There are three main categories we can place plants into: native, non-native/introduced, and invasive. 

Native plants are species that were present in our ecoregion (broadly the northeast or more specifically New Hampshire) before Europeans landed in North America. These indigenous plants co-evolved over thousands of years with native animals and insects to be nutritionally correct food sources and/or host plants for insect larvae. In exchange, the creatures pollinate the plants or spread their seeds to ensure the species’ survival. Though some native plants may be “aggressive” in garden habitats they cannot be considered invasive as they are meant to grow here naturally.

Non-native/introduced plants are species that were brought here from abroad or other regions of the continent. This could have been done for ornamental or food purposes, or for environmental concerns such as erosion control. While these plants don’t provide the full benefits to the local ecology that native plants do, many of them are well behaved and do not cause issues. Naturalized plants are introduced plants that have escaped cultivation and grow freely. 

Invasive plants are non-native/introduced species that have been able to naturalize and spread in a way that is detrimental to the environment. This can happen when there are no checks and balances on the plant. The plant may have inedible foliage, be winter hardy, readily adapt to variable conditions of soil, rainfall, sunlight, etc., produce seeds that spread easily and have a high germination rate, or spread widely through tenacious root systems that can be difficult to remove. These plants then outcompete native plants for water, nutrients, and light. Over time they can overwhelm wild spaces and become difficult to eradicate. They will often create a monoculture- an area where there is little or no plant diversity. Even though native pollinators may utilize the flowers of these invasive species, the plants often do not offer them the optimal nutrition that natively occurring species would and they cannot host the larvae of these insects. Birds may eat the berries and seeds from the invasive plants, especially in areas where native plants have become displaced. They then spread the invasive plants further afield via their droppings, thus exacerbating the problem.

Individual states make their own regulations regarding invasive plants. In New Hampshire the Invasive Species Act HB 1258-FN states, “No person shall collect, transport, import, export, move, buy, sell, distribute, propagate or transplant any living and viable portion of any plant species, which includes all of their cultivars and varieties, listed in Table 3800.1, New Hampshire prohibited invasive species list.” This list currently contains over 30 species identified as prohibited. There is also a New Hampshire invasive plant watch list, with around 80 species on it. These plants are not prohibited yet, but are starting to become problematic and may be added to the prohibited list in the future. 

Though it is not mandated that you remove invasive plants on your property, many residents are looking to remove them for the benefit of the environment. In particular, the recent trend to plant native gardens and support pollinators has made more homeowners aware of how invasive plants impede these goals as they encroach on their garden or recreational spaces and negatively impact biodiversity.

You are not required to remove existing invasive plants from your property. Unfortunately however, many of these plants spread through seeds being picked up by birds or other animals, or blowing in the wind. In some species, one individual plant produces tens of thousands of seeds per growing season. You may not see evidence of new plants in your yard, but it is likely that they are being spread somewhere beyond your property and contributing to growth elsewhere. Even deeply wooded areas may contain invasive plants that were not put there intentionally but spread from gardens and landscaping further away. If there is a plant you are particularly fond of due to its bloom color, fall foliage, etc., we can discuss alternative options for new plants that will meet your needs without contributing invasive seeds into the local environment.

In-person appointments are limited to New Hampshire residents. These site visits are appropriate for those who need their invasive plants identified as well as those who already have knowledge in the area. I mainly serve residential properties of less than 2 acres in Southwest New Hampshire. There is no travel charge to locations in Dublin, Fitzwilliam, Jaffrey, Keene, Marlborough, Peterborough, Richmond, Rindge, Sharon, Swanzey, Troy, and Winchester. If you have a larger property we can do a walkthrough of specific areas of concern or adjust the visit accordingly.

Virtual appointments are available for residents throughout New England. Due to the scale of the work and limitations of technology, identification of the invasive plants in your yard is not part of this service. I will tailor my advice based on the plants you report having based on your state’s official invasive plant list , your experience, and goals for your yard. Your state’s invasive plant list can be found here: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont

It doesn’t have to be an either/or situation. Invasive plant management is a long-term project and whether you choose to tackle it yourself, hire it out, or utilize a mix of both, you will benefit from learning how to identify the invasive plants growing in your area so that you can monitor for new plants in the future. Additionally, not all those who perform yard maintenance services are knowledgeable about best removal practices and you will want to be able to be clear in your expectations for how removal should be handled correctly. For example, while some plants can be managed by regular cutting or mowing, in others that would cause the plant to put out exponential growth from the remaining roots and often any cuttings left on the ground too. Hiring an inexperienced helper who doesn’t know this could cause you bigger problems down the line. My goal is for you to feel empowered and knowledgeable to make the best decisions for you and your property.

During the site visit we will walk through your property together. I will mark the invasive species we find so that you can connect them with the report you will receive after the visit. I will show you distinguishing features of the different species so you can develop your eye for identifying them in the future as well as explain or demonstrate appropriate management techniques for each species, taking into account your goals for your property. I may also take photos of specific plants and submit them to the EDDMapS database (Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System) which is a way to track and get a big picture understanding of problematic plants in our area.

Good news! The goal isn’t to keep these plants alive, so no green thumb needed! Expert, amateur, and non-gardeners alike struggle with invasive plants. The report you receive after your site visit will reiterate the management advice so you can always refer to it for guidance in the future.

I do not perform full invasive plant management services though I do explain or demonstrate removal strategies and make recommendations for tools to make the work easier. I also will not apply herbicides on your property but can explain the different techniques for doing so if that is an appropriate method for management of a particular species and something you are open to. After your appointment you will have the knowledge to manage the plants on your property yourself, or to instruct someone you hire to do the work correctly.

I will plan to honor our scheduled appointment in the case of light rain. If there is heavy rain forecasted or high risk of thunderstorms I will reach out to reschedule.