Latest news with #invasiveplants
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Botanist issues urgent warning about aggressive plant taking over yards: 'Difficult to control'
Botanist issues urgent warning about aggressive plant taking over yards: 'Difficult to control' Invasive species are detrimental to biodiversity, ecosystems, and the economy. A botanist is on a mission to educate people about invasive plants and why removing them is important. Posting on Instagram, the Invasive Species Guy (@invasivespeciesguy) showed people that the best way to stop Great mullein plants from spreading is to remove every plant they find. This is because a single plant can produce as many as 240,000 seeds, according to the botanist. The botanist wrote that the plant was first introduced to North America from Eurasia in the mid-1700s as an ornamental plant but has quickly spread. As the Invasive Species Guy wrote, this plant "reduces biodiversity, is unpalatable to livestock, is difficult to control, can reduce crop or forage yields, and their star-shaped, felted hairs can cause skin irritations." Invasive species are a big problem globally, costing billions of dollars every year. Invasive plants and animals outcompete native species, destroying ecosystems while hurting the economy that depends on them. Invasive species can damage crop yields and destroy property. For example, invasive feral pigs alone cause close to $2.5 billion in damages in the U.S. every year, per the USDA. By managing and removing these species, we can protect our economies and preserve resources. Rewilding your yard with native species and removing invasive ones can help support local ecosystems by preventing invasive species from spreading. Native plant gardens are also much easier to maintain because the plants are adapted to the local environment. This means you don't need to worry about adding fertilizer to the soil or excess watering, saving you both time and money on yard maintenance. There are lots of ways to incorporate native plants into your yard and reap these benefits. Trading your grass lawn for a more natural one can help reduce maintenance and water costs, while using landscape techniques such as xeriscaping — which uses drought-tolerant native plants and rocks or mulch — can help remove the need for irrigation. Several commenters agreed with the OP's take on invasive plants. "Zero tolerance for invasives!" one person commented. "Thanks for letting me know," another added. "I kinda liked it in my yard but I'll definitely keep it out." What's the hardest thing about taking care of your yard? Mowing the lawn Controlling weeds Keeping pests at bay I don't have a yard Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the the daily Crossword
CBC
2 days ago
- General
- CBC
Invasive plants are growing in a Wolfville park. This group is cutting the problem at its root
While out for a run in Wolfville's Reservoir Park this past spring, Jenna Anderson came across a pile of brush on the side of the trail. Having studied environmental science, she looked a little closer and recognized the shiny oval-shaped leaves within the debris. It was glossy buckthorn, an invasive species introduced to Canada from Eurasia almost a century ago. A singular plant can look unassuming, but buckthorns tend to grow in dense thickets, creating walls of vegetation that outcompete native plant species. That's when Anderson realized how much of the park was overrun by the plants. Everywhere she looked, she saw them creeping up on the trails. But she also saw David Steele, who was responsible for the pile of leaves and branches on the trail. He was getting his hands dirty and pulling the invasive plants up at the roots. In that first meeting, Anderson learned Steele had been coming to the park three or four times a week to clear out invasive plants that threaten the local ecosystem. He had also enlisted the help of some volunteers. "I said [to him], 'Hey, how do I get in on this? Let me be a part of this,'" she said. "So yeah, he put me in the schedule." Steele first noticed Wolfville's invasive plant problem when Multiflora roses appeared in his backyard. As a retired man with time on his hands, he said he began researching and soon saw invasive plants everywhere — including the park. "I live just a few minutes from the park and it is one of my favourite areas for walks and just hiking … and I began to notice the uniformity of the vegetation along a lot of the trail sides," said Steele. He started a removal group in the spring, which can clear thousands of plants in a day. Still, the Blomidon Naturalist Society, a local organization, says there are up to 80 invasive plants within one square-metre of the park. Steele said they've encountered several invasive plants so far, including buckthorn, Multiflora roses and the Norway maple. The group uses their bare hands, and tools like chainsaws and a root-pulling device called the extractigator, to remove the invasive plants. Steele said invasive plants disrupt the local ecosystem by outcompeting native species' for shade, space and food. For example, native chokecherry leaves often show insect bites, while invasive buckthorn leaves do not because they have no natural predators. This imbalance lets invasive species' replace native plants, harming the entire ecosystem. "The invasive plants provide no food at all for the native insects that are the meat and potatoes of the food webs," said Steele. As insect numbers drop, so will bird populations, triggering a ripple effect in the food chain, he said. While it's for a good cause, Anderson said the group is also a great opportunity for anyone who wants to spend some time outside this summer and meet others in their community. "David's obviously like a wealth of knowledge, so it's really cool to chat with him while we're working," she said. "I've learned a lot." In a statement to CBC News, Wolfville Mayor Jodi Mackay said the Reservoir Park is one of the town's "natural treasures, and it's up to all of us to help protect it." Steele said the group's next step is to plant some more native species in the park.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Homeowner met with warnings after sharing photo of mystery growth in front yard: 'Kill it now'
