SMPIL Consulting

Rebuilding Native Habitat

Home Case Studies Japanese Stiltgrass Removal

We removed it manually before it went to seed, and replaced it predominantly with hay scented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula).

Every little bit helps. Unbeknownst to the homeowner, this patch of land was colonized by Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum), which is an aggressive invasive annual grass. It is a particularly problematic plant because it is known to invade both disturbed land and intact forests.

A small battlefront will emerge, as we will give the ferns a helping hand by pulling any new stems of the stiltgrass and depleting the seed bank over time. Little battles against invasive species, waged across the backyards of America, will have an enormous positive impact.