about projects: invasive plant removal

Invasive plants are plants so capable of successful survival that their growth and reproduction can be a detriment to the environment. Invasive plants may grow rapidly, produce abundant and/or long lived seeds, germinate at high rates, or mature rapidly. 

Invasive plants in Stone Mountain Park choke out native plant growth, prevent tree growth, change the forest ecosystem, or damage the unique rock outcrop ecosystem on the mountain.  

The following invasive plants are found throughout the park: Privet, Kudzu, English Ivy, Chinese Wisteria, Princess tree, Nandina, Golden Bamboo, Mimosa, Chinese Tallow, Honeysuckle, Tree of Heaven, Autumn Olive, Periwinkle, and Mahonia. Please go to www.gaeppc.org/list.cfm for pictures of and to learn more about these plants. 

Stone Mountain Memorial Association is committed to removing invasive plants found throughout the park.

Invasive plant removal workdays:

Saturday, September 11, 2010               10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon                                                          Meet at Confederate Hall                                                                                                                                                  Our focus will be the removal of invasive plants on the mountain so dress appropriately, bring a water bottle and gloves.  Small tools will be available. For directions to the Park, visit http://www.stonemountainpark.com/maps-directions/driving-directions.aspx. Contact workday leader Susan Meyers

Saturday, October 30, 2010               10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon                                                            Meet at Confederate Hall                                                                                                                                               Our focus will be the removal of invasive plants on the mountain so dress appropriately, bring a water bottle and gloves.  Small tools will be available. For directions to the Park, visit http://www.stonemountainpark.com/maps-directions/driving-directions.aspx. Contact workday leader Beth Rothermel.         

Saturday, November 13, 2010               10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon                                                      Meet at the Children's Playground parking lot                                                                                                     Our focus will be the removal of invasive autumn olive so dress appropriately, bring a water bottle and gloves.  Small tools will be available. For directions to the Park, visit http://www.stonemountainpark.com/maps-directions/driving-directions.aspx. Contact workday leader Brian McKnight or 770.498.5620

Initial removals by SMMA involve Kudzu, Privet and Golden Bamboo.  In Fall 2005, Kudzu was sprayed at select locations (near Evergreen and the dam).  Approximately 200 acres have been removed. Privet along the southeast side of the mountain was sprayed initially in 2006 and that area has been monitored or more privet sprayed every year after.  Approximately 25% has been removed, but there are still acres and acres where work will be done. Golden Bamboo was removed near the Studdard Picnic area in Spring 2007.  Spring 2008 involved removal of more Privet, as well as Princess Tree and Mimosa, and  respraying of the original Golden Bamboo area. In 2008 and 2009 we continued to focus on all of the above invasives along the south and southeast side of the mountain.

Tree of Heaven was removed in October 2007 along the road near Evergreen Conference Center.

Our work to restore and rehabilitate the Nature Garden area also involves removing invasives.  The education staff has removed Nandina, Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus) and Mahonia found growing throughout the Nature Garden. English Ivy covering the forest floor and trees was removed in Winter 2007.  During Fall 2007, high school students helped remove areas invaded by Periwinkle (Vinca) and Honeysuckle.  High school students continued this work in Spring 2008 to remove honeysuckle, vinca, and  nonnative boxwoods and holly.  In 2009 we began removing nonnative azaleas and ground ivy, as well as continued pulling honeysuckle and vinca whenever we found it.

Invasives can rarely be completely removed through a single treatment.  In the Nature Garden, we will constantly monitor these initial areas to determine how well the initial treatment worked and what native plants are beginning to grow.