Integrated Weed Management Plan

The Charleston Parks Conservancy uses an Integrated Weed Management Plan (IWMP) to control unwanted plant material at Colonial Lake and our other 25 City parks, gardens and trails. Weed control efforts employ a combination of prevention, monitoring, education along with cultural, mechanical, and chemical control methods. A IWMP provides weed management guidelines that take into account each method’s risk to people and pets, the environment, and property while also taking into consideration the limitations of budget and human resources.

In keeping with our mission to create a strong community, the Conservancy does not use the chemical glyphosate (the main ingredient in RoundUp) or other toxic sprays due to potential negative environmental and human health impacts.

With this approach, you can expect the following:

  • You will see more weeds: More weeds may be noticeable as this approach is less effective than traditional chemical applications.
  • You will still see spraying: Non-toxic chemical control will continue to be used as a weed management tool by the Conservancy, but will not include the use of glyphosate.

Colonial Lake Integrated Weed Management Plan Overview

Chemical: 

  • Proper weed identification – Colonial Lake is currently seeing high rates of Blackjack, Crabgrass, Nutsedge, Dollar Weed, Spurge, Chamberbitter, Pokeweed and Dove Weed
  • Bi-weekly, targeted spraying non-toxic herbicides that are rated safe for waterways and humans. 
  • Conservancy staff is trained in herbicide application to ensure appropriate application rates and times.
  • Pre-emergent applied in early spring and fall to prevent germination of annual weeds.

Mechanical:

  • Man Power: Our incredible staff and volunteers have spent 600+ hours in April and May alone at Colonial Lake helping the Conservancy weed and plant. Conservancy staff and volunteers use soil knives and trowels to remove weeds by their roots and stirrup hoes to quickly cut weeds below the soil.  Volunteers are given an instructional session before each shift on the proper methods of weed removal.

Cultural: 

  • Planting perennials more densely to help control weeds by crowding them out quickly.
  • Adding large shrubs that will mature quickly and shade out weeds.
  • Mulch will be used strategically to suppress weeds in beds that are not at high risk for flooding and mulch displacement.

Biological

  •  Ground covers or “green mulch” are an important weed suppression technique for Colonial Lake as they crowd out invasive weeds while supporting biodiversity. Ice plant, Bulbine, creeping Thyme were installed in late May, and Ajuga will be added in the coming months. Green mulch has the added benefit of not washing away during the flooding events common at Colonial Lake.

Prevention

  • Early weed monitoring and identification. Conservancy staff is on the ground at Colonial Lake daily assessing and identifying potential weed threats.
  • In late January, the Conservancy contracted with Yellowstone Landscape to mechanically remove invasive rhizomes like Ruellia and Frogfruit that do not respond to sprays or typical hand weeding methods.

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