Russian Olive - Friend or Foe?
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- čas přidán 7. 07. 2024
- Russian Olive is now commonplace across many places in the U.S., and whether that’s good or bad is a matter of strong opinion. If it sprouts in your yardscape, you have some decisions to make, and if you want to control it, DirtFarmerJay will show you how!
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Russian Olive, botanical name Elaeagnus Angustifolia has rapidly adapted in the wild after initially being introduced as an ornamental, and then later by government entities in conservation efforts. It has been used for snow breaks, windbreaks, soil stabilization, and erosion control, shade, pollen, and wildlife habitat. Other common names for this tree/shrub are wild olive, silver berry, and oleaster.
Like many well-intended actions or programs, there are unintended and unforeseen consequences. It is now classified as a noxious weed in Colorado and New Mexico, it’s most invasive in riparian (along rivers, creeks, and waterways) areas. Many other states, counties, and various jurisdictions have warnings about plantings of Russian Olive.
Russian Olive readily chokes out native tree species such as willows, box elders, and cottonwood. A mature tree can consume up to 75 gallons (285 liters) per tree! And, it’s lower growth habit of commonly branching right at soil level can dam up or redirect water flow. Not good.
While value and beauty tend to be highly subjective, Russian Olive takes a lot of tending to have it behave well in a yardscape. It is usually heavily armed with 1” to 2” (2.5 to 5 cm) thorns, and the lower 6 to 7’ (2 meters) of the tree is a dense tangle of (often dead) branches. It can be pruned to a single trunk, and depending on conditions, can grow to between 16’ and 40’ (5 to 12 meters) tall, with most being in the 30’ (9 m) range.
If left untended, it will create plentiful deadfall, as well as prolific small branching throughout much of the canopy. It will tend to show up in other places in your yardscape via seed dispersal by wildlife, particularly birds. The seed passes through many birds’ digestive tracts unscathed. Since birds sit in existing trees and shrubs, many Russian Olive seedlings will grow at the base of existing plantings, where the droppings are deposited. Saplings can grow with limited light and can be easily overlooked while they blend in with the surrounding foliage.
Russian Olive will grow significantly after wounding. Cutting off a sapling or mature tree at the soil line will only create a spray of new stems in the months to come. We have observed stands of trees that were burned during wildfires with only blackened skeletal remains with prolific growth coming from the bases. They are very persistent!
The most effective way to control them is to use an approved herbicide, undiluted, applied generously on the open stump, literally minutes after the cut has been made. The root system will imbibe the herbicide into the roots (which are primarily lateral, with almost all roots being in the first 3’ (1 m) of the soil. DirtFarmerJay uses glyphosate, which disrupts the proteins needed by the root to produce new tissue. The herbicide is systemic, meaning that takes time to work through the “system” of the tree/roots. In the meantime, for small saplings, no new top growth should appear. Larger trees may take repeated applications, but don’t give up!
If you want to really get a lot of detail about Russian Olives, here is an extensive technical document for your reading pleasure:
www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/p...
Additionally, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) has a resource center on invasive plant species and lists information on Russian Olive here:
www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/t...
While it’s your decision of you want to let Russian Olive grow in your yard or not, you now know how to kill saplings should you wish to. You don’t need an arborist or professional landscaper to do this; you can JUST DO IT YOURSELF!
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While super invasive, yes, Russian olives are a huge benefit to the drought-prone areas of the west. They grow quickly and provide MUCH needed shade and food for all manner of animals. Additionally, the honey-scented flowers provide a lot of food for bees and other insects. They don't require tending, can tolerate almost no water, and thrive in a very difficult and extreme landscape, where no other plants will grow. The bark and leaves have medicinal properties. The wood is strong and excellent for outdoor projects or smoking meat, and burns for a long time in a wood stove.
Your argument is extremely one-sided. There are more benefits than there are drawbacks to Russian olives. And I cannot trust a word you say after witnessing your use of glyphosate. No responsible "farmer" would ever put that substance into the soil.
Thanks for writing, Kate, even if you disagree with me. Best, DFJ
Good to know. The previous owner of my property planted a LOT of Russian olives and some other things as a windbreak. I live in what's called a "high desert" and it's very dry here in the summer. The soil is hard and rocky. I know all too well how scraggly they get as I've been trying to prune them myself. Honestly, I love the crazy way the branches grow as you get higher up, though. I do cut down the brushy growth at the bottom because I hate scruffy trees. I didn't know about the bark and leaves or burning the wood.
