Granby Drummer (https://granbydrummer.com/category/grow/not-wanted/)
It sometimes seems impossible to make even a dent against invasives, but a dedicated bunch of volunteers are making big progress in visible public places. Property lines mean nothing to invasive plants, so every step we take at home benefits our neighbors as well.
Did you hear the news? The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) hardiness maps were recently revised, placing Granby on the cusp of zones 6a and 6b, a couple notches warmer than we were.
For four years, I’ve written Not Wanted columns in a neutral, objective style. This one is different.
April’s Not Wanted column detailed the invasion of spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula), considered the worst plant pest since the spongy moth (formerly gypsy moth). Since 2014 it has hitchhiked into a dozen states via egg masses attached to trains, lumber and other moving objects.
Invasives are the opposite of rare. A third of all the vegetation in the northeast hails from Asia, according to native plant scientist Dr. Doug Tallamy.
Action against invasives never ends. Put your feet up and choose from the following resources to boost your long-term game. They have been purposely chosen because they address plants in our region.
Every other year the Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG) hosts a day-long conference on invasive plants. It’s packed with presentations and workshops aimed at professionals, home gardeners and everyone in between. CIPWG is the state’s central hub on invasive plants, and the conference is a super source of up-to-date data on best practices and plant science.
Over the last century and more, we humans imported plants that do great harm to the natural balance of plants and animals—and to ourselves. Invasive species, plants and animals, are considered one of the prime causes for species extinction because of their ability to out-compete and displace native species.
With intense heat and long sunny days, June is the best time to solarize. Solarizing is a powerful way to make wholesale, non-chemical progress on tough invaders like mugwort and other not wanted plants.
Despite some difficult winter weather, Invasive Plant Activists made massive progress freeing a series of mighty sycamores and smaller native trees and shrubs at Holcomb Farm in recent months