Invasive Plants Are Harmful to the Local Environment

Anytime the ground is disturbed, for whatever reason, it should set off alarm bells for "green" property owners. Barren and disturbed ground is a welcome mat for invasive plant species. The ground could be disturbed for any number of reasons; perhaps a new water line, a construction project or a logging operation. Whatever, the reason for the disturbed ground, it still remains an open invitation to a what could be an expensive removal project.

There are many invasive plants which can create problems. Invasive plants can be plants, vines, shrubs or trees not native to the region. Examples of invasive plant species, some of which are viewed as exotic ornamentals include: the Norway Maple Tree (Acer plantanoides L. ), the shrub, Japanese Barnerry (Berberis thunbergii), the Purple Looseleaf plant (Lythrun salicarina) and the Bush Honeysuckle vine (Lonicera japonica). There are also a number of aquatic plants which are dangerous to waterways and native marine life.

Invasive plants are generally very aggressive, costly and difficult to eradicate. They degrade the local environment since they crowd out native plants which provide habitat and nutrients for many beneficial insect sand other local wildlife. Because of their aggressive nature, and due to the lack of natural ecological controls, invasive plants tend to spread very rapidly.

Some of these invasive plants can actually be very dangerous to human health. Three of the very worse, lethal and dangerous invasives are: Giant Hogweed, Poison Hemlock and Wild Parsnip. All three can grow and thrive very well in barren, disturbed ground and can pose serious health risks. When dealing with these plants, it is best to contact a professional for assistance in their removal from the property. These plants can cause very serious injury and without the proper knowledge and information homemade efforts to eradicate them could further the plant's aggressive behavior while putting yourself and others at risk.

The good news is there are simple actions property owners can take to prevent or combat invasive plants, shrubs and trees. One of the first steps is to take a look at what is growing on the property. Many states, and local universities, have readily available programs and some will provide needed resources to assist in identification. Annual or even periodic land surveys are a good tool.

If an invasive species is discovered, many states, conservation groups and universities, will be able to recommend the best courses of action to take to eradicate the species without harming the native plant population. This step may require a management plan for removing the invasive species and in some cases, the process can take several years.

If native plants must be disturbed for a construction or logging operation, the area should be replanted with the same native flowers or similar local native plants. Such information and seed or plant availability is readily available from many state agencies and conservation groups. The area should be re-planted as soon as possible to prevent an establishment of a colony of invasive species. Naturally, a logging operation in a woodlot will require specific woodland, native plants, while a meadow or lawn project will require other native species.

However, it is never a good idea to remove native plants from an area for home landscaping and in some cases it is illegal. In some instances, with the proper authorization, collecting the plants for replanting from private property owners can be an option. In general, it is legal to collect seeds which can be sown after the project is completed.

Individual property owners can take simple actions to help the local environment with a few simple but important steps: education, research and management. The end result will ultimately be a a cost saving measure as well as a green step forward for the future.