THE LEAFLET

June 11, 2015 /
Jason Galliger

How Do I Spot an Invasive Plant Species in my Yard/Neighborhood?

One of the biggest threats to our urban forest is invasive species. Invasive species are plants, animals, or other organisms that are non-native to an ecosystem and whose introduction can cause economic or environmental harm.

At Casey Trees, we are most concerned with invasive plant species and their effects on trees. An invasive plant –such as English Ivy—can damage tree bark, grow over a tree’s leaves, weigh them down or take up resources and space that would otherwise be inhabited by native species.

We’ve worked with partners to remove invasive plants at sites like Fort Dupont.  But even with the work we and others do, invasives are still spread widely throughout the District—including in your yard and neighborhood.

So, how do you spot an invasive plant species?

Well, the tricky thing with invasive species is that to an untrained eye they often go unnoticed.

So we’ve decided to help you out and gather some of the most common invasive plant species in the D.C. area:

Once you’ve spotted an invasive plant the next step is control & removal. Depending on the type of invasive, removal could be tough. Consult these resources (or the plant links above) to find out the best removal methods for the plants near you.

If you want to learn even more about invasive plant species our next invasive field and class session is tentatively scheduled for September 16th and 19th. Registration will open in July. Taking this class is also the first step for becoming a Weed Warrior at Rock Creek Park.

Keep checking our blog and social media channels for more summer tree care tips, tricks and for more updates on other threats to your trees.