News : Species Specific News
Highway Mowing Aims To Help Control Invasive Plants
July 29, 2010 -- This is the time of year when road crews mow along the state highways. Officials say tall grasses and plants are knocked back just once a year, but timing is critical because they're dealing with at least a dozen invasive species.
In July, wild parsnip is in bloom in many parts of the state. The tall plant has yellow flowers and a sap that can cause serious, painful skin burns if exposed to sunlight, which is why some people call it poison parsnip.
Craig Dusablon is landscape coordinator for the Vermont Agency of Transportation. He says crews try to mow plants before they go to seed, but that can be difficult with the variety of invasive plants in the state. Read the full story to get the details.
"The entire highway right of way is cut back every third year. But Dusablon says mowing isn't the only solution to invasives, because plants are spread many ways."
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