Control of rhododendron in woodland

[Robbyrasta]

I am trying a number of methods to control rhododendron.

smaller bushes we cut with a clearing saw, leaving long  stumps, to allow quick and plentiful regrowth. Then spray 1 to 2 years later. 
the larger patches we rip apart with 2.7 ton machine and grapple. Then spray the regrowth 1 to 2 years later.

we   build piles in the wood, then return a year later and mash it up with the grapple and spread it around a bit. And have just started processing the bigger stuff to sell on a camp site.

on clear fell sites we would mulch - but then struggle to spray the regrowth in and around the newly planted trees. So might try leaving it fallow for a few years- to give time to control the rhododendron- but then brambles and  bracken get a foot hold and cause issues.

I justify spraying by saying to myself  rhododendron apparently poisons the soil and blocks out all other plants and is fairly unless for biodiversity- so you either have rhododendron or a few years of glyphosate issues ( if there are any) and then the soil and woodland can return to a better state.

( just for reference I probably have 200arces of rhododendrons to control, so probably fighting a losing battle)

 

[Muddy42]

1 hour ago, Robbyrasta said:

I am trying a number of methods to control rhododendron.

smaller bushes we cut with a clearing saw, leaving long  stumps, to allow quick and plentiful regrowth. Then spray 1 to 2 years later. 
the larger patches we rip apart with 2.7 ton machine and grapple. Then spray the regrowth 1 to 2 years later.

we   build piles in the wood, then return a year later and mash it up with the grapple and spread it around a bit. And have just started processing the bigger stuff to sell on a camp site.

on clear fell sites we would mulch - but then struggle to spray the regrowth in and around the newly planted trees. So might try leaving it fallow for a few years- to give time to control the rhododendron- but then brambles and  bracken get a foot hold and cause issues.

I justify spraying by saying to myself  rhododendron apparently poisons the soil and blocks out all other plants and is fairly unless for biodiversity- so you either have rhododendron or a few years of glyphosate issues ( if there are any) and then the soil and woodland can return to a better state.

( just for reference I probably have 200arces of rhododendrons to control, so probably fighting a losing battle)

 

 

For clearfelling mixed woodland that has rhoddo in it, I find success depends on what you do with the brash and offcuts.  If they get left, rhodo regrowth can be hard to spot and deal with.  But if you can get everything forwarded away for biomass in bulk (and often the cost barely covers the revenue) its a much easier task.  However this scorched earth policy looks horrible and no doubt takes away a lot of the soil goodness and natural fertilizer.