Invasive Species Removal
Rid Your Property of Destructive Invasive Species
Invasive plant species are plants that have been introduced to an area in which they are not native and readily reproduce, pushing out native plant species. In many of our remaining “wild” areas in Iowa, invasive species threaten the existence of native plants and the wildlife that rely upon them. Generally, native plants have animals and pathogens that keep their populations in check. Invasive plants generally do not have such factors keeping their populations in check and can spread like wildfire, forming near monocultures. The worst invasive species are the non-native shrubs like Amur Honeysuckle, Autumn Olive, and European Buckthorn among others. Their growth can be incredibly dense, shading out the ground and creating large amounts of erosion, leading to property destruction and poor water quality from runoff.
See the slideshow below for fall identification of common Iowa invasive species
An Oak Savanna invaded by Honeysuckle
Invasive shrubs drop their leaves much later than native shrubs, making them easy to ID in late fall
Bush Honeysuckle (Lonicera maacki)
Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)
Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)
Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)
Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)
Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)
Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)
Bradford, or Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana)
Bradford Pear sapwood is yellow orange when cut, sharing this trait with Common Buckthorn
Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) - Commonly found in wreath decorations around the holidays. Vines around and strangles trees.
Wintercreeper (Eunoymus fortunei)
Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), should be called Tree-of-Hell
Border Privet (Ligustrum obtusifolium), commonly planted as border hedges in historic neighborhoods
Erosion caused by invasive shrubs
The Process
Before
After
Identify
Proper identification is key when getting rid of invasive species. Different species require different forms of control to avoid making the problem worse. Additionally, it’s important to identify any native plant species that need to be avoided during the removal process. Proper identification is important!
Kill
The best part. We’ll come in with a saw or brushcutter and cut out all the invasive vegetation, treating the stumps with herbicide using low-impact applicators that avoid killing native vegetation. Cut stump treatments are best done from late summer to late winter when the sap is flowing down into the roots. Some species may require a stem treatment with herbicide and a waiting period before cutting down, or else they may spring up many times worse the following year.
Remove
Brush can either be completely removed from the property or used to make habitat piles. For properties with a little room to work with, piling the brush can be an incredibly beneficial form of habitat for small mammals and birds. If you want to be completely rid of the stuff, I don’t blame you. For small projects, we can haul it away ourselves. With larger projects, we’ll work with a local arborist who will come chip and haul away all the brush.
Learn More
Check out these resources to learn more about identifying and controlling invasive species
Contact Us
Leave your information and a let us know how you’d like to incorporate native plants into your property.