All the negatives Jay mentioned were emphasized when I was growing up in northeastern Utah. I didn’t ever see (or notice anyway) the Russian Olive in Ohio or Texas while living in those states most of my life. Retiring back in Utah I found a friend that had concentrated on the positives and built a twenty-acre Garden of Eden a few miles away that was the hit of our annual garden tour. He and his wife designed walkways, ponds, and bridges, open lawns, orchard, a guest house and many other varieties of trees. However, there the RO reigns in glory. I agree with Jay, it all depends on how one “sees” these trees. Now there is a lesson worthy of note in life.
You are absolutely right Corey Grua. Beauty in nature is certainly in the eye of the beholder! I know the property you are speaking of. It's beautiful. Best to you! DFJ
The problem with a property like that is that the RO seeds don't stay on that property. They get spread to the surrounding area. Which is how DFJ got those RO's growing at his place. This is a tree that should be removed by everyone in the US.
@@DailyTheme I saw this a long time ago. But don't remember if he mentions the allelopathy of Russian/Autumn Olive as well. So not only do they inhibit the growth of other plants by shading them they also change soil chemistry to make it harder for other native plants to grow.
The berry's aren't as nutritious for birds as other berry's are.
And yes they will grow 20 to 40 feet, sometimes more, to get sun. And in doing so will kill out everything below them.
@@DailyTheme why don't you plant something native like willow, redbuds, silky dogwood or one of the other native shrubs. All of these will bring more birds and other life.
I cut them off or pull them out. If I cut them off I treat the stumps with something like Tordon or spray sprouts with Triclopyr.
Did I miss it? One reason some people really like these trees is the wonderful fragrance of this tree usually late several weeks of May.
Definitely heard of this but not sure if it outweighs the maintenance of these tree/shrub-the water usage-the thorns-I've got 1 that I think I''m going to take out after a number of times I've brushed up against it and had a bloody arm and then realized it was fron the Russian Olive!
Worked on the Golf Course at Hill AFB back in the 70's. Russian Olives were a big problem, Stuck many times with the those big thorns. Good information on how to control them. Thanks Jay !!!
Thanks for watching and commenting Robert Higgins. Best to you, DFJ
After that I see your clip , I realized that forgot to mention that-this tree flowers 💐 .
Good info!
We use them as dewormer(the leaves)
Very helpful info.
Thanks for talking about this plant. I have a bunch of them, planted by the previous owner as a windbreak. I'm in the process of pruning them and trying to kill off the sprouts or sucker or whatever they are that grow in the ground around the trunk. I like the trees when they're all cleaned up, but hate them when they're scruffy looking.
I'm glad you found this to be helpful. You'll need to watch for volunteer plants starting up at the base of other trees and shrubs around your place. That's because birds will eat the berries, and pass the seed as they are perching and drop the seeds at the base of where they are perching. Young seedlings are quite thorny, so you can to keep them controlled. Thanks for writing! Best, DFJ
@@DirtFarmerJay Thank you for the advice!
It is great wood for smoking meat. Very good flavor
Great insight, Joey!
its very good for your heart and blood pressure
i remember seeing a lot of them when i was visiting Canada
I've always thought they were beautiful when young. The silver lightens up everything .
Indeed.
If you are doing a tractor through the area leave the stump longer so you can avoid driving over it and puncturing the tire. Come back later and use the tractor to pull or remove the stump.
In Illinois they are the first tree to turn green they turn green in mid February even in the snow sometimes I personally dislike them when they take over a large portion of timber which is too common here
Bonjour 🇩🇿🌹🇩🇿
Merci pour les informations .
Bonne journée
I really Love the Silver appearence of these but I think the negatives outweigh the positives/They certainly would make a property less desireable to enter(trespassers) if you had the around the perimeter thoughI think they are bad if you have kids or dogs and the 1 I have I'm going to take out as a number of times I've brushed up against it got a loody arm etc. then realized what it was from!
Hi. You didn't say anything about the wonderful fragrance. Also I have never seen thorns on them. I see them all over growing wild.
Mine all have thorns and they're big. Someone recently told me female trees have the thorns and males don't, or vice-versa. I haven't tried to verify that, though.
It does also put nitrogen in soil, has been long time in orchards. Great for dry prairies, maybe your notcomforta le with nature, and seeing your size of chemical, and enthusiasm, .......,
I haven't noticed them in Tennessee... I think I will just avoid them... they could prove to be a thorn in my side...
hahahahaha! Good one! Best, DFJ
Hablo todo lo malo ,y el lado bueno del arbol ,es hermoso 💕🇦🇷💃
Muchas gracias!
@@DirtFarmerJay de nada y amo ese árbol tb el de tamarisco el Tamarix ! Aquí abundan los dos !🤩😍🥰💕🇦🇷💃💥🌺🍎
💕💪
No hablo de su fruto,🇦🇷💃
So you can’t eat the olives? Dammit I was ready to put it in my white Russian/martini
Hi dirt farmer.
Can produce oil from this plant fruit Russian Olive???
This plant we have minimum 20 breeds kinds.
Name in balti (Sarsing) local language.
This plant is very common in baltistan north k3 side.
Most people grow this plant for fire wood purpose bcz it need no water to grow this plant grow everywhere mountain Santa mostly rock stone hill rock riverside roadside, it perfume are well and fascinating and beautiful chain flower in April may, use flower for honey production. It also for garden safe line over wall bcz it have much horn like needle very sharp. It stay hatmful animal far from garden.
Not to my knowledge. DFJ
I don't water mine and they are really tall Montana calls them a weed to
You can produce a syrup by boiling the fruits and reducing.
I will use 'ROUND UP' for Bermuda Grass and also like you to kill a larger stump of a weed tree if I must. But I always feel like I am doing something wrong. The little sapling you used it on in this video could have been taken out easily with a flat edged shovel, so I would have chosen to do that rather than douse it. One thing you didn't mention is the odor of the Russian Olive which is nice.
Thanks for taking time to comment ywcaman. In gardening, the gardener must make hard decisions from time to time about removing growth. This decision was not a hard one. Russian Olive is very invasive (and spikes are dangerous to children and animals) and not welcome addition to any of our landscape. DFJ
@@DirtFarmerJay ROUNDUP is very dangerous to children and all animals, pets etc., too. Much more dangerous than the odd spike high on a tree.
ROUNDUP is very dangerous to children and all animals, pets etc., too. Much more dangerous than the odd spike high on a tree...
@@m.brantome2511 RoundUp is dangerous to no one. The only thing glyphosate is dangerous to is plants it gets on. There fixed it for you.
Question?? We live in Colorado and we keep finding these russian olives in lil piles hidden in our house,we have no kids that would or could bring them in and hide them,but for some odd reason we keep finding them,does anyone know what kind of animal or other species it could be lol,or that can wiggle into or house and plant them in hidden places,we can't figure it out...HELP!!! 🤣🤣
@jennaann8106 - it's hard to know what is doing the "stockpiling" in your house, but I'm going assume it's some type of rodent. These creatures can get through the smallest spaces, and tend to move indoors when the weather is really cold or wet. Droppings are another clue. What are the piles from the Russian Olives? Branches? Fruit, Leaves? Let me know. Best, DFJ
I can be 100% certain that a pack rat is responsible for what you are finding.
Voles do that where I live
Hey dear !
Love your show , I love that tree , can you please let me know how can I buy one of that tree .
Thanks 😊
If you’re in the usa, just go dig one up at a river. Many people will thank you because they’re invasive to our country
@@camwheatschickety911
Hey dear !
If you can give me the address and location .
I will be there.
Thanks for your response.
@@ahmadsbalouch2095 what state are you near? All along the colorado river, gunnison river, snake river, Missouri River watershed etc. near rivers in dryer parts of the usa they are very common
Glyfosate. Really? OMG
Silverberry and Oleaster are not Russian Olives?
These are all related, and have similar traits, but do have differences. For instance, silverberry has more of a shrub growth habit, and it suckers extensively, creating extensive dense stands of the plant.
@@DirtFarmerJay
OK, I've got some Silver Berry also, looks similar but small brite red fruits, they grow native along the river and stream beds in Nevada. Those Russian Olives pop up all over in the lawn! Can be a godsend living in a dry alkaline lake bed valley or a nuisance!
Ok. I take it you don’t like these trees.
Shimmyhinnah (great screen name!) - they are not my favorite for their undesirable traits of invasiveness, crowding out other species, thorniness, growth habit and coloration that is not that attractive. You got me. Thanks for watching and writing! Best, DFJ