One Redditor was left stumped after spotting an invasive tree in their parents' front yard. The OP posted photos in the r/NativePlantGardening subreddit and asked fellow users to confirm whether the plant was the tree of heaven. Hundreds of commenters were quick to respond. "Yes, kill it now," one commenter said. "The spotted lanternfly nymphs are a dead giveaway that this is indeed tree of heaven," another wrote. The spotted lanternfly is an invasive planthopper known to be strongly attracted to the tree of heaven, per the Department of Agriculture. Invasive plant species such as the tree of heaven threaten ecosystems and affect biodiversity, outcompeting native species for resources. The National Wildlife Federation says 42% of threatened or endangered species are at risk because of invasive species. The tree of heaven was brought to the United States from China hundreds of years ago, per The Nature Conservancy. The aggressive plant reproduces quickly, spreading a large amount of seeds. The tree of heaven is also known to pop up after extreme weather events, which are becoming more intense and happening more frequently because of the warming climate. Experts say the most effective way to get rid of the tree of heaven is to pull seedlings before taproot grows. In an effort to prevent the spread of invasive plants, homeowners can install natural lawns. Options such as clover and buffalo grass help save money and time on maintenance. Reduced water bills are an added bonus. Rewilding your yard with native plants is another way to lower costs and help the environment at the same time. The plants create healthier ecosystems for pollinators, which means the human food supply will remain protected. As for the post, the OP's family might have some work cut out for them. In a follow-up comment, they said their father tried cutting the tree of heaven back a few times but that the pervasive plant kept growing. "I shudder to think of all the saplings he's unwittingly caused," the OP wrote. What is the biggest reason you don't grow food at home? Not enough time Not enough space It seems too hard I have a garden already Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the the daily Crossword
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
These 3 invasive plants may be hiding in your garden. Here's what to replace them with
Londoners may unknowingly be growing plants in their backyards that are causing harm to the local ecosystem, and experts are offering alternatives. Invasive plants are species that are not native to the area, which have the potential to spread rapidly, using up the natural resources that otherwise keep native plants healthy. They aren't always thick weeds or tall grasses, experts say, but can be the colourful flowers and luscious groundcover hidden in plain sight. "Usually when I'm looking at invasive species in residential areas, they are plants that were planted there by homeowners," Eldon House grounds and garden co-ordinator Kendal Davidson said. "They're not really something that creeps in. They're usually something that's put there for landscaping because people don't have the information." Many of these plants are sold in nurseries and grocery store garden centres, Davidson said, often advertised as low-maintenance garden choices. "Unfortunately, the characteristics that make them low maintenance are also a reason that they're classified as invasive, because they don't need a lot of inputs and they spread aggressively," she said. The abundance of invasive plants not only makes it harder for native plants to access sunlight and nutrition, but also has a domino effect on the city's surrounding wildlife, said Forest City Native Gardens founder Jonni Deetjen. "When invasive species come in, they crowd out the native plants and it just reduces the amount of food insects can eat and reduces the overall food web," Deetjen said. "Biodiversity goes way down." Experts told CBC News some of the invasive species they see most often in homeowners' yards, and what plants would be better replacements. Periwinkle Officials at the Invasive Species Centre, an Ontario non-profit, say one of the most common groundcover that gardeners use is periwinkle, which has a purple star-shaped flower among leafy foliage. "They form very dense mats along the ground, and these mats do not know boundaries, so they will continue to strike if they are not contained," terrestrial invasive plant co-ordinator Monica Liedtke said. Davidson said she sees periwinkle all over the city. "I live in north central London, and I would say approximately every third house has this growing somewhere on their property," Davidson said. She suggests Londoners consider planting woodland phlox as an alternative, as they share the same blue flowers and leafy groundcover as periwinkle. For a more versatile option, Deetjen recommends Londoners plant woodland strawberries, which grow small white flowers that spread across the ground, alongside the edible fruit. English ivy English ivy, also called common ivy, is an evergreen vine with bright green leaves that is constantly on the move. The vines grow quickly, creeping up on trees, winding around fences and going down slopes, Deetjen said. "It'll climb up the trees and make it super heavy in the winter, so when snow falls on it, it can bring the trees down," she said. "It'll just out-compete any native plants in the area." A good leafy alternative is Canada wild ginger, according to Davidson, which grows low to the ground with bold foliage. For people looking to keep their English ivy, Liedtke said Londoners can transport the plant into a pot to prevent it from spreading. Bamboo Deetjen is in the middle of a bamboo-removal project in London, which she said is threatening more than the local ecosystem. "The root system is super dense and it's threatening the foundation of this woman's house," she said. "It grows through concrete sometimes, so it's a pretty intense plant." That makes it challenging to get rid of, she said. "Bamboo can be a tedious process where you have to come back multiple times, remove new shoots and reapply herbicide," she explained. Once bamboo is removed, a different tall plant, like the red osier dogwood can act as a privacy hedge for Londoners. Other culprits and suggestions Other common invasive plants include goutweed, yellow archangel, Japanese knotweed, ditch lilies and lily of the valley. "I find that for a lot of these plants, people have emotional connections to them. I know a lot of people who have childhood memories of lily of the valley because of the scent of it," Davidson said. There are nice alternatives for the flowers, experts say. Instead of the orange ditch lilies, Londoners can try out butterfly milkweed, which is the same bright orange and tends to attract monarchs. Other colourful native flowers include the woodland sunflower, dense blazing star and joe pye weed.
