invasive plant removal

OvERVIEW

One of the greatest threats to your schoolyard ecosystem is invasive plants. Invasives are non-native species that grow rapidly, spread and often out-compete native plants. Although invasives are part of a balanced ecosystem in their natural habitat, they can be very harmful if they are planted in an environment where there are no natural controls or predators to limit the plant’s population. They are especially successful in urban areas, where native plants already face harsh environmental conditions. Landscapes with invasives have less wildlife and plant diversity than areas with native species.

You can help to protect native plant species and diversify your schoolyard ecosystem by removing invasive plants from your school grounds and planting native plants in their place. This may include pruning to prevent flowering and seed dispersal, or cutting, mowing or herbicide use to prevent vegetative spread. By removing invasives you will help to conserve native species, improve the biodiversity and health of your schoolyard and provide habitat to attract new wildlife to your schoolyard.

TimeFRame

Monitoring and removing invasive plants from your schoolyard should be done at least once a year. Because removing invasives is very hands-on and people intensive, you might try to organize a school-wide Invasive Plant Removal event in the spring or fall.

Materials

You will need tools to mow, dig or pull invasives from the site. These include gardening gloves, shovels, pruning shears and other tools to cut back and remove the plants.

EDUCATIONAL THEMES

Biodiversity, environmental health, conservation of native species, plant identification

Additional resources

• Maryland Native Plant Society: A Guide for Gardeners and Homeowners in the Mid-Atlantic Region

• National Park Service: Aliens in Your Neighborhood

• The Alice Ferguson Foundation: Field Guide for Beginners: A Key to Selected Exotic and Native Plants of the Mid-Atlantic Region, by Karen Jensen Miles and Jodie Abbott Standish (2003). You can purchase this guide for $30.95 from the Alice Ferguson Foundation, 2001 Bryan Point Rd., Accokeek, MD 20607.
  
• National Park Service: Alien Plants
  This is a public education project of the Plant Conservation Alliance's Alien Plant Working Group, and focuses on invasive plants and their harmful impacts to natural ecosystems in the U.S. Here you will find background information explaining the problem of invasive species, definitions for frequently used terms like alien, exotic, invasive, native, etc., fact sheets with information on identification, impacts, prevention, management, native range, U.S. distribution, alternative plants, and more.
  
• The Maryland Native Plant Society has information on native plants and common exotic plants found in Maryland. In addition, they have existing alien plant removal projects that you can volunteer to help out with.
  
• The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has information about invasive exotic species from plants to wildlife.