Whether you’re totally new to yard maintenance or an experienced gardener, let me help you identify your problem plants so that your landscape thrives as a healthy, biodiverse ecosystem.

Amanda started gardening around 2015 when she was tired of the shared yard at her Boston condo being unkempt. Like many gardeners, she started out simply buying plants she thought were pretty without much consideration for where they originated naturally. Over the next few years she began learning about the benefits of planting native and sought to create a beautiful urban pollinator habitat. In time the garden filled with birds, bees, and butterflies and was enjoyed by neighbors and frequently wildlife such as rabbits and robins raising their young in the yard. She placed twice in the Mayor’s Garden Contest.

Upon moving to a 1.6 acre property in New Hampshire in 2022, Amanda inherited beautiful existing gardens from the previous owner and was excited to continue her native garden journey with a bit more space. However, she soon noticed some undesirable plants growing in the yard and woods. Knowing she wanted to encourage many native plants and a healthy, biodiverse habitat in her yard she got to work identifying what she had growing on her property. She frequently found species that were on the New Hampshire Prohibited Invasive Plants and Invasive Plants Watch lists. These plants were sometimes “weeds” and sometimes had been intentionally planted, but they all conflicted with the goals for her yard, both due to their often aggressive nature as well as lack of support for native wildlife. She wanted to make sure that she managed them effectively so that her property and the nearby natural areas would be healthy habitats and not overrun by invasive species.

A librarian and educator who spent much of her career teaching research skills and encouraging students to delve into areas of personal interest through self-directed “Passion Projects,” over-researching everything comes naturally to Amanda. She wanted to learn all she could about the appropriate ways to manage different invasive species and found learning about the topic both engaging and empowering.

Pervasive Invasives came about because Amanda realized that many homeowners do not have the interest or time to dedicate to identifying invasive plants and deciding on the best course of management. Many people feel overwhelmed in this process and would like someone to quickly show them what they have and how to deal with it rather than spend hours tethered to a device researching.

In addition to her self-directed learning, Amanda engaged in further coursework through the North American Invasive Species Management Association to expand her expertise. Amanda loves using her skills as an educator to empower homeowners to manage their invasive species themselves or to have the knowledge to confidently hire someone to help them and ensure they use the correct methods for removal. With Amanda’s help you can get off your screen and back into your beautiful yard!