As the climate warms, the vine that ate the U.S. South is starting to gnaw at parts of the North, too.

Kudzu, a three-leafed weed first planted in the U.S. more than 100 years ago for the beauty of its purple blossoms, has been spotted in every county in Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina. It chokes young trees, brings down power lines and infests abandoned homes. Now the plant, which can grow as fast as a foot (30 cm) per day, is creeping northward, wrapping itself around smokestacks in Ohio, overwhelming Illinois backyards and even jumping Lake Erie to establish a beachhead in Ontario, Canada.

The invasive plant costs U.S. property owners about $50 million per year in eradication, according to the Nature Conservancy. Other estimates are 10 times higher. Agronomists and landscapers fear what the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Lewis Ziska calls the star of “a bad 1950s science-fiction plant movie” will continue to expand its role, making a nuisance and carrying a disease devastating to soybeans. Climate change is partly to blame, Ziska said, with the average U.S. temperature rising as much as 1.9 degrees Fahrenheit since 1895, most of that since 1970, according to the National Climate Assessment issued by the White House in May.

“The one thing that’s kept these invasives in check has always been cold weather,” said Ziska, a plant physiologist at the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service in Beltsville, Maryland. “As the winters warm as a result of a changing climate, that more or less opens up a Pandora’s box of where these invasives can show up in the future.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-07-25...anges.html

This is complete BS. Kudzu was imported to the US by scientists who thought it would help control erosion. It takes over everything in site, aand still doesnt help with erosion. But its funny to see some scientists now blame global warming for something they created.

(07-26-2014 08:51 PM)UofMstateU Wrote:  This is complete BS. Kudzu was imported to the US by scientists who thought it would help control erosion. It takes over everything in site, aand still doesnt help with erosion. But its funny to see some scientists now blame global warming for something they created.

They aren't blaming global warming for Kudzu. They're blaming it for spreading north into what used to be colder areas. One should notice a slowing of the spread at least temporarily, after that last winter we had, I would think. Was there any slowing or halt of the advance?

Damn, it was cold as can be in ohio this past winter... Stuff has been in Tennessee by norris lake for a long time.

(07-26-2014 10:09 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(07-26-2014 08:51 PM)UofMstateU Wrote:  This is complete BS. Kudzu was imported to the US by scientists who thought it would help control erosion. It takes over everything in site, aand still doesnt help with erosion. But its funny to see some scientists now blame global warming for something they created.

They aren't blaming global warming for Kudzu. They're blaming it for spreading north into what used to be colder areas. One should notice a slowing of the spread at least temporarily, after that last winter we had, I would think. Was there any slowing or halt of the advance?

They are blaming global warming for Kudzu spreading. It's NOT global warming. Its an f*ing invasive from a different continent. The scientist got it wrong, and are now trying to say that global warming is causing it to spread faster to the north. Thats bull****. Its spreading to the north because the dumbasses unleashed it on this continent. One or two degrees is not going to slow or speed up an invasive vine.

In the late 1700's, bindweed was introduced into eastern North America, a plant that was from Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Despite requiring temps that need to fluctuate between 70F and 95F for proper seed production, the invasive was able to travel from Eastern Canada to Western Canada in under a decade. This was long before man could have caused global warming, yet a plant that needs very warm temps to generate seed was able to cover Canada in less than a decade.

So take that global warming bull**** and shove it. THis is what happens when scientists tell us its settled science (Kudzu will control erosion) and then try to explain why their conclusions went so horribly wrong.

(07-26-2014 10:47 PM)UofMstateU Wrote:  

(07-26-2014 10:09 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(07-26-2014 08:51 PM)UofMstateU Wrote:  This is complete BS. Kudzu was imported to the US by scientists who thought it would help control erosion. It takes over everything in site, aand still doesnt help with erosion. But its funny to see some scientists now blame global warming for something they created.

They aren't blaming global warming for Kudzu. They're blaming it for spreading north into what used to be colder areas. One should notice a slowing of the spread at least temporarily, after that last winter we had, I would think. Was there any slowing or halt of the advance?

They are blaming global warming for Kudzu spreading. It's NOT global warming. Its an f*ing invasive from a different continent. The scientist got it wrong, and are now trying to say that global warming is causing it to spread faster to the north. Thats bull****. Its spreading to the north because the dumbasses unleashed it on this continent. One or two degrees is not going to slow or speed up an invasive vine.

