On September 21, 2024, the Upper School Sustainability Committee waged its second attack on Tree of Heaven in some forested property that the school owns on the west side of Ridge Rd. This effort was the continuation of an invasive species removal event that took place last fall. Our target, Tree of Heaven, is native to China but has grown rapidly in the U.S. It shades out native trees and disrupts ecosystems. Its most distinct feature is its smell: when the bark is wounded it releases an odor akin to that of rotting peanut butter. 

The method used to remove these plants is called “hack and squirt.” Using a hatchet, 1-2 inch cuts are made at a downward angle near the base of the tree. A strong herbicide is then sprayed onto the cut. We then mark the trees with a dot of bright orange spray paint. This method is most effective at this time of year when energy is moved via the tree’s vascular tissue from the leaves of the plant down to the roots in preparation for winter. The herbicide is absorbed into the tree from the cuts and moves down with the nutrients slowly killing the plant. 

A team of ten students, teachers and parents showed up to help out the effort. Some of the trees appeared partially dead from last fall’s treatment efforts. Moving through the stands of trees we saw several cool spiders. One of which was Gasteracantha, a small spiny type of spider whose bites are harmless to humans. 

This experience was an informative and satisfying one. I learned how to identify and eradicate a type of invasive plant and safely handle an ax in the presence of others. The work left me with a sense of accomplishment. I can’t wait to see dead trees being replaced by local flora next year!