Join volunteer master naturalists, your neighbors, and Friends of Brandymore Castle for a 3-day Stiltgrass Blitz to remove this invasive plant so more native plants can grow. August is the perfect time to pull up stiltgrass (it’s easy, but we need to get all of it), bag it, and trash it before its seeds hit the soil. It’s part of our ongoing effort to restore balance in the ecosystem of the Brandymore Castle hillsides.

Please choose one or more events from the following:

9-11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 19

1-3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20

9-11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22

Pre-register here so we can alert you if we need to cancel for weather or other reasons. For these events only, we will meet at the north end of the 1300 block of North Quintana Street, Arlington 22205. There is limited on-street parking.

Stiltgrass is one of many non-native invasive plants that crowd out native plants by taking up space, blocking light, and growing like weeds. They may look soft and inviting, but even though they’re an annual, dying every  fall, each stiltgrass plant produces hundreds of seeds that can remain viable in the soil for as long as five years. It largely grows along trails, where its seeds are spread by deer, dogs, humans, and other creatures. 

We look forward to working with you. Before you arrive — or to protect your own property — learn how to identify stiltgrass and how it grows. Wear long pants, socks, closed shoes, and long sleeves to protect yourself from native poison ivy and brambles. Bring your garden gloves or borrow ours. A kneeling pad or short stool may help you get closer to the ground for a thorough clearing of this weed.

Author: Jo Allen
Published on: Aug 15, 2023, 7:41 PM