Author Archives: Clara Barton

Testing Follow-Up Treatments for Honeysuckle Resprouts

Basal bark treatment is one of the most effective methods for controlling invasive Amur honeysuckle, but it is not unusual to find treated shrubs that continue producing living shoots for weeks or even months after treatment. Should these plants be left alone to die from the original treatment? Or should they be sprayed with a follow up treatment? During the summer of 2026, I tested two follow-up herbicide treatments on surviving honeysuckle resprouts to determine whether additional treatment could improve control and reduce the risk of long-term survival. Continue reading

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Does Yellow Sweet Clover Resprout After Mowing?

Does yellow sweet clover resprout after mowing? The short answer is yes, but the story doesn’t end there. By tracking mowed plants at Nachusa Grasslands throughout the summer, this project found that early regrowth did not lead to long-term survival, offering practical insights on the effectiveness of mowing. Continue reading

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Are Two Sweeps Enough? Conversations with the Crew

By: Every summer, Nachusa’s field crew spends long days walking through prairie vegetation searching for birdsfoot trefoil. At first glance, it sounds simple enough. Find the plant. Spray the plant. Move on. But birdsfoot trefoil rarely cooperates. Some plants flower … Continue reading

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Comparison of Transline and Milestone-Based Treatment for Birdsfoot Trefoil Control

Invasive Species Researcher Clara Barton sets out to determine which herbicide treatment is most effective for treating Birdsfoot Trefoil. Continue reading

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Comparing Herbicide Treatments for Bouncing Bet in a Grassland Restoration

A small field trial at Nachusa Grasslands found that adding a surfactant dramatically improved the effectiveness of Telar XP when treating bouncing bet (Saponaria officinalis). While both Crossbow and Telar XP plus surfactant provided strong short-term control, continued monitoring will determine which treatment offers the best long-term suppression of this rhizomatous invasive plant. Continue reading

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