Chipley Kiwanis Club Received Cautionary Report On Cogongrass, Tuesday July 5th, 2009

The Chipley Kiwanis Club recently received a cautionary report on the destructive properties of Cogongrass and why Washington County should be concerned.

Andy Andreasen of the Washington County Extension Office for the University of Florida invites anyone who sees this state and federal noxious week to call his office at 638-6180 for advice on how to control Cogongrass which he says is a fire hazard, an agricultural nightmare that will decrease native plant diversity and wildlife habitat quality and make pine regeneration nearly impossible.

Cogongrass is aggressive and invasive.  It spreads by means of airborne seeds and very efficient system of underground rhizomes.  This grass is listed as one of the 10 worst weeds in the world.  Cogongrass has a leaf blade with one serrated side that can grow up to 6 feet high.  When burned Cogongrass fires are so intense the heat has killed pine trees over 60 feet tall.  The rhizomes or roots make up 80 percent of the plant and grow 8 to 10 feet per year encircling the plant as a massive underground net.  No seedlings can compete with this system once it is established.

Efforts to eradicate Cogongrass by burning and disking only stimulates the rhizome to create a new plant at one of its many joints.  Herbicides containing glyphosate (Roundup or its equivalent) is effective with repeated treatment on the new growth over a period of several months.

Left untreated, Cogongrass will colonize in Washington County.  Cogongrass outbreaks have been verified on River Road, Gainer Road, Mudhill Road and along the south side of Interstate 10.  This will reduce our property values.  The grass blade is too sharp for deer to eat and Cogongrass has no known pathogens.  The leaf blade is green with a vein off center.  The seed head is pillowy, featherlike looking - something like a miniature Pampas Grass.

If you believe you have spotted Cogongrass, Andreasen's office wants to help.  Call 638-6180, or visit http://floridainvasive.org

Final scheduling for the Kiwanis Golf Tournament is being coordinated with other tournaments in the area and will occur in September or early October.