Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Arming Yourself Against Invasive Plants


Today, there are still invasive plants sold in nurseries! And we unknowingly buy them. We may not be able to change the past but we certainly can try to improve the future…by avoiding the plant below.

Barberry Berberis thunbergii - This is still one of the most common shrubs sold in nurseries. Its berries are very attractive to birds that drop them in the woods. Most woodland plants bloom in early spring before trees leaf out and create shade. Unfortunately, barberries leaf out very, very early, cutting off sun from the wildflowers and inhibiting their reproduction.

New findings from Scott C. Williams of Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station indicate wild populations of the invasive Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) tend to provide perfect habitat for ticks!
Gardening Tip: By using this tool, or something similar in design, many gardeners have eradicated barberry from their garden.

No comments:

Post a Comment