Story and Photos by : Beth Ann Luedeker
Contact: Vanessa Corriher-Olson  [email protected]

Landowners fight a constant battle against invasive species of plants. Dr. Vanessa Corriher-Olson, Soil and Crop Sciences professor and AgriLife Extension forage specialist from Overton provided several control options for yaupon during the 32nd Annual O.D. Butler Forage Field Day and Camp Cooley Ranch.

Dr. Corriher-Olson speaking to group of people
Soil and Crop Sciences professor Dr. Vanessa Corriher-Olson discusses yaupon control measures during the O.D. Butler Forage Field Day at Camp Cooley Ranch. (Photo by Beth Ann Luedeker)

Yaupon can be controlled mechanically or chemically, Olson told attendees. During her presentation Charles Fuchs with CF Mulching Services of Easterly demonstrated yaupon removal using a mulching machine.

“Mechanical control gives you instant gratification, because the vegetation is there one minute, then gone, but it is a temporary fix,” Corriher-Olson said. “Yaupon is a perennial, which means it has the ability to grow back from any live root material that is left behind.”

With mechanical control, you often see the vegetation come back with a vengeance. It will need to be retreated to take out the root structures.
“You also have to think about soil disturbance and how it will impact production and your production goals,” she said.

large track-driven mulcher removing undergrowth
CF Mulching Services provided a demonstration of mechanical yaupon control at the Butler field day.

Chemical control is more lasting, but there are drawbacks there too. Since yaupon tends to grow under desireable trees, care must be taken when applying herbicides to prevent unintended damage. It is also less obvious that plants have been treated, so areas should be marked after spraying.

Corriher-Olson pointed out that there are several ways to use herbicides to remove the yaupon. Some of the options are:

Cut Stump Treatment - a treatment of 15 percent Remedy and 85 percent diesel applied within one hour of taking the tree down will prevent regrowth. If the window is missed, a new cut can be made to treat.

Basal Stem Treatment - a mixture of 25 percent Remedy Ultra and 75 percent diesel sprayed on the yaupon.

“Yaupon needs to be sprayed under good growing conditions to insure the herbicide is translocated throughout the plant,” Corriher-Olson said.
Sprayed plants should stand for at least 12 months to take out the entire root structure.

“If you cut it too soon, it will come back,” she said.

group of people sitting in chairs and standing in sales facility
Producers filled the Camp Cooley Ranch sale building for the 51st Annual O.D. Butler Forage Field Day.

High volume foliar spray - a mixture of 1 percent Remedy in water with 1/4 percent surfactant sprayed on leaf material to the point of glistening, but not running off.

“When you are spraying under or around desirable trees you should avoid the heat,” Corriher-Olson said. “High temperatures will cause the herbicide to volatilize into the canopy of the desireable trees. You should also try to avoid contact with the bark, but the canopy is more susceptible to damage.”

group of people looking at tractor loaded on trailer
Mike Reddick of United Ag and Turf discussed securing a load for the road.