I have a lot of poison ivy, vines, and brush in my buffer. Can I “bush hog” it?
No. Bush hogging is not permitted in the buffer because it is potentially damaging to this sensitive area. Poison ivy can be sprayed with a herbicide and removed by hand (gloves are strongly recommended). Vines and brush can be cut or grubbed by hand. Some brush species
may actually be native shrubs. Manual removal will ensure that desirable native species can be maintained. Mulching or planting with native ground cover species is strongly recommended to stabilize that area after removing noxious or invasive species.

Show All Answers

1. What is the critical area buffer?
2. What are the restrictions in the buffer?
3. If I am building a house or an addition outside the buffer, is buffer planting still required?
4. When is a buffer management plan required?
5. Can I prepare my own buffer management plan?
6. Will my Buffer Management Plan require that I replant areas where I remove vegetation?
7. Do i need a buffer management plan to plant trees, shrubs, or a garden in the buffer?
8. What is the difference between buffer establishment and buffer mitigation?
9. I have a lot of poison ivy, vines, and brush in my buffer. Can I “bush hog” it?
10. What size plants do I need to satisfy a buffer planting requirement?
11. Can i cut small trees in the buffer without a buffer management plan approved by the local government?
12. Can I remove invasive or noxious plants such as English Ivy, Japanese Honeysuckle, or Phragmites in the buffer?
13. Can I remove a tree or natural vegetation that blocks my view?
14. Can I apply herbicides in the buffer?
15. Can I mow my lawn in the buffer?
16. What can I do about trees that are damaged by storms?
17. Can I trim shrubs and prune trees within the buffer?
18. Is mitigation required for trimming and pruning trees within the buffer?
19. Do I have to plant in the buffer when I am doing a shore erosion control project?
20. Why is planting required for shore erosion control projects when the project is being installed to help the bay by reducing sedimentation?
21. Is mitigation required for access to the shoreline and for stockpile areas created when you do a shore erosion control project?