The Virginian-Pilot
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Organizers and volunteers from Hampton Roads are being sought for a statewide effort to remove invasive plants that are wreaking havoc on Virginia’s landscape.
Organizations are already being formed in Northern Virginia and elsewhere for the first Invasive Plant Removal Day on Saturday, May 2. There is a need for a grassroots effort in Hampton Roads, said Michelle Prysby, state coordinator for the Virginia Master Naturalists Program.
“There are plenty of invasive plant problems in your part of the state,’’ Prysby said.
Invasive species are recognized nationally and locally as a major threat to healthy ecosystems. In Virginia alone, it is estimated that the cost of invasive species is $1 billion annually.
Activities are being coordinated now and interested people can learn more about how and where they can help by going to www.virginiamasternaturalist.org/invasives/index.htm1.
Plants such as Phragmites, which are also known as the common reed, and Alligator Weed are invasive plants to Hampton Road, Prysby said. Others such as Tree-of-Heaven and kudzu also are rapidly growing problems to the area, she said.
“There are a lot really across the state and along the coastal plain,’’ Prysby said. “There are many plants that affect wetlands in your part of the state.’’
The Virginia Native Plant Society and the Virginia Master Naturalists are sponsoring the event.
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A major problem across the country
Another species is bamboo. I've been surprised at how much of it is growing around here, especially in the Williamsburg area. Places that used to have stands of pine are now covered with tight bunches of bamboo. Take a state, any state in the country and you'll find problems with a number of invasive species. Then there are the animal kind such as the Nutria, but that's another story.
Website is wrong
The website is incorrect. Its actually, http://www.virginiamasternaturalist.org/invasives/index.html
However, it doesn't list any activities in this area for anyone who wants to get involved.
Also, herbicides are usually not the most effective treatment for invasives and would probably harm native species more than the invasives. Phragmites, which was mentioned, is frequently battled with a control burn and then removing and replacing the top 5 FEET of earth to ensure you get the roots. If they were easy to eradicate, they wouldn't be called invasive.
Of course it's toxic
Of course it's toxic...to plants. Otherwise it wouldn't be much of a herbicide. They probably use Roundup which is safe;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glyphosate
re: invasive neighbors
The plants from your neighbors' yards are native to the area, while the grass we spend so much money keeping manicured is actually an exotic. Your neighbors may realize this fact and prefer not to exhuast dangerous chemical methods in an attempt to fight nature. It would probably be less stressful if you would relax your own standards, especially in this economy, where people no longer can afford expensive and environmentally harmful lawn treatments.
re: plant removal
gatorgirlmona wrote:
>>>Warning those who volunteer do not let them talk you into using herbasides they are toxic!!! They will tell you that they are not harmfull. Herbasides are very harmfull and they contain the same chemical compounds as agent orange!!<<<
Gator, I have to admit, your knee-jerk, posts reminiscent of an Alex Jones diatribe are humorous in some cases, but your rant here is incorrect. Dioxin, the chemical in AO responsible for a list of illnesses and defects in humans is no longer legally used in the amounts it was used up to and including the Vietnam conflict.
Stick to facts and stop the fear mongering...
oh?
" Herbasides are very harmfull and they contain the same chemical compounds as agent orange!!"
Really? Can you provide your information source?
plant removal
Warning those who volunteer do not let them talk you into using herbasides they are toxic!!! They will tell you that they are not harmfull. Herbasides are very harmfull and they contain the same chemical compounds as agent orange!!
invasive neighbors....
I'd like someone to come get the invasive carpet weed, dandelion, etc., that creep over from neighbors on both sides of me and invade my lawn. No matter what I put down and no matter how much I pull up each year this garbage always gets in my yard. my neighbors do nothing.