1. Always carry a tree or shrub by the sturdy section of its trunk.2. Dig a hole that is twice the diameter of and the same depth as the pot if using a container

plant. If planting a bare root, the hole must be wide enough for all the roots to sit freelyand deep enough so that just the root flare is exposed. Use the handle of a shovel layingflat over the hole to judge the depth once a tree/shrub is placed in the hole.

3. Carefully remove the plant from the pot if using a container plant and massage the roots toloosen the soil. If planting a bare root tree, have one person hold the tree in place, afterothers have judged its straight. Once the plant is in place, fill the hole with soil.

4. Compact the soil with your hands to ensure the plant stays in place. Make sure the plantedarea is level with the surrounding ground.

5. Create a donut shape around the perimeter of the planting to retain water.6. Water the plant if planting in the spring.7. Install a deer guard if there is evidence of deer rub in the area.

Types of plants



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Responsibilities of an NSP Site Leader

WRV Safety Policy


Working in the Wissahickon forest isa new experience for many volun-teers. All volunteers are exposed to

Photo by Dani-Ella Betz

Safety First

General Safety

Dress properly. Wear long pants, sturdyshoes and work gloves. Keep in mind thatvolunteers usually work in wooded areasaway from trails, with vines, thorns, poisonivy, and insects.

Training in the proper use of tools is essentialin keeping everyone from getting hurt. WRVleaders should always offer a brief, yet thor-ough training session before any work be-gins.

Be aware of your surroundings while work-ing. Be careful with tools and watch out foryour fellow volunteers. Be able to identifyand avoid poison ivy. Watch for hornetsnests, and inspect for ticks at the end of each

work session Have fun in your volunteer experience, but

take what you do seriously. Eliminate thehorseplay. Dont pull or swing on large vines.

Report accidents or unsafe conditions imme-diately.

potential hazards related to natural restoration. Awareness of these hazards, propertraining, and knowledge of correct safety procedures are keys to a successful ses-

sion. WRV is dedicated to providing a safe volunteer experience. If at anytime youobserve an unsafe situation, please notify a crew leader immediately.



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Be prepared and think ahead. Any-thing can happen.

Remain calm and act quickly withcaution.

Know your resources (first aid kit,cell phone, emergency phone num-bers).

Call for help, if needed, as soon aspossible.

Keep other volunteers away.

Emergency Procedures

Basic First Aid

Remove any restraining object. Keep injured person breathing. Stop the bleeding and treat

wounds. Keep injured person still and

comfortable.

Emergency Numbers

WRV Safety Policy Continued...

To Call an Ambulance

1. Dial 911.

2. Ask the operator for an ambulance.3. Give them the following information:

-Your location-The phone # youre calling from-Nearest intersection or landmark-Your name, the injured personsname, and the situation.

4. Stay calm and follow the operatorsinstructions. They will stay onthe phone until the ambulance

To call the Police, Fire Station orAmbulance: Dial 911

Hospitals

Chestnut Hill(215) 248-82008835 Germantown AvePhiladelphia, PA 19118

Roxborough Memorial(215) 483-99005800 Ridge Ave.Philadelphia, PA 19128

Networkambulance.com



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A note about herbicide:

In areas with large infes-tations of a particularinvasive plant species, itmay be necessary to ar-range an herbicide treat-ment with the Fair-mount Park Commis-sion. If you think that

this is the case at yoursite, please contact WRVand we will make ar-rangements to visit thesite and communicatewith FPC.


As a trained NSP Leader, you will be provided with a Fairmount Park Commissionpermit, allowing you to do natural restoration work in the Wissahickon Valley Park.

The Fairmount Park Commission is the owner of this land, and as such, has the au-thority to direct, prohibit, and record any work you intend to carry out in the park.The Wissahickon Restoration Volunteers operates in this way. Since the Neighbor-hood Stewardship Project was established by WRV, we are also accountable for anyactions taken by volunteers participating in this project.

