Replacing invasive plants with natives - Ask Extension
Hello,
I have a 3 acre property in Carroll county with some forest conservation on it. I am in the process of trying to eradicate the invasive...
Knowledgebase
Replacing invasive plants with natives #879652
Asked July 31, 2024, 6:08 PM EDT
Hello,
I have a 3 acre property in Carroll county with some forest conservation on it. I am in the process of trying to eradicate the invasive plants, and I know I need to replace with native plants or the invasive ones will come right back. The two major plants I have to contend with are non-native bittersweet, and multiflora rose (we also have stilt-grass, wine-berry, and mile-a-minute but they aren't as extensive). I am planning on putting in raspberries and blackberries (already on the property) as well as native roses in areas where I find the multiflora rose, but I am wondering about the bittersweet. Are trumpet vine and Virginia creeper OK to plant? We have some Virginia creeper growing native, but no trumpet vine. I am worried that if I put in a few plants I will end up with the same problem as the bittersweet. Thank you.
Carroll County Maryland
Expert Response
You are fighting a difficult but noble battle.... which is really part of a long-term war with those difficult weeds.
If you don't have the field guide
"Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas", you can see an online version here: https://www.invasive.org/midatlantic/fieldguide/index.cfm
It's a great resource for what you are trying to do.
It has all the worst offenders, sectioned into plant types, including vines, with control methods and possible native replacements.
This one is also indispensable for what you are trying to do:
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://dnr.maryland.gov/criticalarea/Documents/chesapeakenatives.pdf
Your replacement of invasives with natives is an excellent plan as nature will fill any voids/bare ground available, but you may need to do relatively small areas at first and try to mulch, water and protect fence new plants as best as you can during the first couple of years of establishment, especially you if your deer pressure is high.
I am trying to do something similar with an acre of my property near Woodbine and I think you will begin to see more native plants begin to show up on their own as you have seen with the Virginia Creeper. I definitely have more and more wild grapes, and in some areas (I look at mine as primarily wildlife habitat) I allow established poison ivy vines to do their thing as the birds love it.
Over time I've seen changing invasive plant pressures and your priorities may shift. I had heavy autumn olive and Japanese honeysuckle that I fought pretty well (your raspberries will do well in a sunny area) and never had wineberry before but now I see it moving fast.
As far as the trumpet vine goes, we don't have a lot of personal experience with this, so maybe start with one, in an area where it can be as vigorous as it likes. It's all to the good that you are replacing the invasives with plants that naturally belong in the ecosystem. I never planted Va. Creeper but thanks to wildlife and the land becoming more environmentally sound, it's in many areas now, both as a groundcover and climber.
Remember too to give your new plants time to grow and establish without crowding. It takes at least 3 seasons for some- especially herbaceous perennials to really get going. The saying is "the first year they sleep, the second they creep and the third they leap?" A surround with wood chips or other mulch (including fallen leaves) can help save space until they mature.
This page from our website will be helpful to you:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/removing-invasive-plants-and-planting-natives-maryland/
Good luck and thank you for what you are doing!
Christine
If you don't have the field guide
"Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas", you can see an online version here: https://www.invasive.org/midatlantic/fieldguide/index.cfm
It's a great resource for what you are trying to do.
It has all the worst offenders, sectioned into plant types, including vines, with control methods and possible native replacements.
This one is also indispensable for what you are trying to do:
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://dnr.maryland.gov/criticalarea/Documents/chesapeakenatives.pdf
Your replacement of invasives with natives is an excellent plan as nature will fill any voids/bare ground available, but you may need to do relatively small areas at first and try to mulch, water and protect fence new plants as best as you can during the first couple of years of establishment, especially you if your deer pressure is high.
I am trying to do something similar with an acre of my property near Woodbine and I think you will begin to see more native plants begin to show up on their own as you have seen with the Virginia Creeper. I definitely have more and more wild grapes, and in some areas (I look at mine as primarily wildlife habitat) I allow established poison ivy vines to do their thing as the birds love it.
Over time I've seen changing invasive plant pressures and your priorities may shift. I had heavy autumn olive and Japanese honeysuckle that I fought pretty well (your raspberries will do well in a sunny area) and never had wineberry before but now I see it moving fast.
As far as the trumpet vine goes, we don't have a lot of personal experience with this, so maybe start with one, in an area where it can be as vigorous as it likes. It's all to the good that you are replacing the invasives with plants that naturally belong in the ecosystem. I never planted Va. Creeper but thanks to wildlife and the land becoming more environmentally sound, it's in many areas now, both as a groundcover and climber.
Remember too to give your new plants time to grow and establish without crowding. It takes at least 3 seasons for some- especially herbaceous perennials to really get going. The saying is "the first year they sleep, the second they creep and the third they leap?" A surround with wood chips or other mulch (including fallen leaves) can help save space until they mature.
This page from our website will be helpful to you:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/removing-invasive-plants-and-planting-natives-maryland/
Good luck and thank you for what you are doing!
Christine
