Clearing the Sea of Invasives

We are excited to give an update on our invasive species removal project, thanks to grant funding from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture! Since the summer of 2023, we have worked on habitat restoration on the northern end of our property through the removal of invasive species–more specifically, fragrant honeysuckle. Read more on the work completed and what we have to look forward to as the weather allows for the project to resume.

The green sea of honeysuckle on the northern end of our property (like the one above) will soon meet its end. Detrimental species, such as Fragrant Honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima), wreak havoc on natural ecosystems by smothering native plants. In the summer of 2023, we received grant funding through the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to restore an approximately four-acre plot on our campus. Far from the beaten path, the area is only accessible by foot and historically difficult to navigate. At the time of the proposal, the area was consumed with two primary invasives: fragrant honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) and oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus). 

This is the same area of land as the above photo. We have made great success in the removal of fragrant honeysuckle and oriental bittersweet!

Through this generous grant funding, we have recruited Native Landscape Apprentices to tackle these invasives along Lookout Mountain’s ridge. Last spring and summer, apprentice Sarah Jane Myers began clearing the area of invasives. In September of 2023, former apprentice and current Naturalist Emily Jackson joined the effort. When the project first began, the effort seemed monumental. A sea of green blanketed the understory, choking out all other signs of plant life. A collaborative effort between apprentices, land conservation staff, regular volunteers, and special groups, amazing progress has been made in restoring our woodlands. The physical change has been palpable as vegetation is cleared, allowing sunlight to finally penetrate the forest floor.

So far, cut stump treatments have been the main mode of action. The process of cut stump treatments involves cutting the plant as close to the ground as possible, and it is then sprayed with the herbicide glyphosate to prevent regrowth. We’ve had to pause on this restoration project through the winter since the unpredictable cold weather does not allow for successful treatment. Nighttime temperatures must be warm (above 50ºF), so the process will soon be resumed with the coming spring temperatures. Manual removal was attempted but quickly stopped because twining grapevines made the process challenging. We also hope to include prescribed burns as a part of the process in the future.

In these before and after photos, you can clearly see the density of the honeysuckle in summer 2023 versus the clear forest understory in December 2023.

Already, a hefty portion of the honeysuckle-laden area has been removed, allowing sunlight to reach the forest floor. This will give native plants a chance at survival, success, and recruitment while restoring the landscape. According to Naturalist Ethan Brincefield, invasive management is a continual process. Stewardship requires routine management and care, which is crucial to our goal of land conservation and an ecologically sustainable campus. We will continue to monitor and restore our native landscape.

We would like to give a huge thank you to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture - Division of Forestry and the USDA Forest Service - Southern Region for the generous funding. Your support helps us restore our natural landscape!

Are you interested in land conservation and management? You can also learn more about invasive honeysuckle by checking out our Invasive Honeysuckle Fact Sheet!