Forest Restoration Project

Multi-year Forest Restoration Project to Remove Non-Native Invasive Plants, Trees, and Shrubs

Foulkeways has embarked on a multi-year forest restoration project to remove non-native invasive plants, trees, and shrubs within the community. In addition, this project will address deer browsing due to development in Montgomery County and other outlying counties, as well as; the existing diseased trees that have been affected by pests, such as Ashborers and bacteria, including oak leaf scorch.

Foulkeways has consulted with John Rockwell Hosbach of Rockwell Associates in Ridley Park to identify concerns about campus trees and landscape. John Rockwell Hosbach, Jr. is a highly effective Registered Consulting Arborist, Certified Arborist, and Landscape Consultant with over twenty-two years of experience in the diagnosis and evaluation of woody plants. He has developed the “Woodland Structure Management Plan” based on his findings. 

The “Woodland Structure Management Plan”

The multi-year forest restoration project began by creating a baseline of plantings. Clausen Tree Care will remove some of the diseased trees this Fall while others marked with a red “x” will be removed later. During the next two years, the invasive understory will be removed. Several herbicides will be applied in the Spring to continue with the clearance. A Glypho Phosphate herbicide will be applied to the remaining understory, a Rodeo herbicide near water areas, and a Garlon herbicide for tough plants. By the third year, the clearance of the understory is projected to be finished, and the seed crop trees will be able to be planted. These are “whips” of native species (oaks and redbud for 2nd tier and then shrubby plants at the bottom).

Also in the third year, an eight-foot deer fence will be installed around the cleared areas to address the deer browsing. The deer fence will surround the existing trails to close them off to the deer with the possible addition of “bump” gates. It will be in place for five to seven years before being removed and installed at another cleared area at Foulkeways. At the completion of the Woodland Structure Management Plan, our property will have approximately 200 trees/acre.

Tree Down on The Maris Trail, an example of a loss caused by an understory tight with invasives

The residents of Foulkeways value being a part of a healthy community.  This community includes our animals, especially the bugs, birds, and other creatures that carry the good stuff around. This problem is separate from the losses caused by the emerald Ash Borer and Oak leaf Scorch.  The invasives are from a mono-culture that deprives the trees of water and nutrients, prevents sunlight from reaching the forest floor, and also prevents succession growth of the existing species.

The Foulkeways community is committed to developing and maintaining healthy trees and supporting a thriving forest for our residents today and in the future.   Please send your comments and questions regarding our Forest Restoration Project to info@foulkeways.org