This week is National Invasive Species Awareness Week, an international event to raise awareness about invasive species, the threat that they pose, and what can be done to prevent their spread.
Invasive species are non-native plants, animals, pathogens, and microorganisms. They can be found on land or in water. Once they become established in areas outside their normal habitat range, they are capable of causing severe damage, including harming the economy, the environment, or human health. According to the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), invasive species are one of the greatest threats to New York’s biodiversity. They cause or contribute to:
- Habitat degradation and loss;
- The loss of native fish, wildlife and tree species;
- The loss of recreational opportunities and income;
- Crop damage and diseases in humans and livestock;
- Risks to public safety.
Japanese Barberry can have green or red foliage
Many invasive plants have long been used widely in landscaping partly because they are so easy to grow. Some of these you may have growing in your own yards, like Japanese Barberry, Norway Maple, and Burning Bush. From our neighborhoods, these plants spread into nearby forests and parks. Olmsted City is currently fighting the spread of many invasive plants at FT Proctor Park including Burning Bush, Japanese Knotweed, Wild Parsnip, a few varieties of Honeysuckle, and Purple Loosestrife, among others!
We can all help stop the spread of invasive plants – starting in our own yards. First, don’t plant any plants on your property that are on the DEC’s list of invasive species. Some are prohibited, but many are still being sold locally. (We would further recommend only planting species that are native to our region.) Second, identify any invasive plants you already have growing on your property and remove them. Some are easier than others to get rid of, but any progress is good progress. Third, replace them with native substitutes.
Acer pensylvanicum, Striped Maple
Norway Maples, for example, can be replaced with a number of native maple trees. Choose a native maple that will thrive in your conditions. One reason Norway Maples are invasive is they are adaptable to many growing conditions – they can grow almost anywhere! Our native maples have preferences, but there is one that will thrive in just about any condition. Red Maples tolerate wet soils and salt, Sugar Maples will grow in shade, and Striped Maples are smaller trees that tolerate drier soils.
Instead of Japanese Barberry or Burning Bush, choose native shrubs such as Ninebark, Red Chokeberry or Fragrant Sumac, our native Bush Honeysuckle, Summersweet, or New Jersey Tea. Select one that fits in your landscape. Red Twig Dogwood, Bush Honeysuckle, and New Jersey Tea are smaller, mounding shrubs, while Red Chokeberry and Ninebark can grow quite tall. Many of these taller shrubs can be pruned to maintain a more compact size and shape, and some like Fragrant Sumac and Summersweet have both tall and shorter varieties. Native viburnums such as Mapleleaf Viburnum are also good choices, or try Highbush or Lowbush Blueberries as ornamentals and harvest the blueberries – if you can get to them before the birds do! But be careful – not all viburnums are native. Doublefile Viburnum, Viburnum plicatum hails from Asia and is considered an invasive species in Maryland and Pennsylvania.
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- Ceanothus americanus, New Jersey Tea
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- Physocarpus opulifolius, Common Ninebark
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- Diervilla lonicera, Bush Honeysuckle
Fragrant Sumac with golden Spicebush behind
Visit the Lily Pond at FT Proctor Park and you will find New Jersey Tea, Red Twig Dogwood, and Amsonia growing in the bed behind it. And up in the North Side Circle we have planted a variety of native shrubs, including Fragrant Sumac, the Gro Low cultivar that was quite stunning this past fall. Here it is with the bright yellow of Spicebush behind it.
Olmsted City will be continuing our efforts to eradicate invasive species from FT Proctor Park and we are always looking for more volunteers. Consider spending a day or 2 with us this summer! To volunteer, send us an email at olmstedcity@gmail.com.
What makes a plant invasive? Read this interesting article from Vermont Invasives: https://vtinvasives.org
For more information, visit the DEC website at: https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/265.html
Find the DEC’s list of invasive species here: https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/lands_forests_pdf/islist.pdf
And to learn more about National Invasive Species Awareness Week, click here: https://www.nisaw.org/
