Invasive species removal

An invasive species is a plant that becomes established outside of its native range, where it poses a threat to native ecological diversity. A plant has the capacity to become invasive when it outcompetes local flora, reducing the native species populations and adversely affecting the insects and animals that rely on those species. Plants from other countries escape their natural enemies, allowing them to thrive in conditions with no disease or predators – not having checks and balances, their populations explode. It should be stated that not all non-native plants are invasive – many popular garden plants, like salvia, Asiatic crabapples, and catmint are well behaved and do not escape cultivation. Some of the major invasives include Japanese honeysuckle, Japanese barberry, Asiatic bittersweet, and mugwort. These have all been shown to cause ecological damage.

There are many methods to control invasive species. We own and operate a forest mulcher, which can go through about an acre of invasive shrubs and trees per day. We also perform manual removal by cutting and pulling in smaller and hard to access places. Invasive removal is a great job for the winter, when the forest mulcher can be in wet places without causing compaction. Our team is experienced with invasive plant identification and the various strategies that are most effective with different species.

“Non-native invasive species pose a serious risk to North American forest ecosystems, threatening to change existing ecological trajectories, suppress rare and endangered native species, reduce productivity and biodiversity, and damage wildlife habitat”

(Chornesky et al. 2005)