In the late 1700's, bindweed was introduced into eastern North America, a plant that was from Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Despite requiring temps that need to fluctuate between 70F and 95F for proper seed production, the invasive was able to travel from Eastern Canada to Western Canada in under a decade. This was long before man could have caused global warming, yet a plant that needs very warm temps to generate seed was able to cover Canada in less than a decade.

So take that global warming bull**** and shove it. THis is what happens when scientists tell us its settled science (Kudzu will control erosion) and then try to explain why their conclusions went so horribly wrong.

Well, I can't argue about the initial introduction of Kudzu, as I'm sure there have been plenty of previous attempts to introduce species to control something else that didn't work out. If they assumed it wouldn't spread and a reasonable variation in temperature would allow it to spread, then they just screwed up.

(07-26-2014 11:05 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(07-26-2014 10:47 PM)UofMstateU Wrote:  

(07-26-2014 10:09 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(07-26-2014 08:51 PM)UofMstateU Wrote:  This is complete BS. Kudzu was imported to the US by scientists who thought it would help control erosion. It takes over everything in site, aand still doesnt help with erosion. But its funny to see some scientists now blame global warming for something they created.

They aren't blaming global warming for Kudzu. They're blaming it for spreading north into what used to be colder areas. One should notice a slowing of the spread at least temporarily, after that last winter we had, I would think. Was there any slowing or halt of the advance?

They are blaming global warming for Kudzu spreading. It's NOT global warming. Its an f*ing invasive from a different continent. The scientist got it wrong, and are now trying to say that global warming is causing it to spread faster to the north. Thats bull****. Its spreading to the north because the dumbasses unleashed it on this continent. One or two degrees is not going to slow or speed up an invasive vine.

In the late 1700's, bindweed was introduced into eastern North America, a plant that was from Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Despite requiring temps that need to fluctuate between 70F and 95F for proper seed production, the invasive was able to travel from Eastern Canada to Western Canada in under a decade. This was long before man could have caused global warming, yet a plant that needs very warm temps to generate seed was able to cover Canada in less than a decade.

So take that global warming bull**** and shove it. THis is what happens when scientists tell us its settled science (Kudzu will control erosion) and then try to explain why their conclusions went so horribly wrong.

Well, I can't argue about the initial introduction of Kudzu, as I'm sure there have been plenty of previous attempts to introduce species to control something else that didn't work out. If they assumed it wouldn't spread and a reasonable variation in temperature would allow it to spread, then they just screwed up.

Yes, and I dont want to lump all scientists into the same group. Most conservationists absolutely and vehemently disagree with planting an invasive somewhere to control something. If a species has no natural predators, then it is able to withstand a wider range of conditions in the wild. Even if it was 1 to 2 degrees cooler in that area, Kudzu would have no problem spreading. It takes significantly colder temps just to get it to grow at a normal rate.

A point in case, we were extremely cold this past winter. Yet this spring and summer I am dealing with kudzu again on my property, whereas i had gotten rid of it a few years ago. the severe winter slowed everything else up, allowing kudzu to take hold. the stuff grows at nearly one foot per day, so you give it a competitive jump, and it will unleash the fury.

Kudzu (/ˈkʊdzuː/, also called Japanese arrowroot[1][2]) is a group of plants in the genus Pueraria, in the pea family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae. They are climbing, coiling, and trailing perennial vines native to much of eastern Asia, southeast Asia, and some Pacific Islands.[2] The name comes from the Japanese name for the plants, kuzu (クズ or 葛?), which was written "kudzu" in historical romanizations. Where these plants are naturalized, they can be invasive and are considered noxious weeds. The plant climbs over trees or shrubs and grows so rapidly that it kills them by heavy shading.[3] The plant is edible but often sprayed with herbicides.

"The plant is edible but often sprayed with herbicides".
Duh, so don't spray them with herbicide and use them for food. God knows, if things keep going like they are (economy) we'll be foraging for something to eat. God gives us manna from heaven and we use herbicide. Wow, unbelievable. Only in America.

Those poor Canadians. Global warming is not only taking away their beloved bitter cold weather but now invasive species keep pushing northward to add to their misery. Fire ants, africanized bees and now kudzu. Hell. Just a living hell.

Heard their military and organized militias are training to combat the growing, potential threats...

