ARUNDO DONAX BAD MANAGEMENT: Mow down Arundo 
donax and you'll make the problem worse...how to 
manage this invasive grass ... ahead on Passport to 
Texas.

This is Passport to Texas

How would you deal with grass that's gotten out of hand? 
Mow it? That works for turf grass, but not the invasive 
non-native grass called Arundo donax, also known simply 
as Arundo or as giant reed or carrizo cane. 

03-It's very tall-grows up to about 30 feet. 

Not only is mowing nearly impossible, but using a 
machete or anything that breaks this gargantuan grass 
into pieces is ill-advised, says Monica McGarrity, who 
studies aquatic invasive for TPW.  

19- The way that this plant reproduces is by the canes-especially 
when they're cut-by folks mowing or by nutria eating them. They 
spread downstream and they re-root and create new plants. It does 
spread by its rhizomes, but it can travel long distances if you cut it, 
mow it, and fragments get into the creek. Each fragment can create a 
new plant.

Its invasive nature is evident along rivers and streams; it 
outcompetes native plants and disrupts habitat. In 
addition, it's a thirsty plant - not good for drought-prone 
Texas.

13-It uses a lot of water. It's been shown to reduce flows, and it can 
cause a lot of erosion, and that can reduce the water quality in the 
stream. So, lots of ways that it can have a big impact on the system.

So what is the best way to manage Arundo? Monica 
McGarrity has the answer on tomorrow's show.  Learn 
more about Arundo donax at texasinvasives.org. 

The Sport Fish Restoration program supports our series.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I'm Cecilia Nasti.



Total sound bite time:			0:35.0
Maximum Script time:			0:50.0	         	          Suggested show time: 85.0 = 1:25
Our partners have expressed a preference for using "Arundo" as the common name for consistency with 
their preexisting language for communication.
Great! Gonna steal this "it works for turfgrass..." line :)