Experiments in Controlling Coral Ardisia (Part 2)

By Tom Kelley,

Hickory Preserve Board Member & Tour Guide

The first week of July I used my electric trimmer with a metal blade to cut as much of the Coral Ardisia as possible. I probably only cut half of what is growing on our property. I’ll cut the rest when we come back from vacation in August. By cutting down the plants now, I’m eliminating  this season's flowers and berries. So this winter there should not be many berries to pick on our  property. Some of the young Ardisia plants that cover the ground will grow into mature plants  and flower next spring. If I again cut them off before the fruit is mature and do this every year,  in theory, I should eventually eliminate them from our patch of forest. Of course they will  continue to invade from surrounding properties that are infested with them. But you have to  start somewhere. Last Fall I tried cutting down the plants when the berries were just starting to turn pink. Too late! I tried germinating some…100% germination. That’s why I cut the plants down during the  summer this year. Next fall and winter I’ll put more energy into picking berries in the  Hickory Preserve.