You are required to:

-Record and submit volunteer numbers and work hours to WRV after each session.-If additional volunteers are needed for a particular session, notify WRV at least 2weeks prior to the session.-Seek WRV approval of plant species prior to ordering and planting.-Make sure WRV has current leader contact information

You are not permitted to:

-Operate power equipment, like chainsaws-Apply any pesticides or herbicides-Plant any non-native plant species

NSP Site Leader Requirements



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Volunteer Coordination & Motivation

So now that you have a group of neighbors ready to restore and look after a section

of the Wissahickon its time to get organized and get to know each other...

Things to do every time you meet at the site:

1.) Have a sign in sheet to collect phone #s and emails so that the group can stay intouch. One volunteer should be responsible for the sign-in sheet, making sure eve-ryone signs in and writes their email clearly. Use this contact information to informfolks about upcoming volunteer days at the site, specific needs of the project ( likebring your shovel! ) and to share updates about progress that has been made.

2.) Take time to say Welcome! and check in. At the start of every volunteer workday, gather in a circle and have everyone say their name and share a little bit abouttheir relationship to the Wissahickon or to the current restoration project ( i.e. Ihave hiked in this part of the forest since I was a child or I volunteered here lastweek and planted a tree). Always gather for a welcome when there is a new volun-teer in the group.

3.) Now that you are in a circle, theleader(s) should identify themselvesand inform the volunteers what the

goals are for the day. Give folks toopportunity to ask questions and of-fer suggestions that could alter theplans for the day.

4.) Go over safety procedures. Toolsafety and tick repellant.

5.) Enjoy the work day!

6.) At the end of the day, gather to review whats been accomplished. Remind folksthat their effort is part of a larger effort to restore and protect the Wissahickon andall natural lands. Mention when the next workday is and how you will be in touchand GIVE YOURSELVES A HAND! Seriously, applaud its great fun to cele-brate a good workday. Well done!

Photo by Matt Hymansmith


Contact WRV if you would like advice about working with volunteers.


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Contact Information

Wissahickon Restoration Volunteers

(215) 951-0330 [email protected]://wissahickon.patrails.org3721 Midvale AvenuePhiladelphia, PA 19129

Fairmount Park Commission

General Information: 215-683-0200

Rangers (215) 685-2172

For graffiti, vandalism, evidence of illegal activities in the park

Philadelphia Water Department, Office of Watershed Management (215) 685-6300For emergencies like pipe bursts, sewage overflow, water structure collapse

Tree Vitalize www.treevitalize.netFor possible free trees. Check with FPC first.


Laurel Hill Gardens(215) 247-94908125 Germantown Ave, Chestnut Hillwww.laurelhillgardens.com

Primex Garden Center(215) 887-7500435 West Glenside AvenueGlenside, PA 19038www.primexgardencenter.com

Octoraro Native Plant Nursery(Wholesale)(717) 529-31606126 Street RoadKirkwood, PA 17536www.octoraro.com

Redbud Native Plant Nursery(610) 358-43001214 N. Middletown RoadGlen Mills, PA 19342www.redbudnativeplantnursery.com

Yellow Springs Farm Native Plants Nursery(610) 827-20141165 Yellow Springs Rd.Chester Springs, PA 19425www.yellowspringsfarm.com

Local Nurseries and Garden Centers with native plants


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Biodiversity - the variety of organisms found in a specific areaCanopy - the highest layer of vegetation in a woodland or forest communityDeer Guard a plastic roll that is wound around the trunk of a small tree to protect it from deerrubbingEcosystem - organisms within a community and their associated physical environmentEnvironment - all living and non-living factors in a given area that affect the organisms that livethere.Erosion - the wearing away of soil by water runoff and other meansExotic (non-native) species - a foreign or alien species that has been introduced into an areaFlood plain the land bordering a stream that is inundated when water spills over the streambanksForest Understory - the level in a forest below the canopyGirdle the removal of a band of bark and cambium from the circumference of a tree in order tokill it