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Plea to Aussie councils after common roadside problem exposed in photo
Australia's network of roads can be plain ugly, so what could be prettier than a local council planting a bed of pretty flowers across the surrounding nature strip? Unfortunately, experts have identified an often overlooked problem created beside one roundabout, just 6km west of Melbourne's CBD, where instead of local native plants, 'highly invasive' gazanias have been planted. Dr Ali Bajwa's Weed Science Group at La Trobe Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and Food has been investigating the impact of the species on the environment and agriculture, and he believes they are 'problematic'. The plant spiked in popularity in Australia during the 1950s and 1960s, but despite its known problems, it continues to be sold in nurseries and planted by councils. 'They spread quite rapidly. We've seen places where they've covered everything and replaced all of the remnant vegetation. They were introduced as ornamental plants, mainly grown in gardens and nature strips, and we believe that's where they've spread from,' he told Yahoo News Australia. Gazanias are known for their fierce growth, which ensures the species smothers native groundcovers and wildflowers, leading to a loss of native plant diversity. While its flowers and leaves are pretty to look at, they provide little habitat or food for native animals or insects. The plant can spread through garden waste, or via seeds or root systems when it's in the ground. Although some modern species have sterile seeds and this helps restrict its impact on the environment. Gazania is now a common sight along roadsides, particularly in Victoria and South Australia. When the species invades paddocks, farmers struggle to manage its spread, as standard herbicides are generally ineffective. Bajwa believes the 'horse has already bolted' when it comes to the invasion of gazania, but that doesn't give gardeners an excuse to plant more. The problem is clearly bigger than just one cluster, pictured on the side of the road in Footscray. 'Councils should be thinking of replacing them with more desirable species, like natives, which can grow well under the same conditions,' he said. Will the roadside gazanias be removed by council? Some local governments have already pulled them out to try and help the environment, but others are yet to do so. There doesn't appear to be any immediate plans to remove the gazanias or the invasive agapanthus growing in the roundabout in Footscray. Maribyrnong City Council, which manages the nature strip, did not respond directly to questions from Yahoo News about whether it was aware of the gazanias, why it was allowing them to flourish, or what it planned to do about the problem. 'Council uses a variety of native and non-native species in open space plantings to suit the character of different areas,' its CEO Celia Haddock said in a statement. 'Council does not plant declared noxious weeds and we continue to look for opportunities to prioritise native plants, and improve planting practices where suitable.' How councils can avoid spreading invasive plants To avoid the spread of more weeds into Australia's fragile environment, the Invasive Species Council (ISC) advises that local governments should opt for native plants. Speaking generally about the issue, spokesperson Imogen Ebsworth said there's simply not enough information available as to what has become invasive, or is likely to in the future. 'The result of that is that councils then sometimes find they've inadvertently planted an invasive species that then becomes a problem for them to manage on their own land, and also impacts others,' she told Yahoo. 'A way for councils to address this would be to really focus on plants that are natural to the local area, and are not invasive.' 🚨 Invasive species photographed destroying Aussie bush 🧪 Scientist's 'time capsule' in vault key to resurrecting Aussie species 🔎 Rare species with less than a thousand in the wild tracked down The ISC's solution to the problem is to approve national regulations that would prohibit the sale of invasive plants, taking the onus off councils and home gardeners to know what is problematic. 'We've got a situation where over 75 per cent of the invasive weeds we deal with have started their life as garden ornamentals, and a lot of them take 50 years or so for it to become clear that they're really invasive,' Ebsworth said. 'So we've got this huge time lapse gap where we've got over 30,000 introduced plants into Australia, most of them have not been assessed for whether they are weeds or could become weeds. So the information is really imperfect for decision makers. At the local council level, that means good intentions sometimes turn into invasive problems.' Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
