New book helps pros manage invasive weeds in California forests

Beautiful but unwelcome in California wildlands, brooms are shrubs introduced into North America from Europe in the mid-1800s. Common species include Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) and Portuguese broom (Cytisus striatus). Brooms were introduced as ornamentals, but also were used extensively for erosion control along roadsides and in mined areas.

Now growing profusely in California forests, on roadsides, and wildlands, brooms:

• Crowd out out desirable vegetation
• Form impenetrable thickets that limit access to some areas
• Shade out tree seedlings, and make reforestation difficult
• Burn readily, increasing the intensity of fire, and carry fire to the tree canopy
• Are toxic to cattle and horses and unpalatable to most wildlife
• Produce abundant, long-lived seed
• Are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen, giving broom a competitive advantage over native plants

Management of these and other weeds are presented in the recently published second edition of Forest and Right-of-Way Pest Control. Invasive species that create a dangerous wildfire hazard and crowd out desirable vegetation and wildlife are examples of why this book emphasizes vegetation management and pesticide handling, including correct equipment calibration and effective herbicide application. The second edition also provides broader coverage of insects, plant pathogens, vertebrate pests, and the various practices to manage them, recognizing that lands commonly have multiple uses and when and how pests are managed depends on many considerations with sometimes conflicting goals.

One of many new features in this edition is a section with expectations and review questions, which will help professionals pass DPR's tough applicator certification examinations. The book may be used as a guide to safe and effective pest management on public and private forests, tree plantations and nurseries, and along roads, railways, utility corridors, biking and hiking trails, and other rights-of-way. Nearly 200 photos and illustrations, 56 tables and sidebars, and 11 main chapters aid in pest identification and problem diagnosis and provide users with pesticide and nonpesticide solutions.

Experts with Cal-Fire, Caltrans, PG&E, USDA Forest Service, private industry, the University of California (UC) Berkeley and Davis campuses, UC County Cooperative Extension offices, and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) contributed to Forest and Right-of-Way Pest Control, prepared by UC ANR's Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program.

Forest and Right-of-Way Pest Control is available for $35 online in the UC ANR Catalog. The table of contents and more information about the book are available on the UC IPM website. You can also preview and electronically search the contents on Google Books.

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