Tucson Arundo - procedures

Tucson Arundo: Procedures

Guidelines for removing Arundo

Know how to identify Arundo:
Arundo is a tall grass called giant reed or Arundo donax and looks similar to bamboo.
Small & medium plant stands (25 stalks) will be easiest for individuals to remove with hand tools. (Image to right is feasible to remove with hand tools)
Work in teams of 3-5:
One or two people can dig out rhizomes, while another person cuts stalks and rhizomes. One or two people can carry out slash and bagged roots. Digging is hard work so trade off.
Equipment check list:
- 2.5 lb Pick and/or polaski
- Work gloves
- Large pruning shears; twine
- Food, water, sunscreen, cell phone, etc.
Removal steps:
- Cut down tall stalks & pile away from plant.
- Dig around entire plant to expose the extent of the underground root (rhizomes).
- Remove all rhizomes including large bulbs & small roots! (It is very important that you get all rhizomes because this is how Arundo proliferates!)
- Cut rhizomes into smaller pieces and put into heavy-duty black garbage bags. (Only fill bags as heavy as you can carry!)
- Drag stalks to a road and stack them horizontally, even at the cut end.
- Cut stalks in half and bundle with twine. (This makes it easier for stalks to be hauled away)
- Leave trash bags full of rhizomes next to a trash can.
- Leave Arundo stalks near trash cans, off of road, but not on trails.
Record removal efforts:
Report the number of trash bags and stalk bundles to the event coordinator.
Spread the word:
If people are curious about what you're doing, tell them what you're doing and why! You can give them the Southwest Hydrology article on Arundo and/or mention some important facts:
- Arundo is invasive & non-native. If we can't control it, it will come to dominate the riparian channel.
- It can consume 3 times the water & provides poor habitat compared to native vegetation.
- It can grow up to 3 inches per day and spreads mostly during during floods
- It obstructs flood flows, causing even greater flooding problems.
- It was imported from the Mediterranean and planted along Los Angeles area canals for erosion control.

Download PDF of Guidelines ...

Link to Southwest Hydrology article Chipping away at Arundo