Habitat - the environment suitable for a particular animal to feed, hide or reproduceHerbaceous relating to plants whose stems do not produce woody tissue and generally die atthe end of each growing seasonInvasive species - species that out-compete or invade other species native to a given areaMeadows - vegetative communities containing few trees or shrubs, consisting largely of grassesand forbsNative species - species that occurred historically in a particular area; plants not introduced tothe area by humans either accidentally or intentionallyRestoration - the repair of an area to a condition similar to that which existed at a defined pe-riodRogue trail - an unofficial trail that is created to avoid an obstacle, explore a new area, etc.Root Inoculant a root treatment for bare root trees that protects them from disease and dam-

age, while retaining moisture and stimulating growthRoot Flare the transition area between the trunk and the root system of a treeSpecies - organisms that resemble one another and can breed among themselvesStewardship personal responsibility in the care of a natural ecosystemStormwater runoff - rain that runs off of pavement, lawns, roofs and other impervious surfacesTributary - a stream that flows into a larger streamVegetation - the plant life of an area or region

Helpful References

Glossary of Terms

Plant species identification:Trees of Pennsylvania by Stan TekielaNative Plants of the Northeast: A Guide for Gardening & Conservation by Donald LeopoldWeeds of the Northeast by Richard H. UvaPlant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas by National Park Service



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Wissahickon Valley Park

24


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Acknowledgements

The Wissahickon Restoration Volunteers wouldlike to thank the following organizations for

their help in the creation of this manual.

Photography by Amanda Hymansmith J. Powell Dani-Ella Betz Susannah Beckett Matt Hymansmith

The Fairmount Park Commission for the informa-tion provided in the Fairmount Park System MasterPlan, various brochures, and their website. Formore information about the master plan, please callthe Fairmount Park Commission at 215-683-0213.

National Park Service for the publication Plant In-vaders of the Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas U.C. Green for their printed materials about tree

planting. Photo by Amanda Hymansmith

WRV would also like to thank the wonderfulvolunteers that contribute so much of theirtime to making the Wissahickon Valley a morenatural place. We work with both individualsand groups and without the dedication ofthese volunteers, our natural restoration workwould not be possible. Thank you!

Photo by Dani-Ella Betx


Amanda Hymansmith Susannah Beckett

Steve Jones Suzanne Low

Rich Kurowski

This manual was created by

The funding for this project was generously provided by a private corporation thatwishes to remain anonymous.


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Notes



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Notes



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28

Membership



Please support our efforts!Fill out the following membership form and mail it

with a check or your credit card information to:

Wissahickon Restoration Volunteers3721 Midvale AvenuePhiladelphia PA 19129

Name: ____________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________________

City: _____________________ State: ______ Zip: __________ Telephone: ___________________________

Email: ______________________________________________ __Please include me on the email list to receive relevant announcements

Yes, I wish to support the Wissahickon Restoration Volunteers at the following membership level:

__Friend -$25 __Supporter -$50 __Sustainer -$100 __Other - $_______

I would like to make an additional gift of $ ________ to further support WRV's restoration projects.

Charge my __Visa __MasterCardCard # __________________________ Exp. __________ Signature ______________________________________

__Enclosed is my check or money order made payable to Wissahickon Restoration Volunteers.

Your donation is tax-deductible to the fullest amount allowed under federal tax law.

Membership Form

Join us in protecting and restoring one of Philadelphiasmost precious natural resources: the Wissahickon.

You are invited to become a member of the Wissahickon Restoration Volunteers! Since1997, WRV, a member-supported, volunteer-driven nonprofit, has restored the naturalareas of the Wissahickon Park in Philadelphia. WRVs staff works side-by-side withhundreds of enthusiastic volunteers to remove exotic invasive species and replacethem with a diverse mix of native trees, shrubs and wildflowers creating native habitatfor wildlife and restoring balance to the ecosystem. Relying on the Fairmount ParkCommissions Natural Lands Restoration Master Plan, WRV hand picks priority sites,supplies the plants, tools, and staff, and coordinates community volunteers to accom-plish the job. This great work takes funding. Become a member of the WissahickonRestoration Volunteers today and well restore the Wissahickon together!

Or you can donate online through Paypal at http://wissahickon.patrails.org !


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Other items were included in the pockets of the manuals that were distributed toNeighborhood Stewardship Project participants. To receive a copy of these materials,

please contact WRV [email protected] call (215) 951-0330 ext. 2101.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

NSP Manual PDF

Documents

Transcript of NSP Manual PDF