(07-26-2014 10:47 PM)UofMstateU Wrote:  

(07-26-2014 10:09 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(07-26-2014 08:51 PM)UofMstateU Wrote:  This is complete BS. Kudzu was imported to the US by scientists who thought it would help control erosion. It takes over everything in site, aand still doesnt help with erosion. But its funny to see some scientists now blame global warming for something they created.

They aren't blaming global warming for Kudzu. They're blaming it for spreading north into what used to be colder areas. One should notice a slowing of the spread at least temporarily, after that last winter we had, I would think. Was there any slowing or halt of the advance?

They are blaming global warming for Kudzu spreading. It's NOT global warming. Its an f*ing invasive from a different continent. The scientist got it wrong, and are now trying to say that global warming is causing it to spread faster to the north. Thats bull****. Its spreading to the north because the dumbasses unleashed it on this continent. One or two degrees is not going to slow or speed up an invasive vine.

Agreed.. I don't think people realize exactly what Kudzu is. You'll see that crap growing while there's ton of snow and ice outside while everything else is dark and brown and dead!

I know I've got a couple of plants of it on my property (I did a great job cleaning it out a few years ago, but it's been building back up in certain areas again... so I've got to get in kill it out again)

Atlhough I'll admit, I never knew it was edible.

(07-26-2014 10:37 PM)Thebeardedbearcat Wrote:  Damn, it was cold as can be in ohio this past winter

Exactly. Which means this explanation is total bull****.

(07-27-2014 09:33 PM)DaSaintFan Wrote:  

(07-26-2014 10:47 PM)UofMstateU Wrote:  

(07-26-2014 10:09 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(07-26-2014 08:51 PM)UofMstateU Wrote:  This is complete BS. Kudzu was imported to the US by scientists who thought it would help control erosion. It takes over everything in site, aand still doesnt help with erosion. But its funny to see some scientists now blame global warming for something they created.

They aren't blaming global warming for Kudzu. They're blaming it for spreading north into what used to be colder areas. One should notice a slowing of the spread at least temporarily, after that last winter we had, I would think. Was there any slowing or halt of the advance?

They are blaming global warming for Kudzu spreading. It's NOT global warming. Its an f*ing invasive from a different continent. The scientist got it wrong, and are now trying to say that global warming is causing it to spread faster to the north. Thats bull****. Its spreading to the north because the dumbasses unleashed it on this continent. One or two degrees is not going to slow or speed up an invasive vine.

Agreed.. I don't think people realize exactly what Kudzu is. You'll see that crap growing while there's ton of snow and ice outside while everything else is dark and brown and dead!

I know I've got a couple of plants of it on my property (I did a great job cleaning it out a few years ago, but it's been building back up in certain areas again... so I've got to get in kill it out again)

Atlhough I'll admit, I never knew it was edible.

Yeah, its edible, but like collard greens you better be prepared for a long day of prep work to make them palatable.

An alternative theory regarding kudzu spreading north is that it has been here long enough to acclimatize itself to colder temperatures.

That stuff is all over the trees by my place.

Maybe they need to import a species that eats Kudzu.

No Kudzu in the Hill Country

Can you kill kudzu? I've heard from old timers that you have to burn it all down then dig up all the roots and burn them.

(07-28-2014 07:20 AM)DrTorch Wrote:  

(07-26-2014 10:37 PM)Thebeardedbearcat Wrote:  Damn, it was cold as can be in ohio this past winter

Exactly. Which means this explanation is total bull****.

C'mon now Torch, we all know if this plant grows it's because of global warming, if it doesn't grow it's because of global warming, and if it dies it's because of global warming. It's settled science.

(07-28-2014 11:29 AM)gdunn Wrote:  Can you kill kudzu? I've heard from old timers that you have to burn it all down then dig up all the roots and burn them.

I don't know about kudzu, but I read this article a few days back, and it's disturbing.

http://www.newsweek.com/japanese-knotwee...der-257257

They say there's a whole slew of fungi and insects that will kill knotweed then they'll find out the insects were worst. You can't win.

(07-28-2014 11:29 AM)gdunn Wrote:  Can you kill kudzu? I've heard from old timers that you have to burn it all down then dig up all the roots and burn them.

I've never had to burn it down to start with... but you pretty much have to make sure you get the root and torch it. Because even if it looks dead and is just lying in the grass, it just seems to have a "rebirth" unless it's completely burnt (even shredding/chopping it, never seems to work).

Kinda like a